Book Review of The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story

Notes from my discussion with Daniel

I'm glad Daniel made me read this book for our book discussion. The short story is my favorite form of storytelling. This 2021 anthology features some of the best stories from the last 50 years in all genres but including for the first time - science fiction, horror and fantasy. I felt nostalgic for young love after reading "Pet Milk" by Stuart Dybek. The casual violence of large families shocked me after reading "River of Names" by Dorothy Allison. Daniel also liked "Emergency" by Denis Johnson. Johnson's unique use of language and imagery -baby rabbits and snow storms - stuck in my mind. After hearing online news about another young abuse victim, I wondered how Ursula K. Le Guin knew how true her fantasy story was when she wrote "The Ones Who Walk Away From The Omelas". "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdich wowed me with her skill in crafting a story where every single word is vital to a heart-breaking end. "China" by Charles Johnson was a pure delight to read. His characters are so full of life, I feel I know them intimately. Talking with Daniel reminded me how wonderful and deep a short story can be, even when it's tiny like Alice Walker's "The Flowers", a very short story about a young girl who stumbles across the remains of a lynching. In “Diem Perdidi” Julie Otsuka tells the story of a woman who is suffering from memory loss but also the story of many Japanese Americans who chose to erase the painful parts of their lives. A good short story not only entertains, it amazes me with new visions, ideas and wonder. How does this writer create this complete, complex, beautiful world using only words? It's magic.