A Literary Respite: Ten Favorite Short Stories

I have Nova and Jade to thank for this: listing my ten favorite short stories. Everyone has their favorite books, but individual stories often get short shrift. Of course this list moves around but these are ten that come to mind today. (these are not in order of preference, just how they came to mind)

“White Angel” by Michael Cunningham
“Fiesta 1980″ by Junot Diaz
“In the Gloaming” by Alice Elliott Dark
“Hunger” by Lan Samantha Chang
“The Bear Went Over the Mountain” and “Floating Bridge” by Alice Munro
“Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff
“He’s At the Office” by Allan Gurganus
“Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx
“Penance” by Matthew Crain
“A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor

There are many, many more than just that list. But they were the ones that popped into my head immediately. They are stories that make me sigh and wince. Stories that I keep thinking about, months and years after I read them. They’re stories that stick with me.

Writing this list has made me realize that I miss reading short stories and I really, really miss writing them.

What are your ten favorite stories, today?

nova Says:

April 24, 2007 at 9:53 am

I forgot “Hunger” from my list! I LOVE “Hunger”. In fact, I love it so much I have to change my list, no joke. That story is stunning and makes me cry every time.

I love your list, Susan. I’m going to check them all out.

10 Favorite Short Stories « distraction no. 99 Says:

April 24, 2007 at 9:58 am

[...] thanks to Susan, I remembered how much I absolutely love “Hunger” by Lan Samantha Chang—I won’t [...]

Wishy Says:

April 24, 2007 at 12:18 pm

I listed my 10 favorite short stories at my blog post–

http://wishythewriter.blogspot.com/2007/04/great-short-story-meme-and-challenge.html

and I joined LK’s challenge to read a new story recommended on this meme..so I chose “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin.

I also added you to my blogroll, Susan. I love your blog!

I also have several links to online short stories on my blog, if you’re interested.

Thanks for passing on this great challenge.

mel Says:

April 24, 2007 at 12:48 pm

I’ve been meaning to read “Brokeback Mountain” – a friend at Hedgebrook read a line or two aloud while were sitting in the TV room. Beautiful.

I’m writing down all ten titles. Oh man, my to-read list is growing!

LK Says:

April 24, 2007 at 3:30 pm

Nice list. Mind if I add it to the one I’m compiling from my challenge?

Margie Says:

April 27, 2007 at 4:32 am

I’ll add two:

“Monday” by Mark Helprin
“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry

And I’m challenged, too, to go back and find more.

Kate Says:

May 3, 2007 at 7:11 am

I have Gaijin Mama to thank for leading me here. Two of your picks are also on my list: “White Angel” by Michael Cunningham and “Brokeback Mountain” by Annie Proulx. Such an amazing story. It’s all there. Also, “What Feels Like the World” by Richard Bausch, “Demonology” by Rick Moody, “Mrs. Sen’s” by Jhumpa Lahiri, “Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, “Fenstad’s Mother” by Charles Baxter and “Pale Horse, Pale Rider” by Katherine Anne Porter. I love that one. Thanks for this!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things « ReadingWritingLiving Says:

May 12, 2007 at 9:09 am

[...] Favorite Things Posted by Susan under Good Things , Reading Recently I mentioned that one of my favorite short stories is Alice Munro’s “The Bear Came Over the Mountain.&#822… Not long ago, I was in a movie theater and one of the trailers came on – gorgeous snow, Julie [...]