January 23rd, 2012
If I were to a) believe in a meta-narrative that predicts the inevitable setting of America’s sun beyond the watery horizon of late-capitalist decadence, and b) set out to invent a cultural phenomenon that perfectly exemplified this setting, then c) I’m sure I could do no better than the bucket list. (#72. Write impossibly convoluted lede. CHECK.)

Today’s column: Against Bucket Lists.

plus ça change

PRAISE FOR
WHY THEY CRIED



"... demonstrates real insight into the way we live now."
 –The Rumpus

"Reminiscent of George Saunders and James Thurber, Why They Cried is a great collection of modern tales."
–Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief and co-founder of One Story

"Jim Hanas has a remarkable talent for imagining and crafting uncanny little worlds that make me vaguely nervous. And yet I never want to leave."
–Rob Walker, co-founder of Significant Objects

"A tender and smart assembly of fiction about people trying to communicate—with each other, the world—and all the ways they fail. Fail better, fail beautifully."
–Fiona Maazel, author of Last Last Chance

Jim Hanas is the author of the short story collection Why They Cried (Joyland eBooks/ECW Press) and director of audience development at HarperCollins Publishers.

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