The best American short stories 2020 : selected from U.S. and Canadian magazines

“Twenty masterfully crafted short stories” by T.C. Boyle, Emma Cline, Mary Gaitskill, and more: “Outstanding and well worth the read.” —Booklist (starred review)“To read their stories felt to me the way I suspect other people feel hearing jazz for the first time,” recalls Curtis Sittenfeld of her initial encounter with the Best American Short Stories series. “They were windows into emotions I had and hadn’t had, into other settings and circumstances and observations and relationships.”Decades later, Sittenfeld was met by the same feeling selecting the stories for this year’s edition. The result is a striking and nuanced collection, bringing to life awkward college students, disgraced public figures, raunchy grandparents, and mystical godmothers. To read these stories is to experience the transporting joys of discovery and affirmation, and to realize that story writing in America continues to flourish. The Best American Short Stories 2020 includes selections by: T. C. BOYLE • EMMA CLINE • MARY GAITSKILL • ANDREA LEE • ELIZABETH McCRACKEN • ALEJANDRO PUYANA • WILLIAM PEI SHIH • KEVIN WILSON • JANE PEK • CAROLYN FERRELL • SCOTT NADELSON • MENG JIN • and more To read their stories felt to me the way I suspect other people feel hearing jazz for the first time, recalls Curtis Sittenfeld of her initial encounter with the Best American Short Stories series. They were windows into emotions I had and hadnt had, into other settings and circumstances and observations and relationships. Decades later, Sittenfeld was met by the same feeling selecting the stories for this years edition. The result is a striking and nuanced collection, bringing to life awkward college students, disgraced public figures, raunchy grandparents, and mystical godmothers. To read these stories is to experience the transporting joys of discovery and affirmation, and to realize that story writing in America continues to flourish. Godmother tea / Selena Anderson -- The apartment / T.C. Boyle -- A faithful but melancholy account of several barbarities lately committed / Jason Brown -- Sibling rivalry / Michael Byers -- The nanny / Emma Cline -- Halloween / Marian Crotty -- Something Street / Carolyn Ferrell -- This is pleasure / Mary Gaitskill -- In the event / Meng Jin -- The children / Andrea Lee -- Rubberdust / Sarah Thankam Mathews -- It's not you / Elizabeth McCracken -- Libert / Scott Nadelson -- Howl Palace / Leigh Newman -- The nine-tailed fox explains / Jane Pek -- The hands of dirty children / Alejandro Puyana -- Octopus VII / Anna Reeser -- Enlightenment / William Pei Shih -- Kennedy / Kevin Wilson -- The special world / Tiphanie Yanique “To read their stories felt to me the way I suspect other people feel hearing jazz for the first time,” recalls Curtis Sittenfeld of her initial encounter with the Best American Short Stories series. “They were windows into emotions I had and hadn’t had, into other settings and circumstances and observations and relationships.” Decades later, Sittenfeld was met by the same feeling selecting the stories for this year’s edition. The result is a striking and nuanced collection, bringing to life awkward college students, disgraced public figures, raunchy grandparents, and mystical godmothers. To read these stories is to experience the transporting joys of discovery and affirmation, and to realize that story writing in America continues to flourish. THE BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES 2020 INCLUDES T. C. BOYLE • EMMA CLINE • MARY GAITSKILL ANDREA LEE • ELIZABETH McCRACKEN • ALEJANDRO PUYANA WILLIAM PEI SHIH • KEVIN WILSON and others "'To read their stories felt to me the way I suspect other people feel hearing jazz for the first time, ' recalls Curtis Sittenfeld of her initial encounter with the Best American Short Stories series. 'They were windows into emotions I had and hadn't had, into other settings and circumstances and observations and relationships.' Sittenfeld was met by the same feeling selecting the stories for this year's edition. The result is a striking and nuanced collection, bringing to life awkward college students, disgraced public figures, raunchy grandparents, and mystical godmothers. To read these stories is to experience the transporting joys of discovery and affirmation, and to realize that story writing in America continues to flourish."--Provided by publisher "'To read their stories felt to me the way I suspect other people feel hearing jazz for the first time,' recalls Curtis Sittenfeld of her initial encounter with the Best American Short Stories series. 'They were windows into emotions I had and hadn't had, into other settings and circumstances and observations and relationships.' Sittenfeld was met by the same feeling selecting the stories for this year's edition. The result is a striking and nuanced collection, bringing to life awkward college students, disgraced public figures, raunchy grandparents, and mystical godmothers. To read these stories is to experience the transporting joys of discovery and affirmation, and to realize that story writing in America continues to flourish."-- Provided by publisher Presents a selection of the best works of short fiction of the past year from a variety of acclaimed sources New York Times Best-selling Author Curtis Sittenfeld Selects The Twenty Best Short Stories Of The Year.