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Some of these short stories hit the spot perfectly...others? I just don’t know. I haven’t read enough of McSweeney’s to get their deal, but they do seem to bring me something interesting and a little odd presented in an artistically pleasing format. A lovely read for a grey, rainy Spring day.
The latest installment from the fine folks at McSweeney’s is a mixed bag, as invariably such collections are. When the stories connect they’re a real delight, and there is great emotional power in a few of them – the first two I list below, as well as ‘The Lost One,’ by Stephen Dixon. Worth checking out.Loved:Bears Among the Living, by Kevin MoffettField Notes, by Adam Isoce – a real standout, and easily my favoriteLiked:A World Without Selfie Sticks, by Etgar KeretNights, by Abang (graphic art)...
Ebbing's Cursed Tocata was just a perfect story to read on Halloween!
I was enjoying the first chunk well enough but the Stephen Dixon stories really blew me away. Can't wait to dive into his other work.
Reading McSweeney's makes me a better reader and a better writer. I always feel like a few themes jump out at me in each issue, and for this one, it's the idea of grief. So many of the stories here explore that open wound, and I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion. Not a beach read issue, perhaps, but worth your time if you're feeling emotionally resilient.
Liked: Peony - Esme Weijun WangThe Mating Call - Mikkel RosengaardField Notes - Adam IscoeA World Without Selfie Sticks - Etgar Keret
Highlights for me were Adam Iscoe's Field Notes about his travels around America and Kevin Moffet's mid-life crisis comedy Bears Among The Living. Ah yes and also Etgar Keret's A World Without Selfie Sticks. Honourable mention goes to Stephen Dixon for his affecting Oh My Darling.Now if someone could tell me what the heck Michael Kennedy's cartoon Dream of an Afro-Pessimist was about my life would be complete
This is a book about art and loss. Most of the stories feature the theme in one form or another. Unfortunately almost all of them come so bloated with pretension and self-regard that reading them made me feel physically ill on occasion. The exception, by a long shot, is Etgar Keret's contribution, which is a memorable wonder of writing. Mikel Rosengaard and Rita Chang-Eppig were not too shabby either.
Great collection!
Another really solid collection of short stories. Love the cover art and the four Dixon stories. Great all around read.
I seem to be in consensus here that the two standouts were from Kevin Moffett and Adam Iscoe. I kind of liked Rita Chang-Eppig's story as well. Porochista Khakpour's introduction to Stephen Dixon's stories was more interesting than the stories.
Enjoyed this volume, especially “The Mating Call” by Mikkel Rosengaard. Kevin Moffet’s story also had some exceptional sections, like (paraphrasing) “I miss when my future was more interesting to me than my past. The other parents paused and looked at me.... I also miss scratch-and-sniff stickers, I said. Sighs of relief from the other parents.”My first McSweeny’s quarterly and will add one additional observation: the best “letters to the editor” I’ve ever read!
Solid 4.5, fantastic issue. Standouts were Adam Iscoe’s Field Notes and Stephen Dixon’s Oh My Darling.
