by Raymond Carver from What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Rating: 3/10
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
Day 43: The School
by Donald Barthelme from http://www.npr.org/programs/death/readings/stories/bart.html
Rating: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Day 42: Her Sweet Jerome
by Alice Walker from In Love & Trouble
I enjoyed this story much more than the others so far in this book.
Rating: 7/10
I enjoyed this story much more than the others so far in this book.
Rating: 7/10
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Day 41: Vermont Tale
by Mark Helprin from Ellis Island
Returned to Give Helprin another shot.
Rating: 6/10
Returned to Give Helprin another shot.
Rating: 6/10
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Monday, June 8, 2015
Day 39: The Night Horizon
by Miroslav Penkov from East of the West
Returned to the stories about Bulgaria.
This is the first story that I really didn't care for from this book.
Rating: 4/10
Returned to the stories about Bulgaria.
This is the first story that I really didn't care for from this book.
Rating: 4/10
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Day 38: The Day After the Day the Marians Came
byFrederik Pohl from Dangerous Visions
Another Sci-Fi sunday story. These stories are by far my favorite of the project.
Rating: 7/10
Another Sci-Fi sunday story. These stories are by far my favorite of the project.
Rating: 7/10
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Friday, June 5, 2015
Day 36: The Story of an Hour
by Kate Chopin from americanliterature.com
Since I am no longer doing the O.Henry Fridays, I decided to use Fridays to read classics from other authors as well. I will be starting with the list from http://americanliterature.com/twenty-great-american-short-stories of 20 great american short stories. I have read about half of them but will be reading the ones I have not read over the next several Fridays.
There seems to be a vain in older short stories that they end with a quick twist. This one did not disappoint.
Rating:8/10
Since I am no longer doing the O.Henry Fridays, I decided to use Fridays to read classics from other authors as well. I will be starting with the list from http://americanliterature.com/twenty-great-american-short-stories of 20 great american short stories. I have read about half of them but will be reading the ones I have not read over the next several Fridays.
There seems to be a vain in older short stories that they end with a quick twist. This one did not disappoint.
Rating:8/10
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Day 31: Flies
by Robert Silverberg from Dangerous Visions
Another Sci-Fi Sunday selection.
Rating: 7/10
Another Sci-Fi Sunday selection.
Rating: 7/10
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Day 30: The Little Match Girl
by Hans Christian Anderson
After a week of Munro, I decided to try and find a classic that was new to me. I figured Hans Christian Anderson was a good choice and picked this story that was new to me.
This story was much more too my liking than some of the other 'classic' stories I have read.
Rating: 7/10
After a week of Munro, I decided to try and find a classic that was new to me. I figured Hans Christian Anderson was a good choice and picked this story that was new to me.
This story was much more too my liking than some of the other 'classic' stories I have read.
Rating: 7/10
Friday, May 29, 2015
Day 29: The Coming Out of Maggie
by O'Henry
I decided to finish out the month with the O'Henry Friday.
This story was a perfect end to my reading of O'Henry. Like most of the stories I read of his, they seem very much stuck in the period of time that he is writing. I failed to find the timelessness in his stories that I feel make a great story teller.
Rating: 3/10
I decided to finish out the month with the O'Henry Friday.
This story was a perfect end to my reading of O'Henry. Like most of the stories I read of his, they seem very much stuck in the period of time that he is writing. I failed to find the timelessness in his stories that I feel make a great story teller.
Rating: 3/10
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Day 25: The Wolves of Cernogazt
by H.H. Munro from americanliterature.com
After reading the longer stories from East of the West, I needed some quicker reads this week. Decided to take this week and read 6 stories by H. H. Munro.
Rating 6/10
After reading the longer stories from East of the West, I needed some quicker reads this week. Decided to take this week and read 6 stories by H. H. Munro.
Rating 6/10
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Day 24: Evensong
by Lester del Rey in Dangerous Visions I
Sci-Fi Sunday and I decided I would be reading from this anthology for a while.
This was a great story and a perfect example of why I love reading Sci-Fi.
Rating: 9/10
Sci-Fi Sunday and I decided I would be reading from this anthology for a while.
