Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Pick the Best New Yorker Story of 2007

I have been commenting on New Yorker stories since the beginning of the year, every week, week after week. There have been stories that have annoyed me (often because they clearly weren't, or turned out not to be, stand-alone stories) and there have been stories I loved. Some time soon I'm going ot name my five favorites for the the year and might even choose a winner.

Please help me by leaving a comment about your favorites!

If you need a reminder, here are links to all of my comments throughout the year:
New Yorker 2007.

13 comments:

Jeff landon said...

"Or Else" by Antonya Nelson was not only my favorite New Yorker story but, by a long shot, my favorite story of the year.

Myfanwy Collins said...

I'm with Jeff--"Or Else" by Antonya Nelson.

Queen Quill said...

I was hoping the one with the woman who takes her mother to boil her blood would be on the list, but looks like that was last year. I'm using "what I remember most" as my criteria, and must say, the 9-11 DeLillo piece stands out for me.

Anonymous said...

I loved "The Cold Outside" by John Burnside. For me it was very evocative. Mind you, I didn't read (or sometimes, finish) every New Yorker story, so it's possible I missed some really good ones. But this one stands out in my memory.

Ann H.

Stephan Clark said...

I should read them all one year, to get a full look at the magazine like you did. Of the ten or so I did read, three stand out. In reverse order (the Miss America model), they are:

3. Luda and Milena. Great character sketches, interesting story -- two older women going after a guy at ESL lessons. But the ending and switch in POV were disappointing; the former seemed to make this a story to laugh at, more than laugh along with.

2. Swimming by T Cooper. Like you wrote, nice, fluid, quick story.

1. Cell One by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Superb, and with the most perfect, fitting ending, one that I felt implicated me as a reader, drawing me into the narrative. I did want more, but I couldn't, I shouldn't have wanted it.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to vote for David Foster Wallace's "Good People," with the caveat that I only read a small handful of this year's New Yorker stories. Second would be the DeLillo, even though it's really an excerpt.

Pamela (as you know I can only seem to post here "anonymously")

Anonymous said...

I loved the DeLillo story which was excerpted from his novel "Falling Man" which I didn't like nearly as much. I also enjoyed Jennifer Egan's story from the most recent issue, "Found Things". I kept wondering if it was salvaged from her novel "Look at Me", a remnant of that novel she decided to cut, because the narrator of the short story, Sasha I think her name was, reminded me so much of the model narrator of "Look at Me". Karen McBryde

Mary Akers said...

I just backtracked and read Mr. Bones and loved it. Boy, the nuance of feelings between the parents and the reactions of the children felt so real. Also the father who uses pat humor, blackface, and a wig to finally say what he has been wanting to say for years...excellent...except for the ending, which unfortunately fizzled. I wish I had read the TC Boyle one, as I'm a big fan--have to find it if I can and check back.

Rebel Girl said...

Just wanted to say that I just found your blog - I'll be a repeat visitor.

Unknown said...

Keep nominating folks! (I'm working on my long list . . .)

Rebel Girl, thanks for visiting, and thanks for the links on your blog. Much appreciated!

Mike Young said...

"Or Else" by six furlongs.

Kelly Spitzer said...

Oh! "Or Else" by Antonya Nelson. Telluride, Cortez, Hwy 666, the dam at Dolores! This is HOME. How could I not choose this story?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Bones is my favorite. And, in my opinion it has a great ending (I don’t understand why people think the ending falls flat). There’s so much that can be read into those final passages (don’t want to go into ‘why’ for those who have not read it).

I liked all the stories. Or Else, Swimming and Mr. Bones are my top three. Mr. Bones is the most memorable.