A couple of these were so good that I turned the pages back as soon as I was finished and read them again immediately. "Retreat" was the standout for A couple of these were so good that I turned the pages back as soon as I was finished and read them again immediately. "Retreat" was the standout for me. ...more
Not a bad edition of the annual collection, but this is not one of the O. Henry Prize's best efforts. Several of the stories are very fine -- the stanNot a bad edition of the annual collection, but this is not one of the O. Henry Prize's best efforts. Several of the stories are very fine -- the standouts are "An Ordinary Soldier of the Queen" by Graham Joyce; "Icebergs" by Alistair Morgan; "Tell Him about Brother John" by Manual Munoz; and "Twenty-Two Stories" by Paul Theroux. But many of them left me either cold, shrugging my shoulders, or skipping them after reading the first third or so. Really, none of the stories submitted to the jury was any better than "The House Behind a Weeping Cherry," Ha Jin's middling effort here? I find that hard to believe. And don't even get me started on "The Bell Ringer" by John Burnside, a prolix, static affair that was slightly less interesting than a reading of the P-Q section of the Queens phone book. (I know, because I actually read the P-Q section of the Queens phone book right after I finished the Burnside story, just to perk me up a bit, and it worked like a charm.)
Anyhow, not a waste of time, but nothing that shouldn't be missed, either. ...more
Very, very short stories (they're a spin on "Palm of the Hand Stories"), none longer than four pages, some of which are extraordinary. I read this booVery, very short stories (they're a spin on "Palm of the Hand Stories"), none longer than four pages, some of which are extraordinary. I read this book very slowly because I didn't want it to end....more
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