I'm still thinking about short stories, about how they're often neglected and about how truly stunning they can be.
For me, Katherine Mansfield's 'The Garden Party' is a perfect, enduring classic, while Clare Wigfall's 'The Loudest Sound and Nothing' blew me away last year. Other collections I've loved include Salinger's 'For Esme - with Love and Squalor', Nicholas Royle's 'Mortality', Atwood's 'Bluebeard's Egg' and a huge amount of Ellen Gilchrist's fiction . . .
There are several short story champions around at the moment. Salt publishing have recently launched their dynamic Story Bank , which I'll definitely be investigating, while I'm currently reading Laura Solomon's dark and lively collection 'Alternative Medicine' (published by the ever-supportive and innovative Flame Books). For further excellent general short story information, visit http://www.theshortstory.org.uk/, where among other things, you can find Raymond Carver's brilliant essay, 'Principles of a Story'.
I would love to hear about the short stories you've enjoyed . . .
In other news -
I'm July's 'Guest Writer' on John Holding's great new Fictionfest website! If you visit the site you can read my (guess what?! another short story!) 'On the Island'.
Plus! The book I nominated, 'Monkey Beach', Eden Robinson's beautiful, layered debut novel has been included on Gary Smailes' excellent 'One Book' site.
9 comments:
I'm just finding shorts and becoming slightly addicted. They're ideal for reading when writing - they don't influence voice, if that makes any sense at all!
I'll hunt out some of the ones mentioned here.
Thanking you x
It's wierd that short stories can be so popular in the States and not here in the UK. They have magazines and everything.
I buy The Best American Short Stories Collection most years - it's a bit of a mixed bag but there is the occasional jem.
To be honest though, my favourite is a David Almond short story - 'Slogga's Dad.' It's so carefully crafted it breaks my heart.
I used to get the New Writers Collection every year to but thats seems to have disappeared. Or am I not looking hard enough...
Caroline - yes! That makes total sense, they're often wonderful moments to escape into, without getting in the way. I keep thinking of lots more now that I've started (as if you need any more books to read (-;), but Julie Orringer's 'How to Breathe Underwater' is also very fabulous
watching9987, I totally agree about the US, they seem to have more respect for the short story (look how many American ones I've included! Plus i'm also a huge Joyce Carol Oates fan)I've just finished 'American Voices 08' - is that the same collection?? Loved 'Inheritance' about the strange beast . . .
Where can I get hold of 'Slogga's Dad'?? I'm intrigued. Another singular story that I really love is Alice Munro's 'Runaway'. After I read it, I kept wanting to give it to people as a present (I know. Don't ask)
I actually found it on the internet. For Free. My favourite type of... well, anything.
http://www.theshortstory.org.uk/stories/downloads/almond.pdf
Enjoy.
Thank you so much! (how did i miss it?) I think I shall
Really thank you!! What a wonderful story that is. Wonderful and heartbreaking. I think i'd better have a cup of tea.
Hello Megan
Wanted to stop by and say your work, "How We Were Lost" has caught my eye and I plan on purchasing it soon.
Take care and have a wonderful day
^_^
Hey Brian,
Thank you for your interest - and for dropping by to let me know (:
I really hope you enjoy 'How We Were Lost' and that all is good with you!
megan
Btw, I noticed that 'The Numbers' from Clare Wigfall's 'The Loudest Sound and Nothing' has made the shortlist of the BBC's National Short Story Award. www.theshortstory.org.uk
Each of the selected stories will be read this week at 3.30pm on Radio 4 (though I think there's a 'listen again' thing on the BBC's website too) Congratulations Ms Wigfall! And I'm looking forward to catching the other winners too . . .
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