This was a great story and a perfect example of why I love reading Sci-Fi.
Rating: 9/10
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Day 22: A Service of Love
by O'Henry
Ok... I think this will be my last O'Henry story. I didn't hate this one so I think I will leave him with this his parting thought.
Rating: 5/10
Ok... I think this will be my last O'Henry story. I didn't hate this one so I think I will leave him with this his parting thought.
Rating: 5/10
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
Day 18: East of the West
by Miroslav Penkov from East of the West
Another amazing story. I'm am really glad I discovered this book to ready while in Bulgaria. But even if we were not visiting I would want to read these stories.
Rating: 9/10
Another amazing story. I'm am really glad I discovered this book to ready while in Bulgaria. But even if we were not visiting I would want to read these stories.
Rating: 9/10
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Day 17: Fragments of a Hologram Rose
by William Gibson in Burning Chrome
Sci-Fi Sunday! This one felt a little more like an idea for a story than a complete story.
Rating: 5/10
Sci-Fi Sunday! This one felt a little more like an idea for a story than a complete story.
Rating: 5/10
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Day 16: Makedonija
by Miroslav Penkov from East of the West
Since we are visiting Bulgaria I decided to look for stories about Bulgaria to read while we are there.
This was an amazing story and my favorite to date. There was so much to like about this story from the history of the country to the descriptions of an older married couple nearing the end of their lives. The fact we were visiting the country at the time of the reading only added the overall enjoyment of this story.
Rating: 10/10
Since we are visiting Bulgaria I decided to look for stories about Bulgaria to read while we are there.
This was an amazing story and my favorite to date. There was so much to like about this story from the history of the country to the descriptions of an older married couple nearing the end of their lives. The fact we were visiting the country at the time of the reading only added the overall enjoyment of this story.
Rating: 10/10
Friday, May 15, 2015
Day 15: The Skylight Room
by O'Henry from 100 selected stories.
These O'Henry stories are just not doing it for me. I think I will finish the month with O'Henry Fridays and then move on to something else.
Rating: 4/10
These O'Henry stories are just not doing it for me. I think I will finish the month with O'Henry Fridays and then move on to something else.
Rating: 4/10
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Monday, May 11, 2015
Day 11: Roselily
by Alice Walker from In Love and Trouble
I am just going to do ratings for some of these stories unless something stands out to me.
Rating 5/10
I am just going to do ratings for some of these stories unless something stands out to me.
Rating 5/10
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Day 10: The Gernsback Continuum
by William Gibson in Burning Chrome
Sci-Fi Sunday. I really enjoyed this story. The imagery of the futuristic architectural style of the 1930's was something I had never really thought about. It tied neatly into a quick story that I really enjoyed.
Rating: 8/10
Sci-Fi Sunday. I really enjoyed this story. The imagery of the futuristic architectural style of the 1930's was something I had never really thought about. It tied neatly into a quick story that I really enjoyed.
Rating: 8/10
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Day 9: The Schreuderspitze
by Mark Helprin from Ellis Island
We are starting this collection as well as a collection by Alice Walker. We will alternate stories from the two books with the exception of our Sci-Fi Sunday and O'Henry Friday.
This is may favorite story so far. Another longer story that deals with lose and how a person moves forward when they have lost everything.
Rating: 9/10
We are starting this collection as well as a collection by Alice Walker. We will alternate stories from the two books with the exception of our Sci-Fi Sunday and O'Henry Friday.
This is may favorite story so far. Another longer story that deals with lose and how a person moves forward when they have lost everything.
Rating: 9/10
Friday, May 8, 2015
Day 8: Between Rounds
by O'Henry from 100 selected stories.
Ok...so far my two least favorite stories have been the O' Henry stories. I will continue with the O'Henry Friday for another couple weeks but if they stories don't get better, I might abandon him on Fridays.
This was a rather boring story that really didn't go anywhere. Add to that, this was really the first story of the project that I did not care for the writing.
Rating: 2/10
Ok...so far my two least favorite stories have been the O' Henry stories. I will continue with the O'Henry Friday for another couple weeks but if they stories don't get better, I might abandon him on Fridays.
This was a rather boring story that really didn't go anywhere. Add to that, this was really the first story of the project that I did not care for the writing.
Rating: 2/10
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Day 7: The Provincials
by Daniel Alarcon in The Best American Short Stories 2013
This is another rather long short stories. It is hard to rate a story that is 4 pages long against a story that is 40 pages long. I think in general I have enjoyed the longer stories simply because they are much more like a novel and this is what I normally read.
This had a couple very interesting characters in a setting that I found very interesting. I have not read much about how Mexicans react to people who return to Mexico after leaving for the US.
Rating 7/10
This is another rather long short stories. It is hard to rate a story that is 4 pages long against a story that is 40 pages long. I think in general I have enjoyed the longer stories simply because they are much more like a novel and this is what I normally read.
This had a couple very interesting characters in a setting that I found very interesting. I have not read much about how Mexicans react to people who return to Mexico after leaving for the US.
Rating 7/10
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Day 6: The Death of a Clerk
by Anton Chekhov from Selected Stories of Chekhov
First, I love 19th century Russian writers. I think The Brother's Karamazov is the greatest novel ever written. I love Tolstoy and Gogol as well. But for some reason I had never had the chance to read Chekhov till now.
This was almost like a satire of a 19th century Russian story. Government clerk. Check. Internal existential crisis. Check. Death. Check.
All the pieces are there but present in a way that to me feels satiric.
Rating: 6/10
First, I love 19th century Russian writers. I think The Brother's Karamazov is the greatest novel ever written. I love Tolstoy and Gogol as well. But for some reason I had never had the chance to read Chekhov till now.
This was almost like a satire of a 19th century Russian story. Government clerk. Check. Internal existential crisis. Check. Death. Check.
All the pieces are there but present in a way that to me feels satiric.
Rating: 6/10
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Day 5: The Statement of Randolph Carter
by H.P. Lovecraft from Complete Writings of H.P. Lovecraft
I had read a few Lovecraft stories as a teenager but believe they were a couple of his longer works. When I saw Lovecraft on my friends short story list, I thought this would be a good time to revisit his writing.
This was a quick story that is exactly what I would expect from a Lovecraft story. Great writing that really sets an atmosphere.
Rating: 7/10
I had read a few Lovecraft stories as a teenager but believe they were a couple of his longer works. When I saw Lovecraft on my friends short story list, I thought this would be a good time to revisit his writing.
This was a quick story that is exactly what I would expect from a Lovecraft story. Great writing that really sets an atmosphere.
Rating: 7/10
Monday, May 4, 2015
Day 4: Ysrael
by Junot Diaz in Drown
This is about 3 boys but only the one who we don't really know and who is disfigured is at all likable. Maybe that is the point but the story left me feeling depressed. Well written and a complete story but the subject of the story was unpleasant at best.
Rating: 6/10
This is about 3 boys but only the one who we don't really know and who is disfigured is at all likable. Maybe that is the point but the story left me feeling depressed. Well written and a complete story but the subject of the story was unpleasant at best.
Rating: 6/10
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Day 3: Semley's Necklace
by Ursula K. Le Guin in The Wind's Twelve Quarters
Sci-Fi Sunday: I decided to read a Sci-Fi story every Sunday.
I have read only one novel by Le Guin so I was happy to add this collection of her short stories to the list. This was a little longer the the other short stories I have read this far, but I really enjoyed this story. It was a little slow to develop for a short story but the resolution was well done. Excited to read more of these stories in the coming weeks.
Rating 8/10
Sci-Fi Sunday: I decided to read a Sci-Fi story every Sunday.
I have read only one novel by Le Guin so I was happy to add this collection of her short stories to the list. This was a little longer the the other short stories I have read this far, but I really enjoyed this story. It was a little slow to develop for a short story but the resolution was well done. Excited to read more of these stories in the coming weeks.
Rating 8/10
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Day 2: Why Don't You Dance
by Raymond Carver from What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
I really enjoyed this 'story.' I say story since it is really more of a scene that is left without answers. But I find the lack of resolution works well in this situation.
Rating: 8/10
I really enjoyed this 'story.' I say story since it is really more of a scene that is left without answers. But I find the lack of resolution works well in this situation.
Rating: 8/10
Friday, May 1, 2015
Day 1: Cosmopolite in a cafe
by O'Henry from 100 selected stories.
Having only read one story from O'Henry before this, 'Gift of a Magi' I was unsure exactly what to expect. This was not my favorite story. It was interestingly written but the story really did not interest me in the slightest.
Rating: 4/10
Having only read one story from O'Henry before this, 'Gift of a Magi' I was unsure exactly what to expect. This was not my favorite story. It was interestingly written but the story really did not interest me in the slightest.
Rating: 4/10
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The Books
Here is a list of the books I am planning on using to start this project. I'm sure I will add some as I go and would love for further suggestions.
Yukio Mishima:Death in Midsummer and Other Stories
Raymond Carver: What we talk about when we talk about love
Anton Chekhov: Selected Stories
Alice Monro: Selected Stories
Jorge Borges: Labyrinths and other stories
Alice Walker: In Love and Trouble
O’Henry: 100 Selected Stories
Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche- The Thing Around Your Neck
H.P. Lovecraft: Complete Collection
T.C.Boyle: Stories
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Wind's Twelve Quarters
Phil Klay: Redeployment
Jhumpa Lahiri: Interpreter of Maladies
Flannery O’Connor: A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories
Jean Stafford: The Collected Stories
George Sanders: Tenth of December
Molly Antopol: The UnAmericans
Junot Diaz: Drown
Willam Gibson: Burning Chrome
Mark Helprin: Ellis Island
Anthologies:
Dangerous Visions
Best American Short Stories
Yukio Mishima:Death in Midsummer and Other Stories
Raymond Carver: What we talk about when we talk about love
Anton Chekhov: Selected Stories
Alice Monro: Selected Stories
Jorge Borges: Labyrinths and other stories
Alice Walker: In Love and Trouble
O’Henry: 100 Selected Stories
Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche- The Thing Around Your Neck
H.P. Lovecraft: Complete Collection
T.C.Boyle: Stories
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Wind's Twelve Quarters
Phil Klay: Redeployment
Jhumpa Lahiri: Interpreter of Maladies
Flannery O’Connor: A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories
Jean Stafford: The Collected Stories
George Sanders: Tenth of December
Molly Antopol: The UnAmericans
Junot Diaz: Drown
Willam Gibson: Burning Chrome
Mark Helprin: Ellis Island
Anthologies:
Dangerous Visions
Best American Short Stories
The idea....
I have decided to follow a friend on a journey....
That journey is to read one short story each day for an entire year.
When I first heard about the project, I figured there is no way I could do this. I liked the idea but I just don't read very quickly. But the more I thought about it, I easily spend a half hour on the internet each day that I would not mind cutting out of my life. And this seems like a great excuse to do so.
Why short stories? First, I have for the most part avoided them in my reading. Even authors I really enjoy, I tend to skip their short story collections. Secondly, I am hoping it will broaden the scope of my readying.
I have a stack of books ready to go. This list is partly gathered from my friends list, partly from internet research and partly from friends suggestions. (Let me know if there is something I should add to the list.)
I will be posting what story I read each day here as well as a quick 1-10 rating on how much I liked it. (Yes this is extremely subjective.) I hope to once a week post a little more on my favorite story of that week but that might not happen. I want this to be a reading project and not a writing project.
That journey is to read one short story each day for an entire year.
When I first heard about the project, I figured there is no way I could do this. I liked the idea but I just don't read very quickly. But the more I thought about it, I easily spend a half hour on the internet each day that I would not mind cutting out of my life. And this seems like a great excuse to do so.
Why short stories? First, I have for the most part avoided them in my reading. Even authors I really enjoy, I tend to skip their short story collections. Secondly, I am hoping it will broaden the scope of my readying.
I have a stack of books ready to go. This list is partly gathered from my friends list, partly from internet research and partly from friends suggestions. (Let me know if there is something I should add to the list.)
I will be posting what story I read each day here as well as a quick 1-10 rating on how much I liked it. (Yes this is extremely subjective.) I hope to once a week post a little more on my favorite story of that week but that might not happen. I want this to be a reading project and not a writing project.
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