Normally I make a point of reading short stories, even if just in the mags that I follow, but I haven’t read a single one in February.
Was I just that distracted by Elizabeth Smart and Ethel Wilson?
Did I forget how much I enjoyed that Jennifer Egan story in the New Yorker last month?
I eyed collections on hand (newish ones by Nell Freudenberger, Jane Gardam, Elizabeth Taylor have been clamoring for attention) and I even bought some (a Gabrielle Roy — a nice little first edition from M&S too — Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and one of my favourites, Sherman Alexie’s Ten Little Indians ).
But I completely missed the bookish boat when it came to reading them.
But looking over at March’s stack, I don’t see a single volume of short stories there either.
Should I have joined a short story challenge to ensure I made time for them amongst other reading?! That’s ridiculous. <shakes head>
Anyone read any positively irresistible short stories lately? Something guaranteed to knock my attention away from all these delicious novels and memoirs?
Seems like we’re good matches: I’ve read some/all of these. I’ve dipped into Panter-Downes, Miranda July (I especially loved the media campaign surrounding the release of that collection: hilarious website), and Lorrie Moore (I was late coming to her famous story about being a writer but it was worth the wait). I also remember especially liking one of Mark Anthony Jarman’s older stories, something about Margaret Atwood and an airplane? (It was very funny at the time.) Thanks for the suggestions!
No One Belongs Here More Than You is a fantastic collection by Miranda July, and Lorrie Moore’s Self-Help is also a stand by. :]
I’d resolved to read at least three short stories a day–I have too many anthologies and collections on my shelves, that I need to wade through them–and I haven’t always been consistent, but it helps. 🙂
I just started reading My White Planet, a collection of short stories, by Mark Anthony Jarman. I usually don’t read short story collections (though I am realizing now that should) and was introduced to My Whote Planet through Canada Also Reads. I just read the first story and it’s pretty intense!
I have been reading my way through various Persephone collections of short stories – the Mollie Panter-Downes ones are marvellous, but also the Elizabeth Berridge.