I’m starting to write a short story that, I hope, will be one of several. I haven’t read any short stories for a long time, except for mystery stories in The Strand Magazine and some Sherlock Holmes stories on my Kobo. I think I should do something about that.
Do you have a favourite short story? What is it? A favourite author? What makes this writer’s stories exceptional?
I look forward to hearing your suggestions.
Depends on how short you want to go. I don’t think anyone does the long story better than Alice Munro. She’s just flat-out glorious. And as much as I adore Raymond Carver’s celebrated minimalism. I actually think some of his best stories happened when he opened things up and let them roll for a while. His revision of “A Small, Good Thing” in Where Are You Calling From? is fantastic.
Short-shorts and flash fiction, though, are utterly different creatures. Carver nailed that, too, in his brilliant little story “Little Things,” but for my money, the current reigning champion is Jonis Agee. I highly recommend her little collection A .38 Special and a Broken Heart.
Bill Roorbach’s collection Big Bend, Debra Monroe’s A Wild, Cold State, Michael Hyde’s What Are You Afraid Of?, Rebecca Meacham’s Let’s Do, and of course Tom Franklin’s Poachers — these are all excellent collections. And though it’s nearly impossible to come across anymore, if you can ever put your hands on a copy of David Maizenberg’s Invitations to a Bridge Burning, do so — you won’t regret it.
I also love Annie Proulx, Rick Bass, Ernest Hemingway (I know, but he’s still great), and of course, the queen of queens, Flannery O’Connor!
Don’t overlook some of the early masters, either. Stephen Crane and Sherwood Anderson in particular are great to read! 🙂
Wow, thanks Samuel. These are terrific suggestions. I have a summer of great reading ahead of me. I hope other visitors to the site are adding to their lists, too.
I love the stories of Truman Capote, and anything by Katherine Mansfield, especially Miss Bliss.
Have fun with your story!
Thanks for the suggestions. I haven’t read Truman Capote, just ihis old neighbour, Harper Lee. I’ll definitely check out his work and Mansfield’s. Good luck with your writing, too.