The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2005

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 368 pages
• Published by: Houghton Mifflin
• Edition: 1st Edition October 5, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0618570489
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0618570485
• Book Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 12.8 ounces

From Publishers Weekly
The fourth installment in the ubiquitous Eggers' series collecting offbeat magazine writing chosen by Bay Area teenagers underscores the continued blurring between fiction and nonfiction in contemporary American writing. Of 24 selections, 21 are written in first person, and much of the book has the feeling of memoir. Of the three exceptions, two are forgettable, but "Lost Boys," by Jeff Gordiner, is a fascinating piece of reportage (for Details) on the hundreds of young men weeded out of polygamous families along the Utah border, presumably to leave more wives for their elders. Other first-rate nonfiction pieces include Al Franken's account of his USO tour of Iraq (Mother Jones), Tish Durkin's profile of a mercenary soldier (Rolling Stone) and William T. Vollmann's gonzo search for Chinese tunnels in Mexico (Harper's). The fiction is more uneven, but varied stories by Jhumpa Lahiri, Molly McNett and Douglas Trevor make vivid impressions, and two, by Stephen Elliott and Rattawutt Lapcharoensap explore the older-and-younger-brother relationship, a subject dear to Eggers. This year, Eggers puts the cartoon and "filler" material into his forward, which is skippable (except for the young editors' self-written profiles), as is the short introduction by musician Beck.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Once again, aided by an advisory board of high-school students, Eggers has selected an eclectic mix of short stories, reportage, essays, and humor--the variety so great that its inclusion into the genre-specific Best American series seems like a sly wink. It's hard to review a work that includes Al Franken's "Tearaway Burkas and Tinplate Menorahs," his account of a USO tour in Iraq, alongside George Saunders' gorgeous and moving short story "Bohemians." It's also difficult to say exactly who should read this fine, provocative collection. The audience may be youngish, but it would be ridiculous to suggest their parents (or even grandparents) wouldn't enjoy pieces such as William T. Vollmann's "They Came Out like Ants!" which chronicles his fascinating and funny quest to locate Chinese tunnels in Mexicali (also included in this year's Best American Travel Writing). If there's a wrong note, it's that musician Beck was commissioned to write a three-page introduction, thereby securing his name for the cover. They don't need a rock star to sell writing that rocks. Keir Graff
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Reader Reviews
I'm a fan of short stories and essays in general because I tend to finish a good sixty to 70% of the ones I start. Contrast that to novels and non-fiction monographs, where, secondary to undertreated ADHD and a busy schedule, I probably complete less than 10% of books I start. That's okay, I like accumulating books with bookmarks a third of the way in. An unfinished book is like a totem, a sacred symbol of potential wisdom, something to anticipate. But still, there is something satisfying and confidence boosting about reading something completely in one sitting. I like this series, the adolescents we are told do the selections must have a keen eye for talent. Unlike other reviewers, I was not bothered by some of the overlap, in particular multiple stories about sibling rivalry. It's a pretty big theme in the lives of most people with siblings, and its effects resonate in multiple realms of our relationships and interactions. Perhaps it's closer to the surface for the Bay area teenagers who made these selections. That's fine. Personally, I'm glad they didn't throw out any of these stories in the name of variety and balance. Oh, by the way, have you gotten into Sudoku yet? You really should. I particularly enjoyed Molly McNett's work, I hope we'll hear more from her, as well as the contributions by Franken, Saunders, Vollmann, Dickinson, and Boudinot. Big fan, big fan. So far, 2005 is the best edition of this series.