A very variegated experience. I've been cheated into reading Jennifer Egan by the way her story in this collection turned out to be a chapter of a book; I am thankful for that in the end. Beautiful Bolano, engaging, austere Chris Offutt, a nice story by Victor LaValle. On the other hand, almost everything translated from the French incredibly disappointing, especially Emmanuel Carrère, who seems to be a well-known author; the story Granta chose is one I'd burn and bury as a standard unit of mediocrity. Some stories are no more than actual descriptions of sex experience; they are mostly slightly above a story slam level. Jeanette Winterson's story at the end of the volume I'd been waiting for so eagerly seemed contrived and overwrought with ideas, almost turning me off. But I will try reading her again.

All in all, the magazine delivers what it's bought for. Also, it has pictures and poems which did not influence my "rating", but make the three stars glitter. ( )