I have always loved short fiction and was excited to see a book built around short stories. In The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, A.J. recommends the following stories to his daughter.
I’m embarrassed to admit that I have only read one of them! And I’m guessing it’s one that many of us read in high school English class: “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. Take a look at the list. How many have you read? Which are your favorites?
“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl (1953)
“The Diamond as Big as the Ritz” by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1922)
“The Luck of Roaring Camp” by Bret Harte (1868)
“What Feels Like the World” by Richard Bausch (1985)
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor (1953)
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calveras County” by Mark Twain (1865)
“The Girls in Their Summer Dresses” by Irwin Shaw (1939)
“A Conversation with My Father” by Grace Paley (1972)
“A Perfect Day for Bananafish” by J.D. Salinger (1948)
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe (1843)
“Ironhead” by Aimee Bender (2005)
“What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” by Raymond Carver (1980)
“The Bookseller” by Roald Dahl (1986)
Click here for a review of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.
Thanks for visiting – come back soon!
Book Club Mom 
I’ve only read two, so don’t feel too bad, Barbara. 🙂
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And I’m always bragging about how much I love short fiction. Eek!
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I think the only one I’ve read is the Tell-Tale Heart, too. And I’m not even sure if I read it, or it’s just popular enough that I’ve read the story. I’m generally not a huge fan of short stories. It always seems like just when I get into them they’re over.
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Ack! I’ve only read one, Barbara. I better get cracking! 🙂
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Same! Which one did you read?
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The Tell-Tale Heart. Like you, it was an English class requirement.
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Some I had not even heard of – I guess I wasn’t much of an English major!
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I’ve only read the Raymond Carver…think I’ll bookmark this post and try to get to some of these others. 😀😀 I just adored Zevin’s book!
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Yes so will I – I bet I have a few in some of my anthologies. And so glad you loved the book – it was wonderful to read! Thanks for stopping in!
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I have always been a short story lover. I am currently reