McSweeney's 23: Still Going Strong Like Castro (We Meant Ramón)

I really enjoy McSweeney's but there's always that one story which is a bit too long or a bit too abstract, or both, and I get knocked off track. This issue was by far the most readable one I've tried. Plus, a couple of the best stories were among the shortest. I enjoyed the horny speculation of 'My Son, There Exists Another World Alongside Our Own' by Chris Bachelder. Caren Beilin's story, 'I'm The Boss, So Do What I Say', triggered some of the same feelings and memories as John Barth's 'Lost In the Funhouse', which I mean as high praise.

Good collection of stories from both well-known and new writers. I especially remember Wells Tower's exceptional story "Retreat," about two estranged and jealous brothers spending a disastrous weekend together moose hunting.
Includes a separate booklet in the back cover, a trial-sized edition of "Comedy By The Numbers," by Eric Hoffman and Gary Rudoren. It's a teaser for a how-to book on the secrets of being funny published by McSweeney's.

This was solely bought because of its looks. The cover alone is amazing: it must be opened out to beautiful presented poster containing many David Eggers tiny tales and on top of that there are thick lush pages, gorgeous graphics book ending stories, a ribbon book mark and a small inserted chapbook tucked in the back. It has been sitting on a bookshelf for a while though because, well who wants to ruin the mystery and heavy expectations by actually reading the thing.

Well I finally dipped my toe and was rather startled by the 1st story being very good so, enthused, I continued and apart from the last two stories (and sadly the chapbook) they were all excellent and varied. Whilst none really strayed into "genre"* territory they all had show more wonderfully refreshing look at life. Two highlights were for me firstly a charming and amusing tale by Roddy Doyle dealing in a light-hearted way with 1st love & bigotry (think disabled kid shoplifting to highlight stereotyping) and the outrageously, deeply wrong and yet very funny letter from estranged father to teenage son on the subject of sex. Oh make that three highlights, after all there was a poster filled by David Eggers vignettes.

So all in all whilst not perfect, entertaining and it looks sooo good how can you resist?

Mcsweeny's is a American quarterly hardback magazine and whilst I am not sure I would subscribe its definitely worth buying the odd copy. I now own Mcsweenys 19 which is a gorgeous box, containing letters, oddball historical documents (USA guide to the middle east) as well as a book of short stories. So much fun! http://store.mcsweeneys.net

*I hate the exspression but it is a short way to say horror, sci-fi, fantasy etc.. show less

A great graphic wraparound cover, but not much to the stories. Wells Tower's was probably the most interesting one to me.

By far the best issue of McSweeney's in a while. Not a bad story in the bunch.