The Pushcart Prize XLVII

This rich anthology of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry—the product of hundreds of small press nominations—runs broad and deep. For every familiar name like Alice McDermott and Rita Dove, there are relatively new voices like Amanda Gunn and Joseph Sigurdson. Speaking of McDermott: her droll story “Half Spent,” about a withering middle-aged man who reckons with memories of his late “frugal” father and frustrations with his “silly” mother, who sends him a birthday card that reads “Dude, You’re Fifty,” is not to be missed. Other highlights include Katrina Vandenberg’s lyric essay “Remembrance Poppy,” Elizabeth Tallent’s arch story “Poet,” Kate Osana Simonian’s comic story “The Kiss,” Sally Wen Mao’s evocative poem “Loquats,” Molly Giles’ kinetic essay “Bad Dog,” and Elizabeth Robinson’s haunting poem “Confession.” The list of small presses that made nominations for this volume runs to 21 pages, and a lengthy index lists every work reprinted in previous editions since 1976, alphabetized by author, lending the feel of a supersized literary journal and reference book. This annual volume is both a treasure and a treasury. (Nov.)