Best New American Voices

You should be able to find this book at discount book sellers (e.g., Half-Price Books) for about $5.98. At that price, the short story by Eric Puchner, "Essay #3-Leda and the Swan," is more than worth the price of the book. I would almost be willing to pay full price for this anthology just to share this "essay" with my friends.

This volume contains a wide variety of short stories. I found all of them to be well written and interesting. There were some topics that I never would have chosen to read about, had they been in individual books, but this book exposed me to styles and authors that I would have missed if they had not been included in a collection.

I was thrilled and surprised by the diversity of voices in this book, and found myself drawn into the stories from the first to the last, grabbed by the strength of the prose and the excitement of discovering so many new writers. The stories certainly don't seem like they were written by newbies -- they're really strong and moving and wildly imaginative. The best surprise was how much humor there is (especially in "Essay #3: Leda and the Swan," probably my favorite in the book, though it'd be tough to tell for sure). I can't wait to see more from these writers in the future, and to read next year's collection from these editors.

I have not yet read this book, but one of my very good friends, Matt Purdy, wrote "Creatures of a Day" - a short story featured in this book. I have just placed my order for this book. I expect that the other writings in this book are just as good as "Creatures of a Day" and I can't wait to read it!!! You ROCK Matt!!!! UPDATE FROM PREVIOUS REVIEW: I finally finished this book... it IS fantastic! Such talent by all thr writers should not be missed! I liked this book so much I went and bought a copy for my Aunt as a birthday gift and even she couldn't stop talkig about it. One of my favorite stories is the one about the elderly oriental couple who own the garden apartment. I also loved the story "Creatures of a Day" - ofcourse. (I actually got to read that one long before it was published... i still think it is just fantastic.)

There are about short 20 stories in the book. It is an antology of not-yet-discovered writers, so it is a bit un-even. Some, most, writers show some intruiguing talent, while a few stories are a little trite. Some stories are a bit contorted (there is a story about a guy who talks with chicken and falls in love with a hen), but most of them are very touching short stories. It seems many writers come from different origins, and draw on their experience to craft little stories that ring very true. I enjoyed the story of the Chinese maid in Singapore that returns home after a lifetime away, and who has a hard time understanding what home means. I liked the struggle of the Indian guy in South Africa, with the dog that should protect him. I appreciated the story of the Sri-Lankan mother who would like to raise her children in the tradition of her country, not of her adoptive North Carolina. Those stories were compelling, not only for their storylines, but also for the quality of the prose, always crafty and creative. This antology is of the 'best American New Voices', and some of the writers do indeed have their own voice already.