A collection of the twenty best contemporary short stories selected by series editor Laura Furman from hundreds of literary magazines, The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories 2009 features unforgettable tales in settings as diverse as post-war Vietnam, a luxurious seaside development in Cape Town, an Egyptian desert village, and a permanently darkened New York City. Also included are essays from the eminent jurors on their favorite stories, observations from...
I was hopeful that this year's O. Henry Prize Stories anthology (which adds the PEN organization to its title and support) would be one of the best ever, since I thoroughly enjoyed the first two stories in the volume. Editor Laura Furman tends to gravitate towards stories of dark themes, which can lead to an anthology with less than mass market appeal, and yet the first two stories were very gripping. Alas, over the course...
0Report
I have been reading short stories since middle school and that means close to 40 year. So I obviously enjoy them. Living in Austin, once a hometown for O'Henry, is one reason this book caught my eye. The range of subjects and themes is quite broad and several of the stories completely mesmerized me! I highly recommend this book - it is available on Kindle so they are perfect for on the go reading, including reading from...
0Report
Twenty works of fiction, not one of which disappoints, including "Twenty-two [very short] Stories" by my favorite author, Paul Theroux. Added bonus of three essays by seasoned authors A.S. Byatt, Anthony Doerr, and Tim O'Brien on their favorite stories. Most of the chosen writers also penned insights on their own works and sometimes generously offered tips to writers. There is a comprehensive list of American and Canadian...
0Report
Inclusion in the O. Henry Prize Stories is an honor sought by many, but only twenty of the best make it each year. This year, the Awards team up with PEN for the first time. PEN's mission is to foster "a literature as a civilizing force in an unstable world...that gives flesh and bones and perhaps a brain to the politics that assails us...that entices us to understand and value life." The stories chosen for 2009 are true to...
0Report
BOOKLIST REVIEW The PEN/O.Henry Prize Stories, 2009 Furman, Laura (Editor) May 2009. 464 p. Anchor, paperback, $15.00. (978030780350). The 90th anniversary edition of this prestigious collection is a must-read for both aspiring writers and devoted short story readers. Selected from among short stories originally written in English and published in an American or Canadian periodical during the past year, this year's prizewinners...
0Report