26/8/ · I love the Best American Essays series in general, but I was particularly glad to see one of my favorite writers (nature poet and essayist) Mary Oliver as the guest editor for the volume. I tend to read the Best series in drips and dabbles, delving into an essay mid-volume as the title or author catches my interest and then back-tracking (or forward-tracking, as the case may be) through /5 2/10/ · American essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau is most known for his masterful work, "Walden," about living a life close to nature. He was a dedicated abolitionist and a strong practitioner of civil disobedience. The Battle of the Ants: "I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war."Estimated Reading Time: 9 mins Drawing on extensive archival records, this digital memorial allows analysis of the ships, traders, and captives in the Atlantic slave trade. The three databases below provide details of 36, trans-Atlantic slave voyages, 10, intra-American ventures, names and personal information. You can read the introductory maps for a high-level guided explanation, view the timeline and chronology of
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Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read, american essays. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling american essays about the problem, american essays. Return to Book Page. Preview — The Best American Essays by Mary Oliver. The Best American Essays by Mary Oliver Editor.
Roberts Atwan Series Editor. Robert Atwan Editor, american essays. Edited by award-winning poet and essayist Mary Oliver, the latest edition of this "rich and thoughtful collection" Publishers Weekly offers the finest essays "judiciously selected from countless publications" Chicago Tribune. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published October 8th by Mariner Books first published August 26th More Details Original Title. Other Editions 1.
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Add this book to your favorite list ». Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of The Best American Essays Oct 27, David rated it it was ok Shelves: read-in Addendum to original review, explaining why I have downgraded this to two stars - italicized material below : My second criticism is probably more a reflection of my personal taste, and may not be shared by other readers. But I felt that Mary Oliver's background as a poet shone through, with the result that many of the pieces had a kind of "writerly" quality that might appeal to other writers, but was a bit american essays for a general reader like me.
This was particularly true of pieces like Chris A Addendum to original review, explaining why I have downgraded this to two stars - italicized material below : My second criticism is probably more a reflection of my personal taste, and may not be shared by other readers. This was particularly true of pieces like Chris Arthur's " En trance", Patricia Hampl's "The Dark Art of Description", Brian Doyle's "The Greatest nature Essay Ever", Cynthia Ozick's "Ghost writers", John Updike's "The Writer in Winter", any of which might be of interest to someone attending a writer's workshop, but none of american essays seemed to me to hold much interest for a general reader.
And, of course, it didn't help my evaluation that one of the longest pieces in the collection is by Richard Rodriguez, a writer whose self-indulgent posturing and whining gets on my last nerve. In a slim collection that doesn't even exceed pages, the 21 pages devoted to his contribution "the God of the Desert" could surely have been put to better use. Not to end on too sour a note, honorable mention american essays surely due to; Sue Allison's "Taking a Reading" Jill Mc Corkle's "Cuss Time" David James Duncan's soaring "Cherish this Ecstasy" and Kathryn Miles's wonderful "Dog is our Copilot" But these amount to no more than 25 pages ofamerican essays, or - if you prefer - 4 essays out of a disappointing batting average.
original review starts below: Definitely an improvement over last year's woeful selection courtesy of pretentious assmarmot Adam Gopnikthis year's pretty slim american essays still doesn't manage to american essays above 3 stars.
truth be told, it's a solid 2. What to say? Well, this year's editor is a poet, american essays, so that shines through in many of the essays. A lot of writerly writing, if that floats your boat personally I found many of american essays pieces more than a little precious.
My other criticism, which seems to be a recurring one for this particular collection, is that you, the reader, may not find the navel-gazing of many of the contributors nearly as interesting as they evidently find it. Personally, I am beginning to think that this particular volume in the "Best American" series is about ready to be put on the chopping block. Back down to american essays stars - the dross really outweighs the few decent contributions yet again.
flag 7 likes · Like · see review, american essays. View all 3 comments. Nov 08, Dave rated it it was ok. Must be the slimmest collection ever. Disappointing selection of essays, with many being less than 10 pages long. flag 1 like · Like · see review. Oct 05, Carrie rated it liked it Shelves: read-harder There were about a american essays of essays that were either difficult to get through or just didn't interest.
Those I particularly enjoyed were "Faustian Economics" by Wendell Berry, Brian Doyle's "The Greatest Nature Essay Ever," "Madre de Dios" by Barry Lopez, Jill McCorkle's "Cuss Time," "Dog Is Our Copilot" by Kathryn Miles, "Return to Hayneville" by Gregory Orr, "Shipwrecked" by Janna Malamud Smith, and "First" by Ryan Van Meter.
There were a few others I enjoyed as well, but those were my favori There were about a handful of essays that were either difficult to get through or just didn't interest. There were a few others I enjoyed as well, but those were my favorites. flag Like · see review. Mar 03, american essays, Eva Strange rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fictionessays-articles. A collection of this kind is naturally american essays a mixed bag.
If you share Mary Oliver's interests as I doyou'll likely find much in here to like and enjoy and nod along with, and won't gel as much with the pieces she likely included for neutrality's american essays. I found several authors that were previously unknown to me and whose works I've put on my to-read shelf, and what more can you ask for?
May 12, Shadin rated it liked it. Some of these were such fun quick reads Patricia Hampl's and others were hard skims -- to be expected with collections. Jun 25, Jessica added it. I'm not sure why Mary Oliver, a poet, american essays, was chosen to edit an anthology of essays. I guess had this anthology been more enthralling it would have seemed an enlightened choice, but as it is, this is the worst of the BA Essay Anthologies I've read so far.
First of all, an overwhelming amount of the essays are about writing Patricia Hampl's is the bestwhich is great for us writers, but I'm sure less than captivating for everyone else.
Such a selection sure doesn't invite the casual reader into th I'm not sure why Mary Oliver, a poet, was chosen to edit an anthology of essays. Such a american essays sure doesn't invite the casual reader into the american essays. Secondly, american essays, almost all of the essays are shorter than normal, and on over-done topics, like american essays. I think I'm done reading essays about dogs, even if the dogs are Charles Darwin's.
It's like dogs are supposed to be some sort of doppelganger doggelganger? of the soul, when in fact, they are dogs, and are thus predictable, and american essays add little narrative suspense.
I mean, I think dogs are cute in real life, but on the page, there are only so many things a dog is going to do.
And third, american essays, even the best writers here seem to be at their worst: I am an ardent fan of Richard Rodriguez, but he should stay out of the Middle East - he doesn't know enough about it to earn his own profound voice, american essays. I also love Jerald Walker, but he's writing about writing here, and like so many other writers on writing he comes off as more self-involved than I suspect he actually is.
There are a few essays that outshine everything else: Amy Leach's "You Be The Moon" is one of those essays that will sail 1, applications american essays writing school - truly inspiring. And Michael Lewis's "The Mansion: A Subprime Parable" is a delightful, informative, american essays, page-turner - solid nonfiction.
Everything else is kinda meh. Dec 12, Bill is currently reading it. I've been reading this series every year since american essays started appearing, back during the Reagan administration. For the most part I've found it a pleasing exercise, american essays. Sometimes it is full of things that I have already read, and am pleased to rediscover, and have between covers, american essays.
And sometimes, rarely, it is full of essays that reflect the interests of the guest editor, and is otherwise oblique to american essays. The year Susan Sonta I've been reading this series every year since it started appearing, back during the Reagan administration.
The year Susan Sontag edited the set was like that-- when I was done I knew what sort of thing Ms. Sontag liked to read, and I knew that we'd have an awkward evening if american essays were ever paired at a dinner party, american essays. She died before that happened, but now I have to worry about meeting Mary Oliver at a party.
I'm not familiar with Ms, american essays. Oliver's work.
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, time: 24:44The Best American Essays by Mary Oliver
The volume of The Best American Essays marks the sixth year in this flourishing series. Consistently singled out as presenting the year's best short nonfiction, it has reawakened excitement for this remarkably versatile, often overlooked and occasionally maligned form/5 2/10/ · American essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau is most known for his masterful work, "Walden," about living a life close to nature. He was a dedicated abolitionist and a strong practitioner of civil disobedience. The Battle of the Ants: "I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war."Estimated Reading Time: 9 mins Drawing on extensive archival records, this digital memorial allows analysis of the ships, traders, and captives in the Atlantic slave trade. The three databases below provide details of 36, trans-Atlantic slave voyages, 10, intra-American ventures, names and personal information. You can read the introductory maps for a high-level guided explanation, view the timeline and chronology of
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