The Best American Short Stories

The few stories we read out of this book were rather depressing, if I had the choice agian to read this book I would decline the offer.

Balto (one of the stories) was rather hard to understand. Reading it was easy but when you tried to understand the motive behind the story; that is when everything gets a bit blurry. The little girl who speaks in the trial on her fathers behalf says it was herself who was driving the car when the accident happened. But why would she lie so large when she could have told a smaller lie...or told the truth instead. Some things just dont make sense.

The other three stories, "Toga Party" and the others were equally as drepressing. Toga party was about death and dying, old people think to much on that. Horseman was just to slow to actually enjoy, I couldn't get into the story. The last I cant even remember the name becuase it was so slow and boring.

I could have been enjoying a completely different book about another subject...I might even have read Happiness again just to not read this one.

My Year of Meats

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a exciting ride of emotion and action that kept me rivited and finished it on the first day. When I first picked up this book, I wasnt sure what to make of it; somehow it seemed so odd. But as I got through the pages I began to get addicted, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Was Jane going to get the chance to keep showing her own programs? Would Akiko stand up for herself?

When I finally finished I was a bit sorry to see the story go. The ending was also a bit...well I found it rushed, I believe she should have gotten a better job offer for something as good as the program she put out for the public.

I have no doubt that I would enjoy reading this book several times within the next year. When the books are good enough, I do read them over and over.

Happiness: Alternate Ending

Okay, this is my idea of an alternate ending for Will Ferguson's 'Happiness':

1. Mr. Ethics while threatening Mr. Mead in his office with the gun, fired and killed himself when the weapon back-fired.

2. Mr. Mead (Leon) and Edwin went to track down Tupak Soiree and found the man who was Jack McGreary's stand in. He was left alive in an act of compassion...after breaking both his arms.

3. Being an old man, Leon stayed out in the car while Edwin stormed the house to come face to face with a terrible sight.

4. Edwin comes to kill Jack only to find May in the man's arms. He kills Jack in a jealous rage.

5. When he goes to rescue May another shock is given to the would-be hero, May is Tupak Soiree. With that, May kills Edwin and dispatches of Mr. Mead. Insuring her secret.

6. With that she controls the world from behind the scenes.