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Short stories in general and in search of one.
X3x3non
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I love short stories, because you can start and finish one before going to bed. I love thinking about the events of what happened in the story and adding my own conclusion or thoughts to it as I go to sleep. I recently read through all of Ernest Hemingway's short stories and I absolutely loved them. I also thoroughly enjoyed George Orwell's works (Shooting an Elephant particularly struck me). Rip Van Winkle was a beautiful story, because it painted such a vivid picture of old Appalachia. Does anyone have any recommendations? I prefer late 19th to mid 20th century with a slight bias towards the American authors, but I am open to anything! Did Mark Twain write any short stories? I think I would be ready for something along the lines of his style now.
I also have one particular request:
In 11th grade American literature class we read a short story that I would love to read again. I do remember that the author was someone famous so I hope someone might have read this short story before. I do not know that much about American literature, so I hope one of you English majors has read this story before. I am not sure whether this was a short story or an excerpt from a larger piece. Let me try to describe it:
It was about a traveling circus group that came into a small town on a market day. One of them goes to the market to buy fresh food for the rest of the group. I remember the author going into great detail about what was on offer at each stand. One mental image that i still have today is that of the potatoes that he describes as still having lumps of fresh, moist earth on them. He later visits some of his relatives that live there (i believe it was his brother) who is a butcher and receives a large ham from him as a gift. I remember his brother being described as a stupid, simple, but kind man.
Thank you and add anything you like about stories you have read!
I also have one particular request:
In 11th grade American literature class we read a short story that I would love to read again. I do remember that the author was someone famous so I hope someone might have read this short story before. I do not know that much about American literature, so I hope one of you English majors has read this story before. I am not sure whether this was a short story or an excerpt from a larger piece. Let me try to describe it:
It was about a traveling circus group that came into a small town on a market day. One of them goes to the market to buy fresh food for the rest of the group. I remember the author going into great detail about what was on offer at each stand. One mental image that i still have today is that of the potatoes that he describes as still having lumps of fresh, moist earth on them. He later visits some of his relatives that live there (i believe it was his brother) who is a butcher and receives a large ham from him as a gift. I remember his brother being described as a stupid, simple, but kind man.
Thank you and add anything you like about stories you have read!
X3x3non on
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he's by far one of my favourite authors
The collector "kiss kiss" is a good place to start, but any of them will do really. Great stories, characters full of depth, jaw-dropping endings for many of them.
Almost 1300 pages. 34 pieces of fiction. It's mainly for GRRM fans, but I've just started it and have been impressed with it. I particularly liked "The Fortress".
Seconded. Twain's short stories were not only entertaining, but also frequently had intriguing, thought-provoking and/or controversial themes.
My personal favorite, which I recommend reading, is a *very* short story called "The War Prayer"... you can read it at http://www.ntua.gr/lurk/making/warprayer.html among other places (of course, everything Twain wrote is public domain by now, so you should be able to find most if not all of his stories on the net for free, legally.)
1. Welcome to the Monkey House - Kurt Vonnegut
2. Bagombo Snuffbox - Kurt Vonnegut
3. The Illustrated Man - Ray Bradbury
4. Books of Blood 1-6 - Clive Barker
Also as a short-story nut, I reccomend dipping your toes into Neil Gaiman waters with this short story http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool%20Stuff/Short%20Stories/How%20To%20Talk%20To%20Girls%20At%20Parties, he is a hit or miss kind of author, but if you can dig his metaphores his stories really stupify you.
Very much worth buying once a year. Or at the very least checking it out of the library.
and Edgar Allan Poe (short stories and poetry) is a particular favourite of mine. I'm sure you know him - early 19th century. Most of his work is quite dark but focuses on mysteries and the supernatural. Certainly influenced his share of great writers I think.
Flannery O'Connor - My favorite author, and definitely seems to fit the bill for your interests. I would recommend reading "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" and "The Life You Save May Be Your Own." O'Connor was a Southern Gothic author writing in the '40s with a penchant for the grotesque.
O. Henry - One of the "kings" of American short stories, he is well know for his twist-endings. I'd read "Gift of the Magi" first, but the guy wrote over 400 short stories, many of which are great.
Ray Bradbury - Another one of my favorites. He's got some really crazy stories that would definitely fuel some interesting dreams if you read right before bed.
I would also recommend Dubliners by James Joyce. I'd read the stories in order, as well. "The Dead" (the final story in the book) is one of the best works of fiction ever written.
- Gary Busey
A Glass, Darkly
If you've never read the Russians, you might like those, too. Try Chekhov.
One day, during the middle ages, a group of boys are resting upon a hill and conversing with one another when they are approached by an attractive young man with a charming smile. He sits next to them as if he has known them all their lives and when they ask him what his name is, he replies that his name is "satan." A very interesting story on human nature ensues.
A Good Man is Hard to Find - Flannery O'Conner
What happens when a family is traveling and their car breaks down, only to encounter one of the most notorious serial killers in the area? Another great story.
I recommend the Norton Anthology of Short Stories.
You can find the mysterious stranger here:
http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/Twain/Mysterious-Stranger.htm
A pretty awesome excerpt from a scene...
Sandkings ftw.
Also:
Kurt Vonnegut - Bagumbo Snuff Box and Welcome to the Monkey House
Stephen King - Skeleton Crew
Richard Connell - The Most Dangerous Game
Richard Matheson - I am Legend. The copy I have has a bunch of other short stories in it, like Stir of Echoes.
Neil Gaiman - Fragile Things
The greatest short story book of all time has to be Roger Zelazny's 'The Last Defender of Camelot". If you're into audio books try to find a copy of that read by the dude that played Odo on DS9. It's amazing.
Edit: This is Neil Gaiman's short story "Goliath" and was written after the first Matrix movie and ment to fit in that universe. http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/cmp/neil_g.html
'To Build A Fire' really turned me off from him. Still, very talented writer.
Stab - Chris Adrian
Jakob Loomis - Jason Ockert
Riding the Doghouse- Randy DeVita
Toga Party- John Barth
Very much agreed. I buy this, and the Mystery edition.
There was a mention of Skeleton Crew by Stephen King. Again, I think all of King's collections are brilliant. Not every story mind you, but I can't think of one collection that didn't have at least one brilliant story if not more.
I just finished Joe Hill's collection, 20th Century Ghosts and it's amazing. Horrifying, hauntingly beautiful and at times heartbreaking. Just....I don't know man. It's awesome.
The Pearl is more of a novella than a short story, I guess, but read it anyway.
My absolute favorite book of all time is The Pacific [and other stories] by Mark Helprin . I simply can't say enough good things about it.
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