The Best American Nonrequired Reading

Brief Description: Literature from mainstream and alternative American periodicals, including fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, television writing, and alternative comics. Review Quotes: "If you need to fall in love with reading again-or just want a reminder that high school students deserve a lot more than their reading lists give them-then THE BEST AMERICAN NONREQUIRED READING 2012 is the book for you."-"Bust""" "As a devoted fan of this series (this is the 11th volume), I can report that this year's anthology of 32 selections might be the best yet."-Elizabeth Taylor, "Chicago Tribune" "An eclectic annual that will leave readers marveling over many of the discoveries...category-defying... All readers will find their own favorites that justify the collection as a whole."-"Kirkus Reviews" "Lively, eclectic and surprising..."-Minneapolis Star TribunePublisher Marketing: The Best American Series(R) First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume's series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected -- and most popular -- of its kind. "The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2012" includes Kevin Brockmeier, Judy Budnitz, Junot Diaz, Louise Erdrich, Nora Krug, Julie Otsuka, Eric Puchner, George Saunders, Adrian Tomine, Jess Walter, and others Review Citations:

Booklist 10/15/2012 pg. 12 (EAN 9780547595962, Paperback)

Publishers Weekly 09/03/2012 pg. 60 (EAN 9780547595962, Paperback)

Kirkus Reviews 09/15/2012 (EAN 9780547595962, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Eggers, Dave DAVE EGGERS is the editor of McSweeney's and a cofounder of 826 National, a network of nonprofit writing and tutoring centers for youth, located in seven cities across the United States. He is the author of four books, including What Is the What and How We Are Hungry. Contributor Bio:  Cohen, Scott Scott Cohen is an acclaimed garden designer, landscaper and swimming pool contractor whose award-winning work has been frequently showcased on HGTV and in numerous books and national magazines. A charismatic and entertaining speaker, Cohen is the author of nine design and construction books, including the award-winning Outdoor Kitchen Design Workbook, Poolscapes, and Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits. He is also a construction defect expert witness and serves as a member of the California Contractors Board Industry Expert Program. Contributor Bio:  Bradbury, Ray In a career spanning more than seventy years, Ray Bradbury, who died on June 5, 2011 at the age of 91, inspired generations of readers to dream, think, and create. A prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to fifty books, as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays, and screenplays, Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time. His groundbreaking works include Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. He wrote the screen play for John Huston's classic film adaptation of Moby Dick, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He adapted sixty-five of his stories for television's The Ray Bradbury Theater, and won an Emmy for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree. He was the recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, among many honors. Throughout his life, Bradbury liked to recount the story of meeting a carnival magician, Mr. Electrico, in 1932. At the end of his performance Electrico reached out to the twelve-year-old Bradbury, touched the boy with his sword, and commanded, "Live forever!" Bradbury later said, "I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard. I started writing every day. I never stopped."