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animaniac17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.5
dllh's review against another edition
3.0
I like this series of anthologies generally and was keen to read one edited by Roxane Gay, since I had read a couple of her books last year. I found the collection pretty uneven, though. I don't recall any stories that I felt overwhelmingly positive about (in other words, none inspired a "wow" from me), and there were several that I felt very meh about and a couple that I was surprised were published in respectable magazines much less collected in a "best" anthology. I did dog-ear a few as worthwhile:
* "Los Angeles" by Emma Cline
* "Boys Go to Jupiter" by Danielle Evans
* "A History of China" by Carolyn Ferrell
* "A Big True" by Dina Nayeri
* "Items Awaiting Protective Enclosure" by Tea Obreht
* "Los Angeles" by Emma Cline
* "Boys Go to Jupiter" by Danielle Evans
* "A History of China" by Carolyn Ferrell
* "A Big True" by Dina Nayeri
* "Items Awaiting Protective Enclosure" by Tea Obreht
lexiww's review against another edition
5.0
A spellbinding assemblage of voices and experiences.
Really, Roxane, your work is unparalleled.
Really, Roxane, your work is unparalleled.
lexigoyette's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite collection.
I love you, Roxane Gay, but why did you include so many stories in the 2nd person narrative? Why? (Using 2nd person narrative in this review feels both hypocritical and meta. Woo!)
There were some good stories, some alright stories, and some stories I couldn't finish.
I love you, Roxane Gay, but why did you include so many stories in the 2nd person narrative? Why? (Using 2nd person narrative in this review feels both hypocritical and meta. Woo!)
There were some good stories, some alright stories, and some stories I couldn't finish.
allieeveryday's review against another edition
3.0
The first several stories in this collection did not appeal to me, and I thought about putting it down but Googled first, and grabbed the names of other peoples' favorite stories. There were quite a bit more that I liked in the latter half of the book, and that I appreciated for their cleverness and storytelling. My big issue is that I simply didn't find very many of these memorable. (My memory also sucks, fwiw.)
I brought it to the doctor's office this morning, and the doc asked what I was reading. I said, "Short stories - they're supposed to be the best, but I don't know that I'd call them the best." Not to put Roxane Gay on blast or anything - art is subjective. I still trust her opinion, though it is different than mine.
Ones that stuck with me:
• A Big True by Dina Nayeri - about two middle eastern immigrants who become friends while living in a shelter
• Control Negro by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson - about a black professor at a university who is trying to prove that racism is a thing of the past
• The Prairie Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld - about a suburban mom obsessed with a lifestyle blogger she used to date; I liked how it turned on its head midway through.
I brought it to the doctor's office this morning, and the doc asked what I was reading. I said, "Short stories - they're supposed to be the best, but I don't know that I'd call them the best." Not to put Roxane Gay on blast or anything - art is subjective. I still trust her opinion, though it is different than mine.
Ones that stuck with me:
• A Big True by Dina Nayeri - about two middle eastern immigrants who become friends while living in a shelter
• Control Negro by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson - about a black professor at a university who is trying to prove that racism is a thing of the past
• The Prairie Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld - about a suburban mom obsessed with a lifestyle blogger she used to date; I liked how it turned on its head midway through.
sapphicreads64's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked some of the stories-especially the museum sleepover one- but some of them were a little boring.
anthonyk's review against another edition
3.0
My first BASS collection of stories, edited by the amazing Roxane Gay. I found that most of the stories were enjoyable though there quite a few misses and not enough hits to even this out and make it stronger than the three stars I'm giving it. Still, would recommend this collection if you enjoy short stories, Roxane Gay, or are a true reader of the BASS anthologies.
On a similar note, I am planning on reading most of the BASS books I can get my hands on.
Favs: Cougar, Boys Go to Jupiter, What Got Into Us, The Brothers Brujo, Items Awaiting Protective Enclosure
On a similar note, I am planning on reading most of the BASS books I can get my hands on.
Favs: Cougar, Boys Go to Jupiter, What Got Into Us, The Brothers Brujo, Items Awaiting Protective Enclosure
rcbalter's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0