The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2013

November 8, 2010
David Sedaris's unflappable inventiveness translates, in the first section of this anthology, to a smattering of pieces with giddiness, daring, and heart. A particular highlight, by Wendy Molyneux, earned his award for "Best American Woman Comedy Piece Written by a Woman" and is guaranteed to set off snorts of delight with each re-read. In the second section, as in previous years, Eggers's picks prove solid and balanced, if expected. Rana Dasgupta's superb article, exploring India's new wealth and subsequent fallout, as well as David Rhode's profound and gripping account of his seven months as a Taliban hostage reflect not only the literary achievements of 2009, but also the horrors and complexities of these current times on. Meanwhile, Tea Obreht's "The Tiger's Wife" and Kurt Vonnegut's "The Nice Little People" embody the ageless miracles of surprise and originality that comprise the human imagination.

October 15, 2013
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 divorcee, 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.

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November 1, 2013
Welcome to the twelfth edition of this popular series, the last to be edited by founding editor Eggers. It's surprising, in a way, that the series has lasted this long, considering that each installment is a sort of mishmash of fiction and nonfiction pieces, without a truly unifying theme, selected by high-school students. But that's the genius of the series. It eschews big names, big issues, and award winners in favor of stuff that's simply entertaining. That's not to say you won't find a few recognizable names on the contents page; this installment includes Lynda Barry, Jennifer Egan, and Nick Hornby. The selections include think pieces, personal reflections, some poetry, some fiction, and some just plain unclassifiable writing drawn from such diverse sources as the New Yorker, the Paris Review, and the website tumblr. Something for everyone, indeed.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

October 3, 2005
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.