The Best American Non-Required Reading 2008

Book #5 on my reading list was The Best American Non-Required Reading 2008.

Last year's BANRR was a big hit for me, so I came into this year with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately I didn't find this one nearly as compelling as last year. There are still some winners sprinkled throughout, but the overall quality just isn't what I was hoping for. I guess all those non-required authors had a down year last year. The big winner for me by far was George Saunders' excellent, excellent, excellent "Bill Clinton, Public Citizen". Laura van den Berg's "Where We Must Be" also stood out.

Why I Read This One
I'm a big fan of the series so picking this one up was a no-brainer.

George Saunders interviews Bill Clinton

McSweeney's #24

Book #21 on my reading list was McSweeney's #24.

This issue of McSweeney's is split into two parts, with each half of the book binded on opposite sides. One side is a tribute to Donald Barthelme featuring commentary by such stalwarts as George Saunders and Padgett Powell as well as two uncollected stories from Barthelme himself. It's mostly stories about Barthelme himself rather than fiction inspired by him, but it's an interesting read nonetheless. The two Barthelme stories included at the end are not his best and probably not a great place to start for the uninitiated.

The B-Side is a collection of six stories that have nothing to do with Barthelme. Of these I most enjoyed Jonathan Ames' Guy Noir gone wrong "Bored to Death".

My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead

Tome #13 was My Mistress's Sparrow Is Dead: Great Love Stories, from Chekov to Munro.

It's not every day you find short story collections that mix works of some of today's best writers: George Saunders, Miranda July, Raymond Carver, Richard Ford, etc. alongside great writers of the past such as James Joyce, William Faulkner, Anton Chekov and Vladimir Nabakov. It's a bold choice on the part of editor Jeffrey Eugenides and one he manages to pull off without coming across as a Schelleyian madman. If you're guessing at this point that this must be a McSweeney's project give yourself a big pat on the back. Proceeds from this one go 826 Chicago and their sweet secret agent supply store.

Hard to pick favorite stories especially since I'd read some of the pieces previously but in terms of writers who piqued my interest for reading more, I'd go with Harold Brodkey whose two stories were both excellent.

Previously: The Book of Other People

The Braindead Megaphone

Book #39 this year was George Saunders' new essay collection The Braindead Megaphone.


Saunders appearing on Letterman? And the Colbert Report? I never thought I'd see the day. Looks like The Braindead Megaphone may be the book that finally hits the big time. Odd that his first non-fiction collection would be the thing to pique people's interest, but I guess a MacArthur genius grant and a Guggenheim Fellowship will do that for you. Anyways it couldn't happen to a better writer, and as a proud member of the Saunders Army I'm thrilled to see it.

Little known Saunders factoid: "Pastoralia" was the inspiration for the Cavemen in the Geico commercials. How sweet is that? Nick Kroll I believe you owe Mr. Saunders a thank-you note.

Oh ya, and the book itself? Excellent. Hilarious, heart-felt, innovative. But then again it's Saunders so what would you expect?

Saunders fan page

In Persuasion Nation

George Saunders' In Persuasion Nation was book #28 on my '06 reading list.

With this collection Saunders has added yet another fine achievement to his already impressive resume. The man who brought us the classic CivilWarLand In Bad Decline and its steller follow-up Pastoralia, is back with yet another superb set of satirical short stories that paint a bleak but oddly familiar image of a future society in which consumerism and other social shortfalls have been taken to the extreme. Some of my favorites from the new book include: "Jon", "My Amendment", "Christmas", "Bohemians", "Commcomm", and "I CAN SPEAK" which you can hear Saunders read here.

The book has its own website, so I'd recommend checking that out for more info on the book. It's chock full o' reviews, descriptions, downloads (including Tony Danza reading a Saunders story) and all kinds of other cool stuff. You can also join the Saunders Army and get cool stuff.

"This to me is not America.

What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy has a crazy notion different from your crazy notion, you pat him on the back and say, Hey pal, nice crazy notion, let's go have a beer. America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please not one droning glamorous reasonable voice." -- excerpt from George Saunders' "My Flamboyant Grandson"

Saunders Army Initiation Care Package

A couple of weeks ago I received this email sent to the George Saunders' mailing list:

You knew the duties of the Saunders Army were going to be rigorous. That your membership in this elite cadre would demand sweat, valor, extreme sacrifice...

Bring it on, you say.

OK. First, you must give us a mailing address. Well, we'd really appreciate it anyway. We need to know where to send your Saunders Army Initiation Care Package - which includes a limited edition signed chapbook of brilliant Saunders nonfiction pieces, as well as something other really nice stuff (let us surprise you, it's more fun that way).

The care package is free, but we'll be expecting a lot of you in the coming months. Because we are, of course, preparing to mobilize the Saunders Army. Saunders's brand new book of stories, In Persuasion Nation, lands in less than six weeks, and the plan involves Americans coming out en masse to greet it with flowers. Maybe there's some work for us to do? We hope you've been doing your calisthenics.

Thanks very much. Email me back.

Never one to pass up a good chance to join a literary militia I sent in my address. Much to my surprise, the initiation package arrived today and it's great! Included were:

• A signed and numbered (448 of 500) copy of a collection of non-fiction works titled A Bee Stung Me, So I Killed All The Fish: Notes From The Homeland, 2003-2006.
• A giant IPN poster, complete with instructions for building your own Saunders Book Catherdral
• An In Persuasion Nation iron-on transfer for t-shirt making goodness
• 5 IPN America tattoos, 5 IPN floral tattoos
• A Photo Challenge
• The IPN Official Recruitment Tool complete w/ hilarious 'descriptions' of Saunders' previous works

Now that's my kind of Army!

The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil

Book #2 of 2006 was George Saunders' new political satire The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, which I recently got for my birthday (thanks LDC!).

You can find review blurbs, excerpts, tattoos, and lots o' other Phil-related swag on the official website. But I must ask, since when do books have official websites?

My recommendation is read this one, but not before you read CivilWarLand and Pastoralia.

NPR Review
Bookforum Review

Pastoralia

Book #57 (and probably the last book) of my 2005 reading list was George Saunders' Pastoralia.

The book consists of 5 short stories and the titular novella (which you can read an excerpt of here). The novella is outstanding and even on it's own would justify picking up a copy. Although there's nothing to top 'The 400-lb CEO' here the short stories are all solid, particularly 'The Barber's Unhappiness' and 'Sea Oak'.

Definitely recommended, though if you're just getting started on Saunders I'd recommend picking up CivilWarLand in Bad Decline first.

CivilWarLand In Bad Decline

Book #40 of my 50 book challenge was CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders.

CivilWarLand consists of a six excellent short stories and a novella titled 'Bounty'. Each story is set in a future The Philidelphia Inquirer describes as 'a nightmarish post-apocalyptic world that might have been envisioned by Walt Disney on acid'. If you dig Aldous Huxley and Kurt Vonnegut (and I do) then you will probably find this book right up your alley. I enjoyed it quite a bit and will definitely be reading more of Saunders books when I get a chance. I've already picked up a copy of Pastoralia.

While all of the stories in the book were interesting, I think my favorite was "The 400-Pound CEO". It was originally published in Harper's Magazine and won a National Magazine Award for fiction in 1994. I can't find a free excerpt of the story online, but you can listen to it being read on NPR's This American Life here.

On a side note, while I was looking around online for info on the book I stumbled upon the fact that Ben Stiller is currently working on adapting CivilWarLand In Bad Decline into a feature film. Weird.