Short Fiction Summer

I love a good piece of short fiction. Although it is brief by definition, this kind of literary work should not be underestimated. Short fiction can still be powerful and satisfying to read nevertheless. A well-crafted short story can be more interesting and moving than a mediocre novel- and in a shorter amount of reading time! 

Presented here are several anthologies of short fiction. The stories contained are relatively quick reads, which is perfect for summer (or any time for those of us who are constantly busy year-round). Long, busy days full of sun and activity are no excuse for neglecting your literary well-being. The stories in these collections are not all summertime-based. They have been selected to demonstrate the potential and diversity of short fiction. Here we have a tremendous variety of locales, cultural backgrounds, and styles. Good short fiction can be found in every genre and era. These are opportunities to sample work from new authors, or explore a narrative without the full commitment of a novel.

Short stories are great for bed-time, break-time, beach-time, park bench-time. Take an anthology along on a picnic or a road trip or a hike. Take your pick and see what you like. You might find a new favorite!

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Open Secrets by Alice Munro

Alice Munro is considered a master of short fiction, and the reputation is absolutely valid. Her collections are usually loosely-related stories, based in the same area of southern Ontario, which might seem like a somewhat bland setting. However, Munro is so deft and specific that readers can't help but get drawn into these stories. With clarity, pathos, and believability, Munro is able to connect her audience to the grit, ego, and vulnerability of her characters so masterfully, you don't notice that you've become wrapped up in their lives. She also adds the perfect amount of mystery and innuendo so you don't feel like you are being spoon-fed a story. There is a sense of respect, honesty, and understanding towards her readers. I recommend all of Munro's books, but this one is particularly affecting.

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The Sadness of Beautiful Things by Simon Van Booy

This approachable and lovely collection is based on stories collected over the course of a decade traveling the globe, which lends a great variety of settings and a ring of truth to these tales. This volume could also be titled “the sweetness of simple things”. Van Booy’s casual, almost spare, prose produces natural observations and allows readers to ease into these stories effortlessly. Themes of generosity, kindness and care are balanced with secrets, surprises, and pain. The occasional speculation and tangent would be disruptive if they were more cloying. But as they are, they add a healthy curiosity, and a sensible exploration of memories and emotions, which balances the directness and naturalism of Van Booy’s style. This is a great selection for a weekend trip or a beach read. Scenic, well-seasoned, well-travelled, and easy to graze on.

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Difficult Women by Roxanne Gay

With a title as provocative as this, and an author as intelligent as Roxanne Gay, you can expect some sharp observations and excellent wordplay. The women described in these stories are not so much difficult as they are bold, audacious, and self-aware. Truly it is the circumstances that are difficult and gritty. Gay has no qualms about showing injustice and villainous behavior, and she does so without becoming precious about victimhood- for that would rob these women of their strength. The stories in this volume are candid, vivid, witty, visceral, and non-judgmental- easy to gorge on.

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First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami

True to form, Murakami’s prose is cerebral, meditative, and evocative. The first person perspective makes these stories extremely personal, and at times it is uncomfortable to be inside the narrator’s head. This level of intimacy and honesty leaves no opportunity for self-censorship or polite innuendo. Revelations come and deliver unexpected, sometimes jarring, impacts. Nevertheless, these are intriguing tales that employ vivid metaphors to convey intangible phenomena. Murakami mines the narrators’ memories and habitual behaviors to share their truth. This work is dreamy and poetic while also employing a matter-of-fact and stream-of-consciousness style. This is a good selection for folks who want something to chew on, some mysterious and meaty prose to ponder.

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Skin Deep Magic by Craig Laurance Gidney

This collection is magical indeed. Gidney’s stories are exquisitely descriptive and imaginative, offering enchantment in the ordinary. They call to mind Zora Neale Hurston’s short fiction (also highly recommended). Gidney finds splendor and supernatural elements in the grim reality of his stories- he makes the ordinary extraordinary. Reading his work is a super-sensory experience, full of flavors, textures, aromas, and emotions. Enjoy this dazzling, poetic, ferocious collection- written by an award-winning local author and native Washingtonian!

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Reckonings: Contemporary Short Fiction by Native American Women, edited by Hertha D. Sweet Wong, Lauren Stuart Muller, and Jana Sequoya Magdaleno

This anthology shares the perspectives of indigenous women, but not as a generic monolith. Although there is shared culture amongst the authors, and some repeated themes, the experiences are expressed in an alluring assembly of diverse viewpoints and styles. Here we find unique voices that express resilience, wisdom, and self-awareness in different ways. This talented team of writers use magical realism, legends, philosophy, science, ecology, and stream-of-consciousness to express themselves in these earthy, richly-detailed stories.

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