It’s not often I delve into a short story collection. Why is it so many of them are depressing or just plain sad or pathetic? Woo-hoo! Fun! (Not.) So I might’ve skimmed about half of these. If there’s too much of a main character being pathetic... or characters doing drugs... or the main character is named Pranab or Sanjeet... I’m going to skim. But if some of the stories are little wacky or exciting or funny then I’ll give it a shot. This collection had about half in that scenario. Two were by George Saunders who I’ve always enjoyed. (I’ve read two collections of his short stories before. And without skimming.) One of these stories was really a recollection from Al Franken about entertaining troops in Iraq. That was both funny and interesting. Love him or hate him, his piece is good. And the story about people in a joke waiting around for the joke to actually be told was fun. Mm-hm. I guess I enjoy a short story if it’s off the beaten path of sad people and their pathetic lives. Cheer up! ( )

While it was still an enjoyable read with some standout selections, I didn't think this was as good as the other editions I have read (I think 2003 has been the best so far). ( )

This book of 24 short stories was only partially satisfying. I started it last year, and then set it down stuck on one of the last stories, and just now picked it up to finish it.

I guess I liked about half the stories. Some of the ones that still stir a memory definitely had an impact, but there were others that were just annoying.

The second story, The Death of Mustang Salvaje, was memorable, about a female bullfighter and her struggles with this eminently male sport.

Tiger Mending was short and sweet, as was Manifesto. Free Burgers for Life was interesting but annoying. A Lynching in Stereoscope was very good - two interwoven tales told in parallel.

The Lost Boys was an essay about polygamists in the west and what happens to the boys who are expelled from the groups to improve the ratio of old men to young girls.

Lastly I found the Myth of the Frequent Flier to be interesting, and also Diary of a Journal Reader.

The story that I got stuck on and just forced myself to pick up and finish was They Came Out Like Ants! It was about searching for tunnels where Chinese workers lived and hid in Mexicali. ( )