Book List

The Pen/O. Henry Prize Authors 2011

  • FICTION

    YOU THINK THAT'S BAD

    MARCH 25, 2011

FICTION

YOU THINK THAT'S BAD

by Jim Shepard

The narrator of one story in this collection writes that, when the weather rages, communication is “reduced to hand signals... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

    MAY 21, 2007

FICTION

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

by Helen Simpson

A patchy, occasionally predictable collection, but Simpson and her material are, at their best, a perfect match. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD

    MAY 25, 2006

FICTION

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD

by Judy Doenges

Searing but incomplete coming-of-age novel; the characters are strongly outlined but the author fails to fill them out. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE NEWS FROM PARAGUAY

    MAY 4, 2004

FICTION

THE NEWS FROM PARAGUAY

by Lily Tuck

A splendid realization of its rich subject, and Tuck’s best so far. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE SPOT

    JUNE 1, 2010

FICTION

THE SPOT

by David Means

Though the author teaches at Vassar, these stories have a lot more punch and life than academic, creative-writing exercises. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    RAPTURE

    JAN. 28, 2002

FICTION

RAPTURE

by Susan Minot

Silly, aimless, and pretentious: Rapture reads like notes for a novel that the author had the good sense to abandon. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    ALIENS IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES

    MARCH 22, 2010

FICTION

ALIENS IN THE PRIME OF THEIR LIVES

by Brad Watson

Watson consistently delivers that elusive element great Southern writers have always brought to the table—a delicious sense... Full review >

FULL REVIEW >
  • FICTION

    THE GREAT NIGHT

    MAY 3, 2011

FICTION

THE GREAT NIGHT

by Chris Adrian

How could such a talented writer be led so astray? Blame the bad faerie Self-Indulgence. Full review >

FULL REVIEW >

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