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lizzderr's review
4.0
Perhaps more like 4.5 stars--I might not call this a perfect collection, but there are many strong, moving, and, most importantly, finely crafted essays in this anthology. It's a great encapsulation of the possibilities of the form.
ericfheiman's review
4.0
Just when I thought there would be no relief from prosaic nonfiction prose, along comes this collection of essays compiled by Edwidge Danticat that renews my faith in fact-based writing. Though bewarned, these essays will not renew one's faith in the human condition. These are mostly devastating pieces on dying, disaster, and depression that if not written so well, would have had me putting the book down barely halfway through. Tough stuff, but worth the arduous journey.
balletbookworm's review
5.0
Very, very well-curated collection of essays. A mix of different types but even the informative essays are very human and personal ("What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones?" is a great example of that). Katy Butler's essay "What Broke My Father's Heart" is deeply moving while Christy Vannoy's "A Personal Essay by Personal Essay" is humorous but in the way that makes you wonder if you ought to be laughing (I think we ought). Zadie Smith has a great essay about "The Social Network" movie, titled "Generation Why?" where she muses on 1.0 People (over 35s) and 2.0 People (under 35s) - I think I'm a 1.5 Person. Christopher Hitchens (the previous year's Essay editor, a volume I have yet to read, shame on me) provides a short essay "Topic of Cancer" where his writing gives the finger to his disease while also bringing you up short (the sudden realization that he never has to shave in the mornings due to the chemo is wonderfully rendered and I won't cheapen it by pulling the words out of context).
The only false note came from "Auscultation" where the author notes some cardiologists train their ears on classical music (Mozart, Bach, etc.) to better discern "trumpt from sax" - uh, unless you're listening to Shostakovitch's Suite for Jazz Orchestra, Mozart and Co. don't have saxophones.
The only false note came from "Auscultation" where the author notes some cardiologists train their ears on classical music (Mozart, Bach, etc.) to better discern "trumpt from sax" - uh, unless you're listening to Shostakovitch's Suite for Jazz Orchestra, Mozart and Co. don't have saxophones.
stevequinn's review
4.0
As always, great essays. Maybe it's just me, but many of this year's selections seemed to be about death, injury, bereavement and similar happy topics. Wonder if that was on purpose, or if I'm seeing things.
vdarcangelo's review
4.0
Faves:
Christopher Hitchens, "Topic of Cancer"
RIP Hitch: the man right up to the end
Charlie LeDuff, "What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones?"
One of the greatest articles I've ever read, and a sharp-witted, merciless account of modern Detroit--this is a must-read
Victor Lavalle, "Long Distance"
About as smart a piece on perversion and body image (and phone sex) you'll ever read
Meenakshi Gigi Durham, "Grieving"
Thoughtful investigation of how work (and the lack thereof) informs our identity
Bernadette Esposito, "A-LOC"
Darkly hallucinogenic
Madge McKeithen, "What Really Happened"
A gut-wrenching existential descent--I want the author to find peace, and to punch the bastard in the face
Rachel Riederer, "Patient"
Not for the weak-stomached! New favorite phrase, "shin sashimi"
Zadie Smith, "Generation Why?"
As thorough a critique of Facebook culture as you'll find--but would you expect anything less from the fabulous Zadie Smith?
Jerald Walker, "Unprepared"
Coming of age against the backdrop of the Atlanta Child Murders
Easily the most eclectic installment of Best American Essays I've read.
Christopher Hitchens, "Topic of Cancer"
RIP Hitch: the man right up to the end
Charlie LeDuff, "What Killed Aiyana Stanley-Jones?"
One of the greatest articles I've ever read, and a sharp-witted, merciless account of modern Detroit--this is a must-read
Victor Lavalle, "Long Distance"
About as smart a piece on perversion and body image (and phone sex) you'll ever read
Meenakshi Gigi Durham, "Grieving"
Thoughtful investigation of how work (and the lack thereof) informs our identity
Bernadette Esposito, "A-LOC"
Darkly hallucinogenic
Madge McKeithen, "What Really Happened"
A gut-wrenching existential descent--I want the author to find peace, and to punch the bastard in the face
Rachel Riederer, "Patient"
Not for the weak-stomached! New favorite phrase, "shin sashimi"
Zadie Smith, "Generation Why?"
As thorough a critique of Facebook culture as you'll find--but would you expect anything less from the fabulous Zadie Smith?
Jerald Walker, "Unprepared"
Coming of age against the backdrop of the Atlanta Child Murders
Easily the most eclectic installment of Best American Essays I've read.
rbrtsorrell's review
3.0
Favorite essays:
Buddy Ebsen by Hilton Als
Port-au-Prince: The Moment by Mischa Berlinski
What Broke my Father's Heart by Katy Butler
Magical Dinners by Chang-Rae Lee
Lucky Girl by Bridget Potter
Patient by Rachel Riederer
Generation Why? by Zadie Smith
Travels with my Ex by Susan Straight
Buddy Ebsen by Hilton Als
Port-au-Prince: The Moment by Mischa Berlinski
What Broke my Father's Heart by Katy Butler
Magical Dinners by Chang-Rae Lee
Lucky Girl by Bridget Potter
Patient by Rachel Riederer
Generation Why? by Zadie Smith
Travels with my Ex by Susan Straight
lcline1981's review
Tweetable review: Read Katy Butler, "What Broke My Father's Heart." Cry it out. Then read the rest of the essays. Thank me later.
twylghast's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
adt's review
4.0
One could spend one's life reading essays. But I don't want to miss great fiction and a few nonfiction either.
Recommend:
(a) The Washing - Muslim burial customs in the diaspora setting of the US. Fascinating
(b) What Broke My Father's Heart - allowing death to happen in a more natural setting with more dignity
(c) Generation Why? - Zadie Smith on Facebook. Very critical but worth engaging the argument.
Recommend:
(a) The Washing - Muslim burial customs in the diaspora setting of the US. Fascinating
(b) What Broke My Father's Heart - allowing death to happen in a more natural setting with more dignity
(c) Generation Why? - Zadie Smith on Facebook. Very critical but worth engaging the argument.