30 review for Postmodern American Fiction: A Norton Anthology

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Meadowlark – Jun 28, 2007

   I lost this book. I have no idea where it is.

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Darryl – Oct 19, 2008

   What can I say? This is a must-have book for anyone who wants ALL their lit theory bases covered. This collection culls short stories and excerpts from novels and culminates with a section on postmodernist theory itself. My favorites so far are the stories from Walter Abish, David Foster Wallace, Ishmael Reed, the immortal Grace Paley, Jay Cantor, Laurie Anderson) and some ultra-hip hypertext selections you can read at the Norton website. Highly ironic is the notion that in America (a country no What can I say? This is a must-have book for anyone who wants ALL their lit theory bases covered. This collection culls short stories and excerpts from novels and culminates with a section on postmodernist theory itself. My favorites so far are the stories from Walter Abish, David Foster Wallace, Ishmael Reed, the immortal Grace Paley, Jay Cantor, Laurie Anderson) and some ultra-hip hypertext selections you can read at the Norton website. Highly ironic is the notion that in America (a country not known for its ironic sensibilities) postmodernism has found a home in America (really- it's been a recognizable feature since WW2 with writers like Vonnegut, Pynchon, Heller, Oates, Le Guin and Barth) while being rejected in Europe, where it was developed. Irony-Tragedy-Parody-Pastiche, it's all here for maximum human enjoyment. My only quibble is that Philip K. Dick's VALIS would've been a great addition to this volume, but I guess there's only so much you can put in one book. Here's hoping that will be rectified with Postmodern American Fiction: Volume 2!

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Conor – Jan 26, 2008

   Finding a good anthology of newer material is hard, especially considering that most of us find them at used book stores (as they tend to be expensive and daunting). This one I got for cheap and was surprised by how good the content was, as were many of my friends who checked it out. I added a good 10 books to my to-read list from this. I recommended at least checking out the selection list.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Conrad – Mar 24, 2007

   There aren't too many anthologies out there as handy as this one. My only complaint is that it doesn't contain many complete works, so most of its exerpts are just that, and the whole thing is sort of a long advertisement for other books. That said, it does have David Foster Wallace's great story, LBJ, and lots more besides. There aren't too many anthologies out there as handy as this one. My only complaint is that it doesn't contain many complete works, so most of its exerpts are just that, and the whole thing is sort of a long advertisement for other books. That said, it does have David Foster Wallace's great story, LBJ, and lots more besides.

5. 

   5 out of 5

   Bill Adelson – Dec 27, 2008

   What's great about this collection is that it has just a little bit of everything from Umberto Eco to Lynne Tillman. There are also graphic novel excerpts, comic books...basically everything from almost every author that someones likely to bring up in conversation. What's great about this collection is that it has just a little bit of everything from Umberto Eco to Lynne Tillman. There are also graphic novel excerpts, comic books...basically everything from almost every author that someones likely to bring up in conversation.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   H.L. Nelson – Jun 30, 2014

   I'm in the middle of this, but it seems to be a pretty solid anthology of postmodern fiction since the mid-1900s. I like the section headings - that's an interesting way of dividing the stories up. My prof, co-editor Fred G. Leebron, did a fine job! I'm in the middle of this, but it seems to be a pretty solid anthology of postmodern fiction since the mid-1900s. I like the section headings - that's an interesting way of dividing the stories up. My prof, co-editor Fred G. Leebron, did a fine job!

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Kendra – Apr 16, 2016

   A very cool collection of excerpts from well known and lesser known American authors of postmodern fiction. I learned much about writing from examining the techniques used within these examples of short stories.

8. 

   5 out of 5

   Amanda Platter – Jan 24, 2008

   Excellent introduction to postmodernism.

9. 

   4 out of 5

   Katie – Aug 04, 2007

   I finished reading most of the texts in this anthology a few months after my Modern/Post-Modern senior seminar. We only used it lightly in the course.

10. 

    5 out of 5

    Allison Ricobene – Jun 14, 2013

    eeeh

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Jose – Nov 19, 2008

    Nice introduction to the genre.

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Daniel Schulof – Sep 16, 2016

    Excellent anthology.

13. 

    4 out of 5

    Blair – Aug 28, 2013

    Some really good stuff in here, some duds. But worth it overall. IF you're a fan of contemporary US fiction, that is. Some really good stuff in here, some duds. But worth it overall. IF you're a fan of contemporary US fiction, that is.

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Kris – Feb 01, 2015

    Read the selections decided upon by my professor for my final college writing course.

15. 

    5 out of 5

    Cherie – May 14, 2010

    Used this great anthology in my Naropa years.

16. 

    5 out of 5

    Andrew Dobbs –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    Kalin –

18. 

    5 out of 5

    Kat Korsmo –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Scott Olejnicak –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Ribverb –

21. 

    5 out of 5

    Brett –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Blake –

23. 

    5 out of 5

    Beverly Bentley –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Molly M M –

25. 

    5 out of 5

    Cristina –

26. 

    5 out of 5

    Ambra –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Luc –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Carrie Muxlow –

29. 

    5 out of 5

    Joseph –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Beyondzero –