Literary Exploration discussion

Not sure if "short stories" count as a genre - it's more of a form, like novella, poetry or novel - but I didn't know where else to put it.

I'm a big fan of this form of fiction. I think it's a great way to get introduced to new authors and genres. An author has to pack as much punch into the paragraphs and pages as possible, as s/he doesn't have much room to wander and loose track. This is why I usually go for a collection of short stories first when I try out a new author.

My favorite short story authors must be Julio Cortázar and Mark Twain.

I prefer reading collections by several different authors, and preferably of different nationalities. One great find for me was Passages: 24 Modern Indian Stories, which introduced me to many great Indian authors. Another one I still need to dig into is Best European Fiction 2011; plenty of new authors to discover, and a great way to discover the literary traditions of other countries!

Any other short story aficionados out there? What are you reading? What is your all-time favorite short story or collection?

I too like discovering new short story writers.I haven't read the ones you've mentioned though.I've read the usual ones of course - O Henry, Saki, Maupassant, Maugham, Hemingway, Chekhov, Ray Bradbury, Asimov, Daphne du Maurier, Roald Dahl. Also there are wonderful short stories by writers in my mother-tongue Bengali, about whom the world doesn't know anything as they've not been translated. Some perhaps are un-translatable.

I love Maupassant and Roald Dahl. Such fantastic writers!
Bengali literature is definitely something I'd like to explore. I got a little taste of the richness of India's literary traditions in the collection I mentioned in my first post, but I was left wanting more. It's a shame that so many writers from around the world remain unknown to a larger public because their stories are not translated.

Kafka and Borges are both foreign, although quite well known. They both worked primarily in short stories, and they have written some of the weirdest, most wonderful pieces I have ever written. Many modern American writers are wonderful short story writers as well. George Saunders writes only short stories, but it suits him well.

I'm glad someone brought up this topic/thread. I completely agree about short stories. It's a great way to sample an author and see if you are interested in their writing. You guys have already mentioned some of my favorites- Saki, Bradbury, Twain, Hemingway (love his stories over his novels). Also enjoy Flannery O'Connor, Edgar Allan Poe, Carson McCullers, F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.D. Salinger. (I'm probably forgetting a few).

Some favorites:
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" Bierce
"The Life You Save May Be Your Own" O'Connor
"To Build a Fire" London
"The Diamond as Big as the Ritz" Fitzgerald
"The Laughing Man" Salinger

Yes of course, there's Borges(whom I absolutely love), & Kafka & Poe.Thanks Franky for the names of specific stories, shall try to get hold and read them.

I also read a collection by T C Boyle, very strange stories which I liked very much.What about Updike? And Wodehouse.. brings a smile to my lips:-)

Sonali wrote: "Yes of course, there's Borges(whom I absolutely love), & Kafka & Poe.Thanks Franky for the names of specific stories, shall try to get hold and read them."

Sonali, I think you might like the Fitzgerald one. Sort of a satire against wealth. I thought it was quite humorous.

I am working my way through Nabokov's Dozen: A Collection of Thirteen Stories‏ and quite enjoying the stories!

E :) wrote: "I am working my way through Nabokov's Dozen: A Collection of Thirteen Stories‏ and quite enjoying the stories!"

I haven't read his short stories, but I intend to.

Nabokov, Kafka and Borges are all still on my TBR list. I just finished a collection of short stories by Alice Munro. Loved her stories.

I just finished At the Mouth of the River of Bees: Stories I enjoyed most of the stories but my biggest gripe is always the endings. I hardly ever feel satisfied with short story conclusions.

I'll have to check out the Nabokov stories. Thanks for the recommendations.

Sanne wrote: "Nabokov, Kafka and Borges are all still on my TBR list. I just finished a collection of short stories by Alice Munro. Loved her stories."

I enjoy reading short stories by Chekhov, Hemingway, Nabokov and Kafka, but when I read Borges, I was amazed at how imaginative he is. He is just a league of his own.

The horror genre makes for some excellent short stories. We got King, Gaiman etc. I read a collection from a swedish author recently Pappersväggar by John Ajvide Lindqvist (author of Let the right one in) but don't think these been translated yet.

I got quite a lot of Carver and Hemingway in my book-shelves but looking to add some more modern authors as well so you all gave me plenty of ideas!

I love short stories and many times, find them more satisfying than novels because they don't have room to get off track. Sherman Alexie is one of my all time favorite short story writers. "This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, AZ" is one of the best pieces of fiction I've ever read. I also love Chekov, Karen Russell, and Graham Greene. Literary journals are great places to find amazing short fiction. Ploughshares and Glimmer Train are two of my favorite journals.

Flannery O'Connor is definitely a must-read, too. There are quite a few authors mentioned so far that I will have to check out.

My favorite short story of all time is Grace Paley's "The Little Disturbances of Man." I too am frequently disappointed by endings of ss, and this one will NOT disappoint in that department!

Another great short story that I will remember as long as I live is Stephen King's "Quitters Inc."
Raymond Carver's "The Birthday Cake." Hope that's the correct title.

What I love most about ss is they're perfect for a bus ride or a short break from work or whenever I don't have a lot of time.

Oh, one more, which is the most recent on my list: Doris Lessing's "THE GRandmothers."

The Nobel Prize honored not just Alice Munro but the short story form as well. I've not read any of her work, but have added it to my TBR list.

Jo Ann ❤ wrote: "I just finished At the Mouth of the River of Bees: Stories I enjoyed most of the stories but my biggest gripe is always the endings. I hardly ever feel satisfied with short story ..."

I have that one on my to-read shelf. I'm looking forward to reading it.
I've got Borges and Karen Russel up next. I've just read Cortazar's 'Blow-up', Joy Williams 'Honored Guest' and three Kelly Link collections. I've been on a short story kick. I find short stories are very stimulating to my brain during my long 12 hour shifts. I enjoy novels but reading short stories between them is easier to shift gears.

Reading some of Carson McCullers' short stories. I just wanted to throw out two that I think are awesome:
"Wunderkind"
"A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud."

Deep stories about the human condition.

Read and loved The Frangipani Hotel: Fiction

I fell in love with the short stories by Hugh Garner. Best Stories is sometimes difficult to find, but most wonderful.

A Man Made Entirely of Bats by Patrick Lenton

Too hip to be square.