Jesmyn Ward guest edited this collection of short stories by notable authors. Most were written during the pandemic and seem to add an overall gloomy mood to the collection. Unfortunately, I didn't care for the first two stories in the collection, so I pushed myself to skim and skip around within the book to find something more to my liking; I struggled to connect with much of the writing in the book, though it is well written. However, there are some true gems among them, Tracey Rose Peyton's and Kevin Wilson's stories in particular, and a fine collection for a more discerning reader overall.

Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A solid collection of stories with varied quality and across a good selection of genres. I'd say the ratio of good stories to "meh" ones is about 75/25, which is better than most anthologies of its type. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an ARC for review. I do want to point out that it was difficult to read because the Kindle edition that was provided has many formatting problems.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Best American Short Stories 2021.

I have a love/hate relationship with anthologies.

I know I won't like or connect with most of the stories but a few of them will stand out for me and make reading the collection worth it.

The only story I really liked and connected with was "Biology."

"Paradise" wasn't bad though I didn't like the characters like I did in "Biology."

Good writing and a diverse collection of stories but didn't like the majority of them but I usually feel this way so it's not the fault of the editor or the authors.

I really liked the selection of short stories in this book. It was compiled perfectly. Anytime that you read a short story collection, there are stories that you love, some you like, and others that you do not care for. I really expected that. I thoroughly enjoyed the selection of shorts though in this collection.

What an interesting collection of stories! I read them from time to time and each of them had a distinct style and overall feeling. This was my second short stories collection and I must say it was good... not necessarily awesome.. but still worth reading.

As these things work, all of the stories selected by two-time National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward for The Best American Short Stories 2021 compilation were actually published in English in American or Canadian periodicals between January 2020 and January 2021 by writers who call either the United States or Canada home. For that reason, the stories reflect much of the craziness that the world experienced during the chaotic year that 2020 so unexpectedly turned out to be for all of us. The stories told to us here by the especially diverse group of writers chosen to represent America’s best short writing of 2021 are thought-provoking reminders of just how different we all are now from who we were just one year earlier.

Almost every short story compilation will read differently to different readers. The favorite stories of one reader may barely impact another reader at all; some readers will love almost every story in the collection while others toss the book aside in frustration that none of the stories work for them. That’s just the way it happens, and with that caveat in mind, I want to give special mention to four of the twenty stories in The Best American Short Stories 2021 that most directly spoke to me.

The first is “Clementine, Carmelita Dog” (originally published in Granta) by David Means, a story that captures much of the feeling of isolation and despair that seems to have been so common during much of 2020. This story, although it uses the third person voice, is told largely through the eyes of Clementine, a “middle-aged dachshund,” who positively impacts the lives of two separate households, once as “Clementine” and then as “Carmelita.” While not exactly a feel-good story, this one leaves the reader in a hopeful mood about the things we can learn from the year we’ve just endured.

“Paradise,” by Maya Murray (originally published in The Southern Review), more directly addresses one of 2020’s disasters, the California wildfires that annually devastate portions of that state. In this character-driven story, we watch a woman trying to convince her 80-year-old father-in-law, a man for whom she now feels responsible despite his lifelong antagonism toward her, that it is time to abandon their home and run for their lives before it is too late to escape the fires. As I watched the interplay between the characters, I found myself wishing this one was much longer than it is.

Stephanie Soilleau’s “Haguillory” (originally published in Zoetrope: All-Story) is a revealing story about a deeply, probably permanently, flawed old man who confirms what kind of man he really is at the very end of the story. The story takes place in Louisiana, shortly after a hurricane has passed through the state, during a crabbing expedition the man and his wife have decided to make. Haguillory is a hard-to-forget fictional character that has earned his place in my memory — even though I can’t tell you why without spoiling the story.

Finally, there is “Biology,” by Kevin Wilson (originally published in The Southern Review), the story I found to be most touching one of the twenty in the collection. “Biology” is told largely in flashback through the eyes of a gay man who has just heard that his favorite high school teacher has died, the biology teacher who is responsible for having practically saved the man’s life by showing him, by example, how to survive his high school years. The teacher is a very complicated character, and I found myself being completely immersed in the world that Wilson created in the limited number of pages he allowed himself to tell the man’s story.

Bottom Line: The Best American Short Stories 2021 is an outstanding addition to this long-running series of short story compilations. That it reflects the work and world-views of such a diverse group of writers is an added bonus to readers looking to experience the writing of a group of young, new-to-them authors.

