The Best Nonrequired Reading of 2010, edited by Dave Eggers

So I continue my quest of reading fifty-two books in fifty-two weeks this year.  My recommendation for this week is a little unconventional.  It is an anthology of readings entitled The Best American Nonrequired Reading of 2010, edited by Dave Eggers.  It is an interesting anthology as it is put together by two groups of high school students, one in San Francisco and one in Michigan.  The students meet once a week in their respective states and read a variety of magazines, zines, and journals.  They then decide on what they believe is the best published reading of 2009 and publish it in this beautiful little volume.

The book includes such interesting sections as “Best American Sentences on Page 50 of Books Published in 2009,” “Best American Magazine Letters Section,” “Best American Fast-Food Related Crimes,” and “Best American Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak.” 

The majority of the book, however, is comprised of short stories, which is my favorite genre of literature.  There is a wonderful story by Sherman Alexie entitled “War Dances.”  Alexie is one of my favorite American authors and this story is reminiscent of other works he has written.  By the way,  if you have not read his young adult novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, shame on you!  It is a wonderfully told story of the lone Native American student in an all white school.  Poignant and memorable.  Consider this a bonus reading suggestion for this week!

Along with other wonderful short stories, the anthology also includes non-fiction essays such as “Like I Was Jesus” by Rachel Aviv.  It chronicles teens who spend their summers as missionaries in inner city housing projects in the South.  It takes a look at the results of proselytizing to young children and what happens to these kiddos.  Very interesting.

For many years I have enjoyed “The Best of” books, but I have seldom sat down and read one from cover to cover.  This is the type of book that is great to have on your bedside table so you can enjoy a short story or essay when you don’t have the time to commit to an entire novel.  However, in lieu of this year’s pursuit to read a book a week, I did read the book from beginning to end and it was not a disappointment.  Check out this lovely volume of writings and, as always, happy reading!