Heidi Pitlor is recognized for her significant role as the series editor of The Best American Short Stories, a position she has held since 2007. She is the author of the novel The Birthdays, and her second novel, The Daylight Marriage, is forthcoming. Through her editorial work and original fiction, Pitlor contributes to the landscape of contemporary American storytelling.
Celebrated author Lauren Groff curates a collection of the year's finest short stories, showcasing a diverse array of voices and styles. This anthology highlights exceptional narratives that reflect contemporary themes and powerful storytelling. With selections that resonate with readers, the compilation serves as a testament to the art of short fiction, making it a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre.
“By turns revealing, hilarious, dishy, and razor-sharp, Impersonation lives in that rarest of sweet spots: the propulsive page-turner for people with high literary standards.” —Rebecca Makkai, author of The Great BelieversAllie Lang is a professional ghostwriter and a perpetually broke single mother to a young boy. Lana Breban is a powerhouse lawyer, economist, and advocate for women’s rights. With aspirations of running for office, Lana and her staff have decided she needs help softening her public image. That’s when Allie is hired to write Lana’s memoir about her life as a mother. Allie believes she knows the drill: she has learned how to inhabit the lives of others and tell their stories better than they can. But soon Allie’s childcare arrangements unravel; she falls behind on her rent; her subject, Lana, is frustratingly aloof; and Allie’s boyfriend decides to go on a road trip toward self-discovery. As a writer for hire and a mother, Allie has gotten too used to being accommodating. At what point will she speak up for all that she deserves?Impersonation tells a timely, insightful, and bitingly funny story of ambition, motherhood, and class.
New York Times best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld selects the twenty best short stories of the year.
A page-turning exploration of unexpressed love and unnecessary loss. Riveting and heartbreaking. Geraldine BrooksHannah was the kind of woman who turned heads
Collects forty short stories published between 1915 and 2015, from writers that include Ernest Hemingway, John Updike, and Alice Munro that exemplify their era and stand the test of time --
Presents twenty of the best works of short fiction of the past year from a variety of acclaimed sources.
The Best American Series® First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected — and most popular — of its kind. The Best American Short Stories 2011 includes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Megan Mayhew Bergman, Jennifer Egan, Nathan Englander, Allegra Goodman, Ehud Havazelet, Rebecca Makkai, Steven Millhauser, George Saunders, Mark Slouka, and others
This year's edition of the well-known anthology engages with contemporary issues rather than adhering strictly to academic formalism. Series editor Pitlor notes that each of the twenty stories is "risky in its own way," showcasing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of crises. Among the diverse entries, two stories inspired by Hurricane Katrina stand out for their contrasting approaches. "Rubiaux Rising," the shortest at eight pages, delivers a powerful narrative about an Iraq veteran detoxing from painkillers in an attic during the storm. This compelling piece is the author's first submission, highlighting the anthology's value in uncovering new talent. In contrast, Adam Johnson's "Hurricanes Anonymous," the longest story at 40 pages, explores the emotional aftermath of two Louisiana storms, weaving intricate connections and losses. Other tales delve into themes of war and foreign affairs, featuring both emerging voices like Zambia-born Namwali Serpell and familiar authors such as Jill McCorkle, Richard Powers, and Annie Proulx. The collection includes multiple selections from esteemed publications like the New Yorker and Tin House. As always, readers are likely to discover new favorites within these pages. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
This brilliant collection, edited by the award-winning and perennially provocative Salman Rushdie, boasts a “magnificent array” (Library Journal) of voices both new and recognized.With Rushdie at the helm, the 2008 edition “reflects the variety of substance and style and the consistent quality that readers have come to expect” (Publishers Weekly).“We all live in and with and by stories, every day, whoever and wherever we are. The freedom to tell each other the stories of ourselves, to retell the stories of our culture and beliefs, is profoundly connected to the larger subject of freedom itself.”—Salman Rushdie, editorIntroduction / by Salman Rushdie --Admiral / T.C. Boyle --The year of silence / Kevin Brockmeier --Galatea / Karen Brown --Man and wife / Katie Chase --Virgins / Danielle Evans --Closely held / Allegra Goodman --May we be forgiven / A.M. Homes --From the desk of Daniel Varsky / Nicole Krauss --The king of sentences / Jonathan Lethem --The worst you ever feel / Rebecca Makkai --The wizard of West Orange / Steven Millhauser --Nawabdin Electrician / Daniyal Mueenuddin --Child's play / Alice Munro --Buying Lenin / Miroslav Penkov --Vampires in the lemon grove / Karen Russell --Puppy / George Saunders --Quality of life / Christine Sneed --Missionaries / Bradford Tice --Straightaway / Mark Wisniewski --Bible / Tobias Wolff
The Millers, an ordinary American family, are celebrating their father's 75th birthday, as all three of the adult children are expecting children of their own. An unexpected incident shatters the celebrations. A novel of family life, pregnancy, doubt and celebration.
