Sometimes, it’s hard to make it through a whole novel. But you really want the satisfaction of reading a good story.<\/p>\n
Short stories really scratch that itch.<\/p>\n
When I’m busy, and I really want to escape into a story, I often read compilations or anthologies.<\/p>\n
I found this one, The Best American Non-Required Reading <\/i>from 2002. David Eggers edited it, and I had been interested in reading more of his stuff. Although I’ve been attracted to him through articles and other things, I still haven’t read his main works, such as the magazine McSweeney’s<\/i>. Well, at least I admit it.<\/p>\n
It was a wicked little collection. David Sedaris was included, although I can’t say his story was the best one. I loved Rodney Rothman’s story of crashing the corporate world without actually working there. Supreme.<\/p>\n
McKenzie’s “Stop That Girl” was engaging. It was a very female story, lots of interesting women in it.<\/p>\n
But “Higher Education” by Gary Smith was my favorite. It will stay with me. So wholesome it could have done just as easily in a Reader’s Digest<\/i>, it was needed in this young, hip, cynical compilation.<\/p>\n
I’m young enough to be the same kind of cynical Eggers is aiming for. And I also get cynical of my own cynicism. I love that this story ends it, and shows that yes, one person can make a difference and be as real and true to himself as humanly possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sometimes, it’s hard to make it through a whole novel. But you really want the satisfaction of reading a good story. Short stories really scratch that itch. When I’m busy, and I really want to escape into a story, I … Continue reading