The Best American Essays of the Century
Edited by Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Atwan
Part I
"In other words, none of the angries.
This volume is meant to be sold --- not given away.
In addition, we certainly don't want any subjects
too far out of the loop."
Part II
"Then there's the matter of 'They All Just Went Away,'
by Joyce Carol Oates. By including it, the editors are saying
that it is one of the best American essays of the century.
The Century. Incest is best, right?"
Part III
"The poop pix sent along with this book
shows Ms. Oates to be a lady with the
clear and direct gaze of Tokyo Rose, the waspishness
of Bonnie (as in Bonnie and Clyde), generally looking
as warm and kissable as Rasputin's Uncle Igor."

Great Reviews of the Past
Dean Acheson
"This is a weighty book,
as proved by the fact that I dropped the goddamned thing
on my foot one night as I was getting into bed.
My little toe turned fat and purple, but it gave me an excuse
to stay supine for a couple of days and finish it off
(the book, not the toe). As one of the seductees
of Jacques Casanova said to him the next morning,
The pain was nothing in comparison with the pleasure."

BRIEF REVIEWS
Lily in the Desert,
Dark Back of Time, and
The Egg Man of the Fillmore