Amazon.com: Customer reviews: The Best American Short Stories 2015 (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

Top positive review

Outstanding edition this year! Well done Mr. Boyle!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2015

I've been reading this series, this annual collection for years and this edition is outstanding. T.C. Boyle has selected a wonderful set of stories. Normally I find only a handful of outstanding stories each year but this time at least half the selections are outstanding for me. Some of course are available on line from the original publication, but definitely/easily/wonderfully worth the price. My favorites:

The Siege at Whale Cay by Meghan Mayhey Bergman
Moving on by Diane Cook
Bride by Julia Elliott
The Fugue by Arna Bontemps Hemenway
The Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis Johnson
Sh'khol by Colum McCann
Madame Lazarus by Maile Meloy
North by Aria Beth Sloss
Unsafe at Any Speed by Laura Lee Smith
and the final killer story which I would have accused Mr Boyle of ending with on purpose despite the fact they are alphabetical by author:
Mr. Voice by Jess Walter

Mr. Voice and Sh'khol are my top two picks here.

Wonderful, wonderful stories!

5 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Millard F. Johnson

Disappointing anthology

Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2016

Not the best by a long shot. Some fairly mediocre short stories in here along with some good stuff. One story by Vonnegut (in a 2015 anthology, years after Vonnegut's death) is really pretty crappy. I am reasonably sure that Vonnegut would never have allowed thin stinker to be published if he were alive.

There are some jewels in here like John Dufresne's 'The Cross-eyed Bair", but generally the collection seems to have been packaged more for sales than quality.

I'm disappointed that T.C. Boyle would put his name on it.

5 people found this helpful

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Kenny A. Chaffin

Outstanding edition this year! Well done Mr. Boyle!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2015

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Luke

The Best Worth A Read

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2015

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The stories selected are well crafted and very interesting. I used the collection in a class and there were many comments generated by each story as we analyzed plot and character. There seemed to be new and/or different authors represented and this was a treat as it is nice having exposure to a other writers. Some stories pushed the limit on length and really were "long" short stories.

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Superb!

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2015

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Superb! Of course one would expect that when the title of the book is "The Best American Short Stories 2015." Two editors, Heidi Pitlor and T.C. Boyle, culled hundreds of selections down to 20--and they are all incredible. OK, there was one I didn't like much, but only one. They run the gamut of topics--from a widower discovering a massage parlor to a married man having his first affair and buying a sports car all on the same day. There is the story of a mom and dad having trouble with their teenage daughter so they take her on a two-month Parisian vacation only to experience even worse trouble. This book chronicles the everyday stories of children, parents, lovers gay and straight...of life being lived. I was especially fascinated by a distinct thread I discovered from one story to the next--there is a rhyme and reason to the order. Treat yourself to this wonderful volume of stories.

3 people found this helpful

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Soph

Terrific collection.

Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020

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Another collection of stories published in American and Canadian magazines. The best part is the Authors notes section. It is a terrific way to discover new favorite authors.

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Amazon Customer

The "Best of" series of books are great reading material

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017

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The "Best of" series of books are great reading material. I like the convenience of short stories. They allow me to quickly read something while waiting in lines, waiting for appointments, or when I just have a few minutes. And these are contemporary and some of the best!

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Love this series - congrats on 100 years!

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2016

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These books are great. I love short stories. They never fail to pick a variety of interesting reads that keep you thinking. You get a different style story to story. If you are short on time you get to read something start to finish, which I love. Great for airplanes or a one hour mental break.

One person found this helpful

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Joan PriceTop Contributor: Pets

Brilliant choice of stories

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2016

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This is an extraordinary anthology. I love ready contemporary short stories, and this is one of the best anthologies I've found. The stories are strong, varied, and deep enough for book club discussion. I admire Boyle's selection skills and the craft of the writers he includes.

2 people found this helpful

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Iryna Hall

beside being just great for personal "escape from the world

Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2016

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I incorporate the readings in my lessons (I tutor ESL). These are really well-selected stories that provide lots of topics for discussion, beside being just great for personal "escape from the world."

2 people found this helpful

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Jeena

Some great stories in this collection.

Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016

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Some great stories in here, and some I wasn't crazy about. Bought it for a summer class. Book is in great shape, type is easy to read - not tiny, but not the large-size type for people with vision problems.

One person found this helpful

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Drew Brown

Another Great Collection

Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2016

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Boyle is a great writer, and his rambunctious writing style is typified by the writers he chooses for this collection. You'll love some, hate some, but every year the Best American Short Stories collection is worth a roll of the dice.

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