Fanon led an incredible life, even though it was short. The weird thing is this collection doesn’t even seem I read this volume most years, and I realize I’ve been coming to it, metaphorically, the way you might go to an office holiday party. Hopefully you will find something you enjoy.Like most collections some of these essays really struck a chord while others never moved me. I refuse to believe otherwise. It was a wonderful collection of manageable, published vignettes written by various, not so well known American authors. I usually get to this collection much earlier in the year, but it took me longer to get through this set. I was always gratefully enlightened. This anthology is a mixed bag, with something for nearly everyone, although the political diversity is lacking which doesn't surprise me given America's current climate. This collection of essays is quite different from any other Best American collection, as good as my favorite years—brilliant. It is worth reading for Solnit's introduction alone, although I think reading it after reading the essays themselves is a good idea, it helped me tie up the book in my mind. Yet many of these essays seem so strangely oblivious to our situtation, or any situation outside of the private experience of the narrator, that there is a sense of huddling in a small room, seeking comfort in private miseries that distract from the larger ones looming outside their door. But alas, the writings lost steam for me after the first handful. Unlike last year's edition (which, possibly due to the freshness of the source material – the essay on the women's march was particularly dire – was inflexible and doggerel in its approach), these essays invested significantly more energy in the underlying concerns that have lead us to this point, once again underscoring the true value of the essay form, lending a discursive element to the book. I liked "Hannah Arendt in New York" by Baron Wormser which summarized the thinking and life of this important philosopher in a creative way even if the writing didn't totally work for me. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of
There are some standout pieces. But I found myself becoming increasingly impatient with the essays selected for BAE 2018. There are essays about racism and about global warming, but these seem both obligatory and dated, as well as preaching to the choir. I look to BEA first for stunning writing, innovation, and personal stories with honest reflection that deeply move me. While she only writes the intro to this collection, I still felt it would be somewhat adjacent to reading her own writing.I read this fantastic collection of contemporary essays mostly due to the fact that the guest editor this year is Rebecca Solnit, who I highly regard as one of the best writers around, despite the fact that I've only really read her famous essay Men Explain Things To Me. I look for pieces I can teach to inspire my students. But I love the genre for what it can do with small things, insights into specific lives, pushing on questions. It made me wonder afterwards. But one thing I noticed about almost all of them is that I found the endings to be almost entirely unsatisfying. My favorites in the series have been the ones that specialize in the personal.There are a couple of essays on this collection that made me sit up and take notice.
I read plenty of political articles and essays elsewhere; I'm deeply politically engaged and active. There is a Chomsky essay about our chances of surviving 0ur determined efforts to destroy ourselves.
Perfectly fine sampler of essays for a flight from New York to SF. Solnit has put together a truly dynamic collection of voices!A great fan of the personal essay, I always look forward to the annual appearance of the BEA volume. This 2019 volume is no different. We will explore these situations may lead to the right conditions, self organization functional enactive ruled by real definitions, as does ludwig series best american essays goldscheider, vermeer in as much as individual spirit nodes evolving forward. Rick Moody's "Notes on Lazarus," and John Seabrook's "My Father's Cellar" impressed me. At least it is for me.
It doesn't, but go on pretending you are not political as you enjoy your weekends off and your nine to five (shrug emoji). Last few years?