For readers that like literary short stories, this is an obvious choice. There's a nice variety, and it includes some great authors. I'm not sure if this is "better" than the other best of collections, since each one has it's own personality based on the author/editor, but this is a nice collection. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Manner Books (formerly HMH) for this ARC in exchange for my own opinion.

I've been buying The Best of American Short stories since the 1990's, they come out every year. This is the first one I didn't have to buy. I'm thankful for that because over the years they've had whole books where I couldn't relate to any of the stories some years. This year, was thankfully, different.

I really enjoyed some of the stories, others I could do without, but that's always the case with these type books. I especially enjoyed it this year and if you haven't given The Best of American Short Stories a chance in past years, this would be the year to give it a go!

The Vigorous Hand
Five Things about The Best American Short Stories 2021 by Jesmyn Ward (editor) and Heidi Pitlor (Series Editor)

The Best American Short Stories 2021 by Jesmyn Ward (editor) and Heidi Pitlor (Series Editor)
I’ve been a reader of The Best American Short Stories series for a very long time. Ever since I decided that I wanted to write short stories myself, I’ve sought out the best of the best to read and examine and complain about and adore. Some years I’m extremely happy with what I find in these pages, and other years I wish something different had happened. I used to think this was a matter of one year being better than others, but I’ve come around to the idea that it’s more a matter of my taste in stories aligning or misaligning with the editor of the current year’s edition. My utterly ingenious response to this misalignment has ultimately settled on: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
I was certain after reading the first few stories in the 2021 edition that I was going to be underwhelmed. I found myself arguing with the choices being made within the stories themselves by each individual author. I sometimes wanted to take the reigns of a story and make it something different than it was. But it was never a slog. I didn’t find myself not wanting to read the stories. They just kept getting under my skin in a way that I found disorienting.
Yeah. So these stories were told in a mode that I was either unfamiliar with, or was in opposition to, or claimed a kind of youthful exuberance that I could no longer access. I mean some of the writers in here were super young (not all of them, but some of them), and I like to think this isn’t what was bugging me, but I just don’t know. Anyway, I’ve always thought that I liked super young authors, but maybe I always liked super young authors when I thought of myself as super young. My children like to remind me that I “sound super old” when I say something that sounds super old, and I’m afraid whatever I may say about this current collection will sound super old. If it does, I’m sorry. You can go ahead and ignore anything I say that comes from that stance. Let the youth discover the hazards of being discovered young. I will sit in my corner and choke on my own words.
I didn’t so much slog (as I said) as I devoured. I wanted to get through every word of every page of this collection and I wanted to do it RIGHT NOW. This hardly ever happens to me with a Best American book. It may be something about me that is different, but it may be that these stories were far better than I was giving them credit for at the time. I am going to assume the latter. After all, as I mentioned, they were absolutely getting under my skin, and I can’t especially fault them for that. What I wouldn’t give to write a story that got under someone’s skin.
If there is one thing to be said for the stories in this Best American collection it is that they are diverse, full of life, and give me hope for the present and for the future of short fiction. In the end, I find myself recommending this year’s collection with a more vigorous hand than I have in many years.
As usual, the Best American Short Stories will be released in October. Pre-order it today.

I picked this one for its promise of offering the best short stories created during the pandemic period. I haven't tried Jesmyn Ward's work till now, but the introduction that she has provided for this collection made me sit up and take notice of it. I absolutely adored the introduction and found it one of the best parts of this collection.
Coming to the stories, all of them have deep sadness etched all over them and I can see how they would have been born during the pandemic. They perfectly complement the mood that you are in when you are isolated and you want to process the emotions that you go through in such times. This anthology is a great reflection of what the world was reeling from during the pandemic. Loneliness, sadness, ennui, the feeling of not belonging anywhere, these ugly demons were popping up in all parts of the world and they form the foundation of this collection too.

