A recent New York Times Magazine cover boldly proclaimed, “The best book you’ll read this year is George Saunders Tenth of December.“ Since it’s only January, it’s not surprising that this headline raised some eyebrows. Is Saunders’ short story collection really that good?
If you haven’t read Saunders, don’t be ashamed. Although he’s been popular among other writers, and has a very dedicated fan base, he’s certainly not a household name. But Tenth of December should change that. For this collection, Saunders has once again received glowing praise from his fellow writers:
“Tenth of December shows George Saunders at his most subversive, hilarious, and emotionally piercing. Few writers can encompass that range of adjectives, but Saunders is a true original—restlessly inventive, yet deeply humane.”—Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Visit from the Goon Squad
“George Saunders is a complete original, unlike anyone else, thank god—and yet still he manages to be the rightful heir to three other complete American originals—Barthelme (the lyricism, the playfulness), Vonnegut (the outrage, the wit, the scope), and Twain (the common sense, the exasperation). There is no author I recommend to people more often—for ten years I’ve urged George Saunders onto everyone and everyone. You want funny? Saunders is your man. You want emotional heft? Saunders again. You want stories that are actually about something—stories that again and again get to the meat of matters of life and death and justice and country? Saunders. There is no one better, no one more essential to our national sense of self and sanity.”—Dave Eggers, author of A Hologram for the King
Take a chance on George Saunders, and think about it this way: If he’s really as good as everyone says he is, you’ll have a whole backlist of his books to explore.
Tell Me: Have you read any of George Saunders books?
