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"Before you know it as the years go by, you're just like other people you have seen, with all those peculiar human ailments. Just another vehicle for temper and vanity and rashness and all the rest. Who wants it? Who needs it? These things occupy the place where a man's soul should be." -- Henderson the Rain King

Saturday, December 02, 2006

McSweeney's #21

Book #48 on my reading list this year was McSweeney's #21.

This issue is meat-and-potatoes McSweeney's with a renewed focus on great writing. The result is one of the finest collections of stories that McSweeney's has ever put out. Just about every story is a winner, but some of my favorites were works by Roddy Doyle, Rajesh Parameswaran, Arthur Bradford, Holly Tavel, Greg Ames, and yet another great contribution by Kevin Moffett. The standout for me though is the closing story, a historical fiction piece by Joyce Carol Oates titled 'Grandpa Clemens & Angelfish 1906' (loosely based on accounts of Samuel Clemens latter years).

Between stories are photocopies of fascinating and sometimes hilarious letters sent to Ray Charles. The letters in the book as well as many more which weren't included can be found on the Letters To Ray website.

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posted by Jamie at 1:06 AM