I keep short story collections on my bedside table. They’re perfect for dipping in and out of at night when I’m tempted to stay up late with a novel. Plus they usually evoke more thoughts and feelings that help distract me from real world problems while I’m trying to fall asleep!
That's so smart! I've been doing the same because I have learned over the years that I can't choose new books right before bed. Having story collections there keeps me reading at night without suffering late-night decision fatigue!
My husband and I just went camping and at our nightly campfire I read The Lottery out loud and then we listened to your podcast about it. It was the best night ever!! So grateful to be reminded of the beauty of short story!
I love, love, love short stories! They are what first drew me into loving analysis as a high schooler, and they are magic in the classroom when paired with independent reading :) But I also really love that they can help you out of a reading rut, are great fillers for when you just don't know what to read next, and are lovely solo or as part of a collection. Happy to read this newsletter today!! (And would NEVER abandon this one for Saunders, but we should all read him, too!)
I have really grown to appreciate short stories more in recent years, and have YOU to thank for reminding me on Sunday that I own a copy of White Cat, Black Dog ~ I dug in right away and was pretty blown away by the first story. Regarding "why isn't this a novel" ~ one thing that makes me decide a short story is excellent is whether it or not it NEEDS to be a novel. When I read stories that I feel are just so-so, it's usually because they are lacking so much detail, nuance, etc that I feel for the story to be effective it really needs to be fleshed out in a longer piece of work. Claire Keegan's new collection (November 14) "So Late in the Day" is an exquisite trifecta of works that do every single thing in their brief length ~ I can't imagine what else could possibly be added. Whenever I read her work I remember that less is often (always??) more.
I love short stories, but not usually collections. I have New Yorker and Atlantic subscriptions mostly for the archives. I'll search for an author, and find a story from way back. It's so much fun.
That's a brilliant approach! I love short story collections but I'm not always compelled to read them cover to cover. I think that makes some readers anxious but I like having a few collections to pick up and put down over the course of a season. I'm also a subscriber to the New Yorker and the Atlantic so I'm going to have to start searching the archives for my favorite authors!
I keep short story collections on my bedside table. They’re perfect for dipping in and out of at night when I’m tempted to stay up late with a novel. Plus they usually evoke more thoughts and feelings that help distract me from real world problems while I’m trying to fall asleep!
That's so smart! I've been doing the same because I have learned over the years that I can't choose new books right before bed. Having story collections there keeps me reading at night without suffering late-night decision fatigue!
My husband and I just went camping and at our nightly campfire I read The Lottery out loud and then we listened to your podcast about it. It was the best night ever!! So grateful to be reminded of the beauty of short story!
Sounds perfectly spooky!
I love, love, love short stories! They are what first drew me into loving analysis as a high schooler, and they are magic in the classroom when paired with independent reading :) But I also really love that they can help you out of a reading rut, are great fillers for when you just don't know what to read next, and are lovely solo or as part of a collection. Happy to read this newsletter today!! (And would NEVER abandon this one for Saunders, but we should all read him, too!)
Yes!! Short stories are so versatile and add so much to a robust reading life!
I have really grown to appreciate short stories more in recent years, and have YOU to thank for reminding me on Sunday that I own a copy of White Cat, Black Dog ~ I dug in right away and was pretty blown away by the first story. Regarding "why isn't this a novel" ~ one thing that makes me decide a short story is excellent is whether it or not it NEEDS to be a novel. When I read stories that I feel are just so-so, it's usually because they are lacking so much detail, nuance, etc that I feel for the story to be effective it really needs to be fleshed out in a longer piece of work. Claire Keegan's new collection (November 14) "So Late in the Day" is an exquisite trifecta of works that do every single thing in their brief length ~ I can't imagine what else could possibly be added. Whenever I read her work I remember that less is often (always??) more.
Such a great observation! And I completely agree about Claire Keegan...she is a master of the form!
I love short stories, but not usually collections. I have New Yorker and Atlantic subscriptions mostly for the archives. I'll search for an author, and find a story from way back. It's so much fun.
That's a brilliant approach! I love short story collections but I'm not always compelled to read them cover to cover. I think that makes some readers anxious but I like having a few collections to pick up and put down over the course of a season. I'm also a subscriber to the New Yorker and the Atlantic so I'm going to have to start searching the archives for my favorite authors!