Wouturairim Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Hi everyone. Friends, I recently became a member of this forum and I want help with short stories. I have a very little time to read a book because of my job and a long working time, and this is a very annoying thing for me, because I love reading books, so I bought some of the best audiobooks from an online e-books store so that I can listen to them in the way. But as I like to read the book, I'm looking for short stories that I can read and finish them very quickly in one or two days, and the problem of not reading books can be solved for me. I would appreciate if you can introduce me a list of nice and interesting short stories to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayley Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Would you prefer a particular genre? What type of books do you usually like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 I don't read short stories as such, but I've read 'essay collections' by one of my favorite authors, Augusten Burroughs. They are not really essays, I don't think, they are more like writings on specific things. But I know Augusten Burroughs is not for everyone. He might curse, he might talk about taboos, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Parrot Posted March 9, 2019 Share Posted March 9, 2019 Not entirely sure what to go for if you haven't got a go-to genre. Are you looking for short stories specifically or also novellas? Either can be quick to read and easy to fit into a long day of work. Try the short stories by Saki if you're looking for something easy to read and (mostly) light-hearted. I've recently read Cassandra Parkins' New World Fairy Tales which is a collection of re-imagined fairy tales though not quite as rosy as the originals, I had fun trying to figure out which fairy tale was the basis of each story. Simon Kinch's Two Sketches of Disjointed Happiness not a short story, more of a novella, it's a quick read and easy to fit in between work. Guy Ware's The Fat of Fed Beasts is, well, very different. Avoid if not a fan of cursing. I loved its weirdness. O and because I think everyone should read James Joyce, read Dubliners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angury Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I always recommend Lydia Davis for short stories. She is one of the most original writers out there and the winner of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize. Shes' been described as 'the master of a literary form largely of her own invention.' Some of her stories are only a sentence or paragraph long - I have always been fascinated by Davis's ability to play with words. I don't think I've ever read a writer like her. You can find some of her short stories online if you want to get an idea of her style before diving in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
litteraturmagi Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 I recently read Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology, and I really liked it. It is definitely worth a read if you like that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmeagain Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Try William Trevor. Great short stories about people and the mundane lives they live. Quirky and quixotic by turn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Andrea~ Posted April 24, 2019 Share Posted April 24, 2019 Daphne Du Maurier short stories were favourites of mine. Strange and often with a hint of the supernatural or other-worldly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wouturairim Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 On 3/10/2019 at 2:26 AM, Polly Parrot said: Not entirely sure what to go for if you haven't got a go-to genre. Are you looking for short stories specifically or also novellas? Either can be quick to read and easy to fit into a long day of work. Try the short stories by Saki if you're looking for something easy to read and (mostly) light-hearted. I've recently read Cassandra Parkins' New World Fairy Tales which is a collection of re-imagined fairy tales though not quite as rosy as the originals, I had fun trying to figure out which fairy tale was the basis of each story. Simon Kinch's Two Sketches of Disjointed Happiness not a short story, more of a novella, it's a quick read and easy to fit in between work. Guy Ware's The Fat of Fed Beasts is, well, very different. Avoid if not a fan of cursing. I loved its weirdness. O and because I think everyone should read James Joyce, read Dubliners. I'm not hard-hitting about the book, but if I want to further specify exactly what style of books I like, I can refer to Science Fiction & Fantasy Books, Philosophy, and Poetry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wouturairim Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 On 3/9/2019 at 10:14 PM, frankie said: I don't read short stories as such, but I've read 'essay collections' by one of my favorite authors, Augusten Burroughs. They are not really essays, I don't think, they are more like writings on specific things. But I know Augusten Burroughs is not for everyone. He might curse, he might talk about taboos, etc. This book is amazing, I read it two years ago, and now I can read it again. This is the perfect book for people who thought they hated short stories. This book is a collection of uninteresting, unrelated, self-indulgent, rambling stories about alcoholism, over eating, voyeurism and the authors dysfunctional family and I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wouturairim Posted May 4, 2019 Author Share Posted May 4, 2019 I just read a book from this author [Lydia Davis] whose name was "The End of the Story" Although I read the book until the end of the book, I could not communicate with her. I hope other books you suggested by this author have worth reading and I can add to my reading list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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