Best of the South: From the Second Decade of New Stories from the South

by Anne Tyler and Shannon Ravenel

Since 1986, New Stories from the South has brought the best short fiction of the year to the attention of a national audience. The series has been called "the collection others should use as a model"... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1565124707
• ISBN13: 9781565124707
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Algonquin Books
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Best of the South

I enjoyed the book except for some of the language, F--- this and that (in just a few stories). I thought the south was the last enclave of a more ... refined writing

Some Good, Some Great

I purchased this book for a college course and found the stories generally enjoyable. I'm an English major and read a fair amount of fiction, some of which is lacking, and this is definitely a decent read. One story in particular, Faith Healer by Lucia Nevai, was one I found deeply affecting. In my long history of reading powerful and emotional novels I've become teary eyed one or twice at most but after reading Faith Healer I found myself completely in tears. I don't completely know why but I absolutely loved the story.

A refreshing View of The South

The South is responsible for the birth of blues, jazz, rock and roll, and a myriad of other American cultural staples. Yet, most often it is portrayed in books and movies as a backwards place filled with Beverly Hillbillies rejects and racist. That is why Best of The South is such a welcome and refreshing collection. In this collection there are tales that highlight many aspects of southern life. FLA. Boys is a story of lost innocence that may have never existed and is a true heartbreaker. Birdland is one of my favorite short stories bar none. It is a look at the regionalism of the south, the way others view the south, tradition, and how southerners view their selves. William Gay also lends a powerful and heart wrenching story, Those Deep Elm Brown's Ferry Blues, about dealing with parent's suffering with Alzheimer's. Those are just a few of the gems that make this a sparkling anthology of literature. That they show the true depth and breadth of southern life, intellect, and art only serves as polish on already shining gold.

Truly the Best

Each year, I look forward to Algonquin's Best Stories of the South. To have the best of the best all in one book is a treat. Some of my favorite stories reside in these pages. "Memorial Day" is one of my ALL TIME favorite short stories. If you enjoy the short story form--and appreciate the Southern voice in its varied and rich tones, then this should be a staple on your bookshelf.