I am so happy to see that Kate is bringing back her short story challenge. I’ve been trying not to go overboard on challenges but this is one that I really hope will inspire me to pick up more short stories. Last year I read eight short stories throughout the year and I think I can do better than that. I want to do better than that.
I’m going to go with Option 1 which is to commit to reading ten short stories by ten different authors over the course of 2010.
I haven’t chosen any stories or authors but so far I only know I want to read more by Alice Munro.
I have a couple of short story collections I can turn to such as, 50 Great Short Stories, Berlin Tales, 20th Century Ghosts and others. In addition I have some back issues of Tin House and Zoetrope: All Story so I think I will be set with enough material to choose from. Granted, I’m always looking for good suggestions so if you have some let me know!
Have fun with the challenge, Iliana!
I’m still thinking if I should join this one. 😛
Good luck with the challenge! I thought I’d read more short stories myself this year. I only read 2 in 2009…pathetic!
Good luck with the challenge! Alice Munro is great, she’s on my list for this year, too, and I’m looking forward to it.
Also, this might be a good website for some more ideas, if you’re interested: http://www.spokenink.co.uk/. It’s quite easy to browse around and have a look for something that might interest you, and it has a brief description of the stories (it might seem fairly redundant for short stories, but I think it’s useful!). I recommend ‘The Nose’ by Gogol, which is brilliant.
good luck with this challenge. I don’t really enjoy short stories very much, as they always seem to be over, just as I am getting into them. I am envious of people who do enjoy them.
The New Yorker has lots of stories available for free online. 🙂 And have you ever read any of Edith Wharton’s short stories? “Roman Fever” and “Xingu” were both awesome!
20th Century Ghosts would be the one I urge you to bump to the top o’the list. I haven’t worked all the way through it yet, but the bits I did read were just stunning. I haven’t joined this particular challenge, but I’m doing 100 Shots of Short (endless), and I’m horrible about adding the things I read to the list on my blog. LOL! Bad, Andi! I’m sure I’ll be reading a LOT of short stories for the American Lit class I’m teaching, and I’m also teaching a 10-week creative writing course. Woot!
The lit magazine Electirc Literature generally has some great stories in it. The whole magazine is short stories, usually about 5 or six in an issue. Have fun with the challenge!
I just finished ‘Ours, A Russian family album’ – a short story book and it was really good – check http://ilikecentaur.blogspot.com/2010/01/jan-2010-book-1-ours-russian-family.html . Good luck with the challenge. Does listening to short stories counts ?
Ooh…this sounds like a great one! I’ve got to get caught up on my other reading first though. Enjoy!
I agree with Eva–Roman Fever is a great story. I read a bunch of really good ones the year I read them once a week (I think Kate was doing her challenge then, too, which is what inspired me). Have fun–there’s lots of good stories out there and I’m sure you’ll find them addicting.
Alice Munro is definitely an author I would like to start reading this year – I meant to last year but for some reason it just didn’t happen! I also wanted to let you know that I have left you an award over at my blog.
Melody – Thank you and you know you should join in 🙂
Kathleen – I typically don’t read many short stories either so I read 8 last year and that was a big thing for me. I hope I can actually complete the challenge!
Jenny – Thank you so much for the recommendation of Spoken Ink and the Gogol short story. I’ve never read anything by him. Maybe this will be the year! Took a quick look at Spoken Ink and it looks fun. Can’t wait to really delve into it.
vivienne – You know that’s also been my take on short stories. I sometimes feel like there are things left unsaid. But, last year I read some really good ones and have been making a slight shift in my way of thinking.
Eva – Oh that’s a great recommendation. I always forget about the New Yorker – I know how is that possible right?! I’ve only read one of Wharton’s novels which I loved so I will have to check out her short stories. I’m taking note!
Andi – I’ve only read one story from 20th Century Ghosts and it was fabulously creepy! Loved it and definitely plan to read more. Did you know he has a new book coming out later this year. I can’t wait. I think it’s great you are doing the 100 Shorts. Maybe if I can complete this challenge I can challenge myself to try that next year. By the way, good luck with the classes – you’ll do great 🙂
Stefanie – Oh I remember you mentioning that magazine one time. I really must check it out. Sounds good and I’ll add it to my radar!
Dips – Thank you for the link and yes, I think listening to short stories count.
Tiffany – I really shouldn’t be joining any challenges but ah we all know I can’t resist 🙂
Danielle – Didn’t you read a short story a week last year? That’s wonderful! I had started off the year reading short stories but who knows what got me out of that and I stopped. I’m hoping this time I’ll remember to seek them out more!
Karen – Isn’t that the way it goes with our reading plans. Hope you get to read Munro this year. I finally discovered her a couple of years ago. Oh and thank you for the award 🙂
If you haven’t already, you should really read some John Cheever and Raymond Carver and although not simply short story – David Sedaris.
I love short stories. I know I’m forgetting some…
Jrav – I haven’t read any Cheever or Carver. Oh dear, where have I been! Now Sedaris, I’m a big fan of – he’s great. Thanks for the recommendations!
Is Open Secrets one of the Munro collections you’ve read? If not, then I highly recommend it!
Another that I really enjoyed is Kelly Link’s collection Stranger Things Happen.
Good luck with the challenge!
Oh, a short story challenge sounds interesting. I also have Hill’s 20th Century Ghosts on my tbr shelf…I really liked Heart-Shaped Box. (And hey, you could do worse than reading a short story by Hill’s father!) And of course, we Canadians like to think Alice Munro is the best writer of short fiction on the planet!
It doesn’t sound like you need any reading suggestions, but nevertheless…
Carol Shields (another Canadian) has also written some terrific short stories: “Mrs. Turner Cutting the Grass” springs to mind.
Hannah Holborn’s (also Canadian) debut collection, Fierce has some quirky stories, but they sneak up on you.
I love Helen Dunmore anyway, but Ice Cream is a great little collection.
Amy Bloom’s collection A Blind Man Can See How Much I Love You is terrific and so is Nancy Lee’s collection of connected short stories, Dead Girls.
Happy reading!
I’m glad Kate is hosting this challenge — I’m participating too and I’m looking forward to it. I need to find myself some short story collections!
Lesley – No, it wasn’t that one. Oh man, I’m blanking out on the title but I believe it was a more recent book. Very good unfortunately I had to return it to the library without having read it all. Hopefully I’ll check it out again and thank you for the reminder of Kelly Link. I keep meaning to check out her books!
Christie – Oh true right! He did learn how to cause some chills 🙂 And, I love some of Carol Shields novels. I didn’t realize she had some short stories too. I’ll have to check those out. Thank you so much for the suggestions. I’m taking note!
Dorothy W. – There are so many collections to choose from aren’t there? I’m hoping I’ll actually read more than 10 stories but we’ll see. Have fun!
I was so happy when I found out that this challenge was coming back. Good luck on it!
Have you read Delicate Edible Birds, by Lauren Groff? or The Red Convertible, by Louise Erdrich? I enjoyed both of them … and like you, I’m hoping to read some of Alice Munro this year, too.
i m sure, i will join this one 🙂