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A review by tenten
The Best American Short Stories 2018 by Heidi Pitlor, Roxane Gay
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
i usually have a hard time with anthologies, often because not all the contributions are created equal. this is the first one i've ever read where i've enjoyed every single story. i had my favorites, but there wasn't a single one i disliked. i shouldn't have been surprised, not just because this is The Best American Short Stories. i got this edition specifically for Roxane Gay. i knew she would have an eye for it. she had a clear commitment to diversity with these stories, both in the content, the identity of the writers, and the prestige of the publications.
my favorite stories:
- "The Art of Losing," Yoon Choi
- "Los Angeles," Emma Cline
- "Boys Go to Jupiter," Danielle Evans
- "What Got Into Us," Jacob Guajardo
- "The Brothers Brujo," Matthew Lyons
- "The Baptism," Ron Rash
- "The Prairie Wife," Curtis Sittenfield
- "Whose Heart I Long to Stop with the Click of a Revolver," Rivers Solomon
i recognize that's almost half of the stories but that just speaks to how good this collection was! it was also really inspiring to see the different forms and paths a short story can take, which will help when i write my own short stories. 10/10
my favorite stories:
- "The Art of Losing," Yoon Choi
- "Los Angeles," Emma Cline
- "Boys Go to Jupiter," Danielle Evans
- "What Got Into Us," Jacob Guajardo
- "The Brothers Brujo," Matthew Lyons
- "The Baptism," Ron Rash
- "The Prairie Wife," Curtis Sittenfield
- "Whose Heart I Long to Stop with the Click of a Revolver," Rivers Solomon
i recognize that's almost half of the stories but that just speaks to how good this collection was! it was also really inspiring to see the different forms and paths a short story can take, which will help when i write my own short stories. 10/10