May 18 2008
The Best American Short Stories: 2007
I’ve been reading (and listening to on audiobook) a lot of short fiction this year, and today I finished Best American Short Stories 2007
In “Balto” by T.C. Boyle, a young girl is forced to choose between the truth and a lie that “helps” when she testifies against her alcoholic father.
“My Brother Eli” by Joseph Epstein addresses the idea that some artists believe that their status as “artist” gives them the right to behave however they please, and consequences be damned.
“L. DeBard and Aliette: A Love Story” by Lauren Groff takes place during the Spanish Influenza epidemic in 1918. A young girl who has survived polio falls in love with her swim instructor, and the consequences are horrific.
“Sans Farine” by Jim Shepard tells the story of an executioner during the French Revolution, and how his profession effects his family.
This collection was edited by Stephen King, who chose these stories from hundreds of pieces of short fiction.
Hi! So, am I in the right place for C.K.? I’ve never seen this site.
I followed you from your Semicolon link.
Anyway, I have a couple of these collections. And, like you, some I like better than others.
I read this last year and agree with your selection of favourites except I wasn’t taken with ’sans farine’. The Lauren Groff one was really very good and I enjoyed her first novel this year too, The Monsters of Templeton! One thing I love about short story collections like this is finding new authors.
Joy - yes, this is Carrie K. This is a new blogging gig for me - but I’m still blogging at Mommy Brain, too.
Nicola - I’ll have to check out the Groff novel, because I enjoyed her story very much.
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