However, I found that I was not able to get into all the stories and I was struggling to keep my focus in quite a few of them. I tried to come back to them repeatedly after a few days to see if it was just my mood that was hindering me. But they still did not work for me. They were creative but something about them felt bland and lacklustre. There were a few that I loved and I kept going back to them for a re-read.
I found myself fascinated with the deep dive into a pet dog's mind in 'Clementine, Carmelita, Dog' by David Means and I was unable to shake this story from my mind. The subtle emotions that a dog may go through on being abandoned, the subsequent attachments that it forms with the family that rescues it, its nagging loyalty that makes it forgive its old family and still love them enough to run back to them on catching a whiff of their scent have been brought out exceptionally well.
Nuances of a young boy's trauma that have morphed into an unhealthy addiction to a video game in 'Playing Metal Gear Solid V' by Jamil Jan kochai was vivid in imagery and rich in emotions.
Similarly, a queer young boy's coming of age and his journey of accepting himself with the help of his teacher was beautifully captured through a snapshot of his memories in 'Biology' by Kevin Wilson.

'Paradise' by Yxta Maya Murray won my heart and senses with its vivid descriptions of the fire and evacuation process during a hurricane in a small town. It was mesmerising and filled with complex emotions and relevant social issues such as racism and classism.
Despite a few stories that were very hard to get into, I found that this entire collection was bound by vivid imagery and some gorgeous writing. I have mixed feelings about this anthology as a whole, but it did give me some beautiful stories to cherish.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an e-Arc.

This is, of course, a solid anthology, though I particularly appreciated Ward's intro more than even most of the stories. The stories themselves were hit or miss, and I found myself skimming more than I'd hoped I would.

"In the end, I hope this collection offers you the opportunity for immersion, for surprise, for travel, for awe." -From Jesmyn Ward's introduction for The Best American Short Stories 2021

I'm not sure what the overall rating would be- should I be evaluating the stories as an average, or the act of choosing these ones? The introduction? All in all, I found it was an eclectic assortment with some highs and lows. I wished for less sad ones (more happy/uplifting), and a few more with older MC's.

For a more individual rating per each story:

1. To Buffalo Eastward by Gabriel Bump - 2 stars, strangers, drugs, and Buffalo; three things I don't like

2. The Miracle Girl by Rita Chang-Eppig- 1 star- really not into how they use religion in this one

3. Our Children by Vanessa Cuti - 3 stars

4. The Rest of Us by Jenzo DuQue-4 stars- great writing

5. Escape from the Dysphesiac People by Brandon Hobson -4 stars- really sad though

6. Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain by Jamil Jan Kochai -5 stars- I really felt the character's emotions and was right there inside the story

7. Switzerland by Nicole Krauss -3 stars

8. Clementine, Carmelita, Dog by David Means -3 stars- gets slightly repetitive telling us how the dog can't translate what they are smelling/thinking into human words. Also I didn't get the real "point". I may also be slightly resentful that Clementine just abandoned her first human

9. Paradise by Yxta Maya Murray-3 stars

10. Good Boy by Eloghosa Osunde -5 stars- great writing!

11. Portrait of Two Young Ladies in Green and White Robes by Jane Pek -5 stars

12. The Last Days of Rodney by Tracey Rose Peyton -3 stars

13. In this sort of world, the asshole wins by Christa Romanosky -4 stars (another sad one though)

14. Love Letter by George Saunders -1 star (this is the sort of writing I hate)

15. A Way with Bea by Shanteka Sigers -2 stars

16. Haguillory by Stephanie Soileau-3 stars

17. You are my Dear Friend by Madhuri Vijay - 3 stars

18. Palaver by Bryan Washington -4 stars

19. Biology by Kevin Wilson-4 stars....3 stars (why are there so many sad ones)

20. Little Beast by C. Pam Zhang -4 stars

Thank you to the publisher, authors, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A varied and vibrant collection of previously published stories chosen by Jessmyn Ward. Overall, good selections, although the first story is the weakest and the order lacked an organizing structure or flow.

3.78 "varied, inclusive, dark" stars !!

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Houghton Miffin Harcourt, the editors and all the authors for an advanced e-copy. I am providing an honest review.

This is my first time reading this collection of annual stories that are chosen by an accomplished author. This year it was Ms. Jesmyn Ward and she wrote a very thoughtful and beautiful introduction.

For me these stories were about chaos, search for safety and love and dealing with the intersectionality of all our lives. In fact, all of us are other, and until we begin to acknowledge this the polarization, hatred and vitriol will not end. There are degrees of oppression (both internal and external) in all our lives but through compassion, wisdom and a genuine attunement to the other in others but also in ourselves along with social justice that is honest and keeping with a good life for all of us regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender expression, sexual orientation and/or health status. I am not sure this is possible but in order for us to survive we need to keep trying and include all of nature as well.

