The Pushcart Prize XXVII: Best of the Small Presses, 2003 Edition

I wish there were some way this annual collection of poetry, fiction and essays could become more visible, as BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES and PRIZE STORIES are. Rather than taking the cream off the top of The New Yorker, Harper's and so forth, the editors and jurors dig into lesser known and circulated periodicals. This particular volume was one of the better ones. The main theme seems to be alienation and search for connection, but the characters deal with their situations quite differently. In "Yangban" we enter a traditional Korean marriage, and in "Cabeza" we visit a middle class American (California) marriage, and they are different, yet the same. In both, wives struggle for identity beyond "helpmate," and such situations reflect the American scene. "The Worst Degree of Unforgiveable" seems gimmicky at first, but soon becomes hypnotic. "Amazing Grace" starts out telling us that a young married man was blinded in a tragic accident. Ten years later he miraculously regains his sight, and that's when his troubles begin. How could you not want to finish this one! I fell in love with Candace in "Candace Counts Coup," even through she is an overweight, grubby, eccentric unpaid artist who, in my real life, I probably wouldn't invite into my home, but she has a wonderful heart and a steady moral compass. If you're feeling down, Candace will lift your spirits. There were a few pieces that I didn't finish or even begin to understand, I guess those in in know would call them "minimalist or "experimental" fiction. In any case, there is a lot to like here, a lot of new worlds to visit, a lot to think about. I recommend any volume in this series for it's originality, variety and depth.