The Best American Essays 2005

Now in its twentieth year, this "consistently refined and lively series" (Booklist)still highlights "the best that the form can be" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Editedby the best-selling writer Susan Orlean, this year"s collection highlights lively and provocative writing for these difficult times. Contributors include Roger Angell, Andrea Barrett, David Sedaris, Holly Welker, and others.

Foreword by Robert Atwan

ix

Introduction by Susan Orlean

xv

ROGER ANGELL.

La Vie en Rose

1

(8)

from The New Yorker

ANDREA BARRETT.

The Sea of Information

9

(12)

from The Kenyon Review

PAUL CRENSHAW.

Storm Country

21

(7)

from Southern Humanities Review

BRIAN DOYLE.

Joyas Voladoras

28

(3)

from The American Scholar

KITTY BURNS FLOREY.

Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog

31

(6)

from Harper's Magazine

JONATHAN FRANZEN.

The Comfort Zone

37

(19)

from The New Yorker

IAN FRAZIER.

If Memory Doesn't Serve

56

(6)

from The Atlantic Monthly

MARK GREIF.

Against Exercise

62

(12)

from n + I

EDWARD HOAGLAND.

Small Silences

74

(26)

from Harper's Magazine

TED KOOSER.

Small Rooms in Time

100

(6)

from River Teeth

JONATHAN LETHEM.

Speak, Hoyt-Schermerhorn

106

(15)

from Harper's Magazine

E.J. LEVY.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking

121

(10)

from Salmagundi

MICHAEL MARTONE.

Contributor's Note

131

(4)

from Flyway

DAVID MASELLO.

My Friend Lodovico

135

(4)

from The New York Times

DANIELLE OFRI.

Living Will

139

(12)

from The Missouri Review

SAM PICKERING.

Dog Days

151

(10)

from River Teeth

OLIVER SACKS.

Speed

161

(20)

from The New Yorker

CATHLEEN SCHINE.

Dog Trouble

181

(14)

from The New Yorker

DAVID SEDARIS.

Old Faithful

195

(8)

from The New Yorker

PAULA SPECK.

Six Seconds

203

(5)

from Meridian

BERT O. STATES.

Skill Display in Birding Groups

208

(14)

from The North American Review

ROBERT STONE.

The Prince of Possibility

222

(20)

from The New Yorker

ELLEN ULLMAN.

Dining with Robots

242

(10)

from The American Scholar

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE.

Consider the Lobster

252

(19)

from Gourmet

HOLLY WELKER.

Satin Worship

271

(8)

from PMS

Biographical Notes

279

(6)

Notable Essays of 2004

285

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The Best American Essays 2005

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials