Short stories are essentially condensed books. They have a beginning, middle, and end, and the same elements that novels do. They’re an important part of the literary world but often shoved aside in favor of novels or poetry. They deserve more appreciation, and here’s why.
They Take Less Time to Read than Books
Sometimes, we don’t have time to read a book, but we want to read — and finish — a story. On average, short stories range from three to 30 pages long, making for a perfect quick read! This also works for those who struggle to commit to reading books or those who don’t like reading much. The average reader needs close to an hour to read 30 pages, while novels can take hours to read. Whatever encourages others to read is a good thing!
They Can Focus on One Event or Character
Novels usually focus on multiple characters and events, since they have the space and word count. This makes for interesting perspectives and outcomes, but sometimes, it feels like certain characters and/or incidents get glossed over. In short stories, there’s not enough time to go over as much, so they usually choose only one person or event as the focal point. This allows them to dive deeper into their chosen element, rather than stretching thin to cover multiple topics.
Stories Serve as Samples of Authors’ Writing Styles
Committing to a book is a big decision sometimes, especially when you’re choosing a book by an author you’ve never read before. What if you don’t like it? What if it sucks? Short stories are wonderful samples to see if you’d like an author’s style or not. This may not always work, since not all authors write short stories, but some do! A few examples of such authors, both alive and deceased, include Stephen King, Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, and more.
They Allow You to Test a New Genre
It’s always fun to try reading a new genre, or even subgenre, but there’s no guarantee you’ll like it. That’s why testing the waters with a short story in that new genre is helpful. No two stories are the same, and different authors have different styles, but this method can still give you a general idea of what the genre or subgenre will be like.
Short Story Collection Recommendations
Short story collections are wonderful because you can read so many individual stories, either by the same author or different ones, in one compact book. It’s great to have so many marvelous stories at your fingertips, so here are some recommendations.
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
“The Lottery” is one of the darkest stories of the last century, creating quite a stir when it was published in 1948. This collection has twenty-four additional stories, each as terrifying and unusual as “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. This collection shows off her versatility, with stories ranging from funny to horrendous and unsettling to menacing.
Five-Carat Soul by James McBride
These stories were never published before and combine subjects surrounding humanity, identity, and history. James McBride explores how we learn from those around us and the world by using his impeccable storytelling skills and diligent eye for details and characters. Stories range from five strangers thrown together facing unanticipated judgment; to an American president getting inspiration from an overheard conversation; and more.
First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami’s eight stories, all in first person, are philosophical and mysterious with Murakami’s famous twist. They include childhood memories, music musings, dreamlike situations, and more, blurring the lines of the human mind and the outside world. These stories may be based on Murakami’s life, or they may be situations he made up. Who knows?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
These twelve stories allow us to go back to Victorian London and follow the dynamic duo, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson. Their most famous adventures, such as “A Scandal in Bohemia,” “The Red-Headed League,” and “The Beryl Coronet” are included in this fabulous collection originally published in 1892.
Short stories have a lot to offer us, so hopefully you will pick up a short story to read after this article!
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