The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2013

by Dave Eggers (Editor), Walter Mosley (Introduction)

Overview

Dave Eggers and his students at the 826 Valencia and 826 Michigan writing labs compile fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and comics, as well as category-defying gems that have become one of the hallmarks of this lively collection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544105508
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/08/2013
Series:	Best American Nonrequired Reading Series
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	5.78(w) x 8.26(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

DAVE EGGERS is the editor of McSweeney’s and a cofounder of 826 National, a network of nonprofit writing and tutoring centers for youth, located in seven cities across the United States. He is the author of four books, including What Is the What and How We Are Hungry.

Editorial Reviews

2013-09-28
Celebrated editor and author Eggers (Hologram for the King, 2012, etc.) returns with his 12th--and final, he says--edited collection of pieces selected by student members of 826 National. Eclectic is indeed the best word to describe this odd assembly. There are works of fiction (long, short), nonfiction (ditto), tomfoolery and earnestness--and a relentless sense of multiculturalism. There are selections about Guatemala, Cuba, Tokyo, Haiti, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Spain and numerous other locales--including the United States. Just about all socioeconomic classes appear, as well, but the focus is on those who are struggling. The final grim story takes place in a grim iron mine in a grim section of India, and earlier tales present the homeless, the deprived and the criminal--outliers of many sorts. There are lies and sex and violence and numerous manifestations of the notion that we are not a very good species. To their credit, Eggers and the students selected pieces from some sources that are generally off most general readers' radar--Byliner, Storyville and even a piece from tumblr.com. But noted periodicals are represented here, as well, including the New Yorker, Paris Review and National Geographic. Though many of the authors will also be new to many readers, there is a gripping bullfighting story by Karen Russell, a spy story with a graphics feature by Jennifer Egan and a snarky explanation of a term paper assignment from the late Kurt Vonnegut Jr. There's also an amusing tale by Nick Hornby about a bitter divorcée, a journalist who starts a column called "Bastard," which features tales about her ex-husband. Religion appears rarely but has a prominent role in a surreal tale about a religious settlement on a West Indian island where a deep (bottomless?) hole lures some followers to take a leap of faith. A motley collection to match every mood a relentless reader might have.

Kirkus Reviews

"A motley collection to match every mood a relentless reader might have." — Kirkus "That’s the genius of the series. It eschews big names, big issues, and award winners in favor of stuff that’s simply entertaining...Something for everyone, indeed. " — Booklist —

From the Publisher