A review by davidabrams
The Best American Short Stories 2006 by Katrina Kenison, Ann Patchett

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This entry in the annual anthology series didn't hook me as much as other years of the Best American Short Stories. Sure, there were plenty of highlights and standout tales: Benjamin Percy's "Refresh, Refresh," Tobias Wolff's "Awaiting Orders" and Thomas McGuane's "Cowboy" were predictably good (and, frankly, I'd read those three before and it was pleasant to see how well they held up). But this BASS was also bogged down with some long stories (bordering on novellas) and experimental stories that didn't always hit the mark for me. Ann Beattie's concluding, 46-page "Mr. Nobody At All" was particularly grueling to get through. All in all, I liked this collection, but I didn't love it.