I was very pleasantly surprised that in 20 stories that there were five 5-stars, two 4.5 -stars and three 4-stars stories. Very high quality indeed.

There were no duds here but there a few stories that were 2.5 star average reads for me that I would not have included in a collection of bests (but that's just me ! and they may end up being favorites of yours)

In my usual fashion I will list the author, title, rating and a few impressions that I jotted down as I was reading.


1. Gabriel Bump (To Buffalo Eastward)- 2.5 stars....a young man hooks up with some strangers on his way to Buffalo and takes some psychedelics....not feeling it...sorry not sorry.

2.Rita Chang-Eppig (The Miracle Girl)-4 stars....a funny and interesting story of two sisters' experiences of missionary school in Taiwan...stigmata and all...terrific and an interesting commentary on race relations and colonialism within the context of Catholicism

3. Vanessa Cuti..... (Our Children)-2.5 stars... a mediocre story about the constraints of suburban womanhood

4. Jenzo DuQue(The Rest of Us)-5 stars.... a glorious story of Latin life in Chicago's south side...the writing is absolutely lush and bright and poignant !! (Bronze Award of the bunch)

5. Brandon Hobson (Escape from the Dysphesiac People)-3.5 stars....an Indigenous man of the plains reflects on his nation's history and his own ....sad and poignant

6. Jamil Jan Kochai (Playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) -4 stars...A brilliant story of traumatic memory and gaming addiction and the confusion of a young Afghani American man.

7. Nicole Krauss (Switzerland)-3 stars....a young Jewish girl learns about the ways of sensuality through the sexual antics of an older Iranian girl....good but nothing new or terribly original here

8. David Means (Clementine, Carmelita, Dog)-5 stars.... a gloriously beautiful story about living life as a Daschund....compelling and poignant (Silver Award of the bunch)

9. Yxta Maya Murray (Paradise)-3.5 stars...a mixed race woman escape the fires of northern california with her baby daughter and white father in law.....interesting reflections on race relations

10. Eloghosa Osunde (Good Boy).-5 stars...a story of queer Africa that blew my mind....the writing is fresh vivid and sharp...fuck this was riveting !

11. Jane Pek (Portrait of Two Young Ladies in Green and White Robes)-5 stars...one of the most beatiful and ethereal lesbian love stories that I have ever read...I could not stop quivering with tears as I read this one...never-ending and spanning centuries (Gold award of the bunch)

12. Tracey Rose Peyton (The Last Days of Rodney)-3.5 stars...a look at the last day of Rodney King dealing with long term PTSD after police brutality and the heavy prices he paid for being Black and male....very good !

13. Christa Romanosky (In this sort of world, the asshole wins)-4 stars...a terribly sad story of a dope addict mama...her rage, her traumas, her excuses....

14. George Saunders (Love Letter)-2.5 stars...a somewhat interesting political letter from a loving grandfather to his grandson...just not feeling it...kind of contrived and over stylized.

15. Shanteka Sigers (A Way with Bea)-3 stars...A Chicago teacher from rural Alabama struggles with classism, internalized racism and her husband as she yearns to make a difference...at least for Bea...

16. Stephanie Soileau (Haguillory)-3 .5 stars...A hateful Louisiana man his angry wife go fishing....fun, authentic, bizarre

17. Madhuri Vijay (You are my Dear Friend)-4.5 stars...A complex multi-faceted piece of noir that left me shocked, perplexed, a bit terrified...an understanding of South Asian sociology will help you with this one

18. Bryan Washington (Palaver)-3 stars...Interactions between a young gay Black man and his mother in Japan who is visiting him from Texas...clever and interesting

19. Kevin Wilson (Biology)-4 stars....A young gay eighth grader (possibly on the autistic spectrum) finds compassion and understanding in his biology teacher...poignant, uplifting but ever so sad...ps why do the mean girls play basketball?

20. C. Pam Zhang (Little Beast)-4. 5 stars...a terrifying story about the darkness that can lurk inside teenage girls and why that might be...the writing is stellar and claustrophobic

This is a wonderful collection. In her introduction, Editor Jesmyn Ward writes: “I hope that as you sink into world after world, become character after character in these stellar stories, you can forget yourself, and then, upon surfacing, know yourself and others anew.” These stories deliver on this promise, introducing readers to places and people and circumstances far and wide. My personal favorites were Miracle Girl and Switzerland. But excellence abounds throughout and I enjoyed this collection immensely. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.