I read all these short stories to try and get a feel for different writers, juxtaposed against each other. I wanted to see what I'd like, and what I wouldn't like. Hope is important. Shitty endings and feelings of isolation with no resolution- why would you write that story? Why would you enjoy it, and why would you expect anyone else to? Every ending doesn't have to be happy. Every ending should, however, make sense, and be satisfying or cathartic. A terribly sad ending can be the best ending if it's right, if it fits. It shouldn't just be blah. Here's my ranking. 1-5 are fantastic, 6-9 good reads, 10-13 okay, 14-16 acceptable, 17-19 not good, and 20 should be stayed away from on all fronts unless you want to want to punch Timothy Crouse in the face.
1. What You Pawn I Will Redeem: Sherman Alexie
2. Fantasy for Eleven Fingers: Ben Fountain
3. Mudlavia: Elizabeth Stuckey-French
4. Christie: Caitlin Macy
5. A Rich Man: Edward P. Jones
6. The Hurt Man: Wendell Berry
7. Tea: Nancy Reisman
8. The Tutor: Nell Freudenberger
9. Refuge in London: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
10. The Card Trick: Tessa Hadley
11. Speckle Trout: Ron Rash
12. The Drowned Woman: Frances de Pontes Peebles
13. The Brief History of the Dead: Kevin Brockmeier
14. Snowbound: Liza Ward
15. The High Divide: Charles D'Ambrosio
16. Grace: Paula Fox
17. Dues: Dale Peck
18. The Golden Era of Heartbreak: Michael Parker
19. Desolation: Gail Jones
20. Sphinxes: Timothy Crouse
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