Definitely worth the read. The collection of shorts has a fair amount of variety, from the heart wrenching tale of an innocent man behind bars to a lyrical tumble into one woman's mania. Makes for a fast read, too. I purchased this bundled with "There is a Nation" (which I am currently reading). I also enjoyed both cover art and general design; very clean and straightforward (if you're into that sort of thing. I'm a visual artist so I give points for style). I didn't really enjoy any of the stories in this issue. None were particularly bad either, just nothing jumped out at me and screamed 'this is actually really good' either. The book of fiction from South Sudan was interesting because it isn't something I'd normally seek out to read, and based on this small sample isn't something I'd be likely to seek out again, but it was still worth reading.I've felt this way about the last few years of McSweeney's actually. When I first started subscribing about 6 years ago I enjoyed nearly every issue, it had lots of quirky stories in it, the occasional piece of interesting journalism and the odd gimmick like the issue that was 8 tiny books with fables in, all of which I enjoyed. The last year or two the journalism quota seems to have gone up, and when it isn't journalism it is general non fiction pieces about whatever is in the news lately, the middle east, Occupy etc. In this issue alone there was a piece about a girl visiting her father being held for 65 years on charges of funding terrorism because he ran a charity, and an extended piece about how the rebels overthrew Tripoli and the downfall of Ghadaffi. Neither were bad, it's just also not why I first started subscribing to McSweeney's in the first place. At least in the past there has always been one stand out short story that I really enjoyed, but this issue didn't even have that.I've got three more issues to catch up on, I've probably missed one and I'm still contemplating whether or not to re-new my subscription when I can afford it.
What do You think about McSweeney's #43 (2013)?
There's a really good story about tigers in this issue. Also one about love and drugs. Both great.
—okalani
One of weaker issues. Liked the subtle The Texan From Gaza Does Yoga In Prison
—anita
Not bad, not great---middle of the road McSweeney's goodness.
—sheeja7
Good fiction by T.C. Boyle and Charles Baxter.
—Bossnanny3
