It's a special and historical edition this one of The Best American Magazine
Writing 2020 and you can't miss the chance of buying it!
An affectionated appointment with the best writing of the year, we can say that this edition proposes a series of articles pre-pandemic time or as written in the introduction by Jonathan Dorn, the editor of these series of pieces "The Before Time".
A Before Time that during that may 2019, when were taken in consideration pieces, there weren't serious issues in the USA. Then, it was the catastrophe with the first cases of COVID-19 but also with entire forests burning in various part of the USA, a presidential election incredibly horrible, the death of George Floyd and revolts in every corner of the USA, massive unemployments and new uncertainties.
This selection of pieces written in 2019 maybe under many ways predicted something.
The first piece I want to suggest to you is written by Erika Fry and was a finalist for Fortune Magazine. Epidemic of Fear, is the title and it is a very detailed reportage about what happened with dengue in the Philippines and the Dengvaxia: that plague, still uncurable was treated with that vaccine, that caused the departure of a lot of children. It worked well with children affected once by dengue, and not with healthy people still untouched by the terrible illness. Still and uncurable illness, this vaccine had known a long gestation, more than 15 years and the final results was not too satisfying writes Fry; Philippines, a country affected by a big number unfortunately of cases every year, anyway promoted a massive vaccination: there were terrible consequences.
Sarah A. Topol will transport us in Bangladesh and in particular in the Rohingya with her piece: The Schoolteacher and the Genocide: in that corner of the world people are persecuted. But this one is not just an account of what happened and it is happening: it's the story of Futhu. Futhu was born in this little village where just few people could read, and he tried all his best for reading and writing. His father, seeing that the son was interested in reading and writing, encouraged him.
When he could write and read well, Futhu interviewed a lot of old people about the past of his land, becoming seriously worried for the conditions of life that they all lived, while people without any kind of education thought that maybe writing he was doing some sort of sorcery.
He compiled a lot of journals, and once he also wrote the story of his place, and people. People who were and still are slaves of the government.
Then Futhu knew a a girl married her, became a teacher, has had children but terrible facts would have affected his community, himself and his family.
So, distant from his homeland, he said to the reporter: "Sister, your parents supported you for better education, suffered for your literacy, spent hard-money to make you an expert. Now you are using that expertise to help your relatives, your country or maybe other countries too...." Speaking about his condition Futhu added: "My parents supported my education. It would have been better if they hadn't. I would have been saved from all the trouble and the beating...."
But Futhu was just sad that days: Sarah left him her phone, so they chatted sometimes via whatsip and Futhu was anxious to see when the piece would have been published in the New Yorker; he asked to Sarah of sending him a copy. He would have saved it for the future. That future of freedom still unknown to Futhu. Oh, I know that: you'll start to cry as I did, at the end! This one is a real moving piece.
Another one that captured my attention was Jerry's Dirt. Written by Jacob Baynham and published in the Georgia Review: it is simply enchanting. This one is the life-story of the father of Jacob's wife. Very particular guy, Jerry created a series of cabinets in Montana. There he lived most of his existence, completely isolated, without phone, common facilities that there are. He had a strong character, a great culture and for sure strong opinions.
The place he had built with maestry was later appreciated also by President Eisehower. It was the best refugee he knew, and where he went when he had some spare time.
Jerry's existence was wonderful till at the moment in which he fell sick because of cancer. He refused the common cures and of course the illness continued the ramifications in every part of the body.
A wonderful and touching account of a man in love for outdoor life, fishing, isolated places and nature. A listener, more than a talker.
Unlike any Other written by Nick Paumgarten published by the New Yorker attracted me although I am not a passionate of golf; the piece, written with an investigative touch, put together a lot of elements together for not just reporting that Augusta National is the most exclusive golf club in the USA, but enlarging the investigations to its secrets and little hypocrisies, as writes the author.
Substantially this green field is something more than that. Born in 1932 thanks to the good intuition of Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts, in this club there is not a list of members although when they have events they must wear their uniform and so they are recognizable. Everything is kept strangely secret.
In the green fields you don't see any kind of animals around; journalists and reporters can't peacefully walking, searching for people, or for seeing other places, apart the room that they must stay all the time, plenty of facilities; no one, members included can bring with them a smartphone, taking pictures. There are big punishments in case. Relationship with press has always been tumultous for this golf club for unknown reasons. Populated by the elite of the country, once Tiger Woods expressed positively the idea of seeing around also some women as members. In the gold club they were all upset by this declaration of Woods, but later they opened to women. One of the first ones was Condoleeza Rice.
Other pieces I know that you will find excellent are the ones of the Post's agazine: Prison reporting mass carceration; in "The 1619 Project" slavery and its legacy and many more.
Another great, exceptional compilation for everyone!
Highly recommended.
I thank Columbia University Press for the physical copy of the book.
Anna Maria Polidori
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