McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales
3 journalers for this copy...
A collection of stories by fabulous authors: Sherman Alexie, Aimee Bender, Michael Chabon, Michael Crichton, Dave Eggers, Neil Gaiman, Glen David Gold, Nick Hornby, Elmore Leonard, etc. Edited by M. Chabon. How could I resist?
This one's going to CasualReader when I'm through. I think he's going to organize a bookring/ray with it.
I'm halfway through this book and really enjoying it. I wrote a forum post about what I've read so far, so I'll copy it here:
I'm in the middle of McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales edited by Michael Chabon. Yeah, Chabon's name had a lot to do with me picking it up...I really like his stuff. So far, this is a fun book. Chabon decided he was tired of the soul-searching, personal revelation type of short story, and he wanted to read some good stuff along the lines of O. Henry, Poe, Flannery O'Conner, etc. He asked Dave Eggers if he could edit a collection of this sort of story, Eggers said sure, and this is the result.
It's got stories by:
Glen David Gold
Elmore Leonard
Nick Hornby
Laurie R. King
Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
Michael Crichton
Rick Moody
Harlan Ellison
Aimee Bender
Michael Chabon
Dave Eggers
(and a couple others I can't remember right now)
Like any collection, it's hit or miss so far, but it is fun to read. I loved Gaiman, Gold and Leonard's stories. Hornby's was great too. He wrote in the voice of a 15 year old boy and did it perfectly. Crichton's was so-so. S. King's felt like it needed more background (think it came from the gunslinger stuff he's written). Can't wait to finish this one.
I'm in the middle of McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales edited by Michael Chabon. Yeah, Chabon's name had a lot to do with me picking it up...I really like his stuff. So far, this is a fun book. Chabon decided he was tired of the soul-searching, personal revelation type of short story, and he wanted to read some good stuff along the lines of O. Henry, Poe, Flannery O'Conner, etc. He asked Dave Eggers if he could edit a collection of this sort of story, Eggers said sure, and this is the result.
It's got stories by:
Glen David Gold
Elmore Leonard
Nick Hornby
Laurie R. King
Stephen King
Neil Gaiman
Michael Crichton
Rick Moody
Harlan Ellison
Aimee Bender
Michael Chabon
Dave Eggers
(and a couple others I can't remember right now)
Like any collection, it's hit or miss so far, but it is fun to read. I loved Gaiman, Gold and Leonard's stories. Hornby's was great too. He wrote in the voice of a 15 year old boy and did it perfectly. Crichton's was so-so. S. King's felt like it needed more background (think it came from the gunslinger stuff he's written). Can't wait to finish this one.
This was a really cool collection of short stories by lots of authors I already knew I liked and several that I'd heard of but not read before. Since there are so many stories in here, I'm going to try to do a one sentence or so review for each story.
Tedford and the Megalodon by Jim Shepard -- Interesting adventure-type short story, but not my favorite of the lot.
The Tears of Squonk, and What Happened Thereafter by Glen David Gold -- Loved this one. It's a story about a clown and a murdering elephant. The only other thing I've read by Gold is Carter Beats the Devil, and I absolutely loved it. Can't wait for more from this author. Plus, I loved his bio in the back of the book:
The Bees by Dan Chaon -- Riveting story about an abusive father.
Catskin by Kelly Link -- This was so weird...witches, cats...really bizarre. I slogged my way through it, but can't say I enjoyed (or even understood) it.
How Carlos Webster Changed His Name to Carl and Became a Famous Oklahoma Lawman by Elmore Leonard -- Oh, come on. It's Elmore Leonard. It's terrific.
The General by Carol Emshwiller -- The story didn't stick with me too well, but I remember enjoying it as I read it.
Closing Time by Neil Gaiman -- Good little ghost story by Gaiman.
Otherwise Pandemonium by Nick Hornby -- Probably ties with Gold's story as my favorite of the lot. Hornby nails the voice of an angst-ridden 15 year old with a terrible secret.
The Tale of Gray Dick by Stephen King -- One of his gunslinger stories. I felt like I needed a little more background, but not a bad story. Rabid King fans will love it, I'm sure.
Blood Doesn't Come Out by Michael Crichton -- Okay, but predictable.
Weaving the Dark by Laurie King -- I like King. Loved this story about a woman losing her eyesight to glaucoma and finding adventure in her own backyard.
Chuck's Bucket by Chris Offutt -- Don't know how to describe this one, but I really liked it. A little reality thrown in, but I'm not sure how much.
Up the Mountain Coming Down Slowly by Dave Eggers -- Okay, but I've read Krakauer's Into Thin Air and this fictional account of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro just didn't do it for me.
The Case of the Nazi Canary by Michael Moorcock -- Good story. Alternative history about Hitler and the murder of his niece.
The Case of the Salt and Pepper Shakers by Aimee Bender -- Liked this one. Interesting take on relationships.
Ghost Dance by Sherman Alexie -- Creepy and gruesome zombie story. Good read.
Goodbye to All That by Harlan Ellison -- I've heard a lot about Ellison but never read him before. I liked this story about getting through the gateway to Heaven (which is located somewhere in the Himalayas, looks remarkably like a McDonald's and is staffed by ex-baseball players). Loved the last line.
Private Grave 9 by Karen Joy Fowler -- Pretty cool story about excavating an Egyptian tomb.
The Albertine Notes by Rick Moody -- This is the only story I didn't finish. It was rather long, and I just didn't get into it.
The Martian Agent, A Planetary Romance by Michael Chabon -- Liked the story, but have no clue what it has to do with the title. More to come in a later collection it says.
The other cool thing about this book is that the proceeds benefit 826 Valencia. For more, see www.826valencia.org.
Tedford and the Megalodon by Jim Shepard -- Interesting adventure-type short story, but not my favorite of the lot.
The Tears of Squonk, and What Happened Thereafter by Glen David Gold -- Loved this one. It's a story about a clown and a murdering elephant. The only other thing I've read by Gold is Carter Beats the Devil, and I absolutely loved it. Can't wait for more from this author. Plus, I loved his bio in the back of the book:
Glen David Gold is the author of the novel Carter Beats the Devil. A strapping man with a square jaw and windswept teeth, he stands in splendid proportion: five foot nine inches in height, some of it churning with muscle.
The Bees by Dan Chaon -- Riveting story about an abusive father.
Catskin by Kelly Link -- This was so weird...witches, cats...really bizarre. I slogged my way through it, but can't say I enjoyed (or even understood) it.
How Carlos Webster Changed His Name to Carl and Became a Famous Oklahoma Lawman by Elmore Leonard -- Oh, come on. It's Elmore Leonard. It's terrific.
The General by Carol Emshwiller -- The story didn't stick with me too well, but I remember enjoying it as I read it.
Closing Time by Neil Gaiman -- Good little ghost story by Gaiman.
Otherwise Pandemonium by Nick Hornby -- Probably ties with Gold's story as my favorite of the lot. Hornby nails the voice of an angst-ridden 15 year old with a terrible secret.
The Tale of Gray Dick by Stephen King -- One of his gunslinger stories. I felt like I needed a little more background, but not a bad story. Rabid King fans will love it, I'm sure.
Blood Doesn't Come Out by Michael Crichton -- Okay, but predictable.
Weaving the Dark by Laurie King -- I like King. Loved this story about a woman losing her eyesight to glaucoma and finding adventure in her own backyard.
Chuck's Bucket by Chris Offutt -- Don't know how to describe this one, but I really liked it. A little reality thrown in, but I'm not sure how much.
Up the Mountain Coming Down Slowly by Dave Eggers -- Okay, but I've read Krakauer's Into Thin Air and this fictional account of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro just didn't do it for me.
The Case of the Nazi Canary by Michael Moorcock -- Good story. Alternative history about Hitler and the murder of his niece.
The Case of the Salt and Pepper Shakers by Aimee Bender -- Liked this one. Interesting take on relationships.
Ghost Dance by Sherman Alexie -- Creepy and gruesome zombie story. Good read.
Goodbye to All That by Harlan Ellison -- I've heard a lot about Ellison but never read him before. I liked this story about getting through the gateway to Heaven (which is located somewhere in the Himalayas, looks remarkably like a McDonald's and is staffed by ex-baseball players). Loved the last line.
Private Grave 9 by Karen Joy Fowler -- Pretty cool story about excavating an Egyptian tomb.
The Albertine Notes by Rick Moody -- This is the only story I didn't finish. It was rather long, and I just didn't get into it.
The Martian Agent, A Planetary Romance by Michael Chabon -- Liked the story, but have no clue what it has to do with the title. More to come in a later collection it says.
The other cool thing about this book is that the proceeds benefit 826 Valencia. For more, see www.826valencia.org.
I was surprised to get this in the mail from JennyO so soon! A very nice surprise, I might add. I have one bookray book to finish, then a book that I promised to someone else, but I think this one will take it's place as #3 on my TBR pile. At JennyO's request, I will very likely offer this up as a bookray when I'm done.
Thanks JennyO. You're the best!
Thanks JennyO. You're the best!
I've held onto this for far to long, so I'm sending it off to Grover3D in West Virginia. Enjoy!
Found this up for offer on CasualReader's BookRelay site, and offered by the master himself, no less! I was happy to see it as this book has been on my wish list ever since I read A HEARTBREAKING WORK OF STAGGERING GENIUS by Dave Eggers. I'm putting it on the TBR pile, but I hope to get to it soon. Thanks!
