The Best American Short Stories 2013 edited by Elizabeth Strout & Heidi Pitlor

The Best American Short Stories 2013 edited by Elizabeth Strout & Heidi Pitlor

I always look forward to this series coming out each fall. I always purchase this and The Best American Non Required Reading and have never been disappointed. This year's editor Elizabeth Strout picked another amazing collection of stories including some of my all time favorite authors and some that I've never heard of which I always appreciate.


The Provincials by Daniel Alarcon
The first story in the book is a story about a father and son in Mexico. They take a trip back to the father's hometown and the son tries to impress his dad. It was interesting because at some point it switches to being written in the story of a play going on in the son's head.


Bravery by Charles Baxter
This one I'd read before but I'm not sure where. I think Baxter has an interesting voice and I've always enjoyed his stories. This story is about a young husband and wife going on their honeymoon and having a baby. Brings up a different point of view about being jealous & possessive about your child with your spouse. I didn't really think about how that would be natural for even happily married couples to have.


Malaria by Michael Byers
Coming of age story with weird family dynamics. I liked it.


Miss Lora by Junot Diaz
I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Diaz at last years Boston Book Festival where he graciously signed my book of his collected short stories that included this story. He's amazing and this story is one of my favorites in both this collection and his book.


Horned Men by Karl Taro Greenfeld
Good little story about a man who has lost his job underwriting those sketchy mortgages that almost bankrupted the entire country. No idea how the author made the guy a little bit of a sympathetic character despite his work morals and creepily spying on his fully clothed daughter from a whole in the attic. I ended up pitying the guy and don't feel great about it.


The Third Dumpster by Gish Jen
Two brothers renovate a house for their elderly parents. Nice story about 2nd generations immigrants in America


Encounters with Unexpected Animals by Bret Anthony Johnston
I loved this story. Man gives his 15 year old son's 17 year old girlfriend a ride home. Plans on giving warning to break up with son or else. Does not go well.


Magic Man by Sheila Kohler
Here's a hint, Magic Man = Pedophile


The Chair by David Means
Stay at home dad deals with being a stay at home dad and his son having close call where he could have really hurt himself.


A Voice in the Night by Steven Millhauser
I love Steven Millhauser, his stories are amazing. This was a tremendously skilled story blending a story about Samuel from the Bible along side with a man when he was a kid and when he was an old man.


Referential by Lorrie Moore
She's another one of my all time favorite authors and this story was probably my favorite in the collection. It's a reimagining of a classic Nabokov story, was funny at times and extremely poignant.


Train by Alice Munro
She's really good. This story is about a man running away from his past who never really stops running.


Chapter Two by Antonya Nelson
Great story about an alcoholic woman telling stories about her drunk neighbor.


Nemecia by Kirstin Valdez Quade
Kid's can be idiots huh? Story about a girl who's jealous of an older cousin who came to live with her after a terrible event happened to her as a young girl.


Philanthropy by Suzanne Rivecca
This story was amazing. It's about a former drug addict running a non profit that helps women trying to solicit donations from a wealthy celebrity who's daughter had her own troubled past. Loved it.


The Semplicia-Girl Diaries by George Saunders
If anyone who likes short stories hasn't read George Saunders they're doing themselves a disservice. His completely original voice is quirky and ridiculously good.


The World to Come by Jim Shepard
Jim Shepard stories always pack a punch and this one certainly did. Farm lesbians in the 1800's had it rough with their husbands I guess.


The Wilderness by Elezabeth Tallent
This is an authors story about a professor. Well written but not a standout for me.


The Tunnel, or The News from Spain by Joan Wickersham
Sad little story about a middle aged woman dealing with her institutionalized dying mother and poor love life. Sad in a good way.


Breatharians by Callan Wink
Holy crap is there a lot going on in this story. I'm willing to bet this is the only anthologized short story that involves a kid being paid to kill barn cats. There's also a ton of family dynamic stuff going on, mom and dad are separated living in 2 homes on the same farm while his dad is plowing both the fields and a lady farm help. Honestly, I loved this story, great way to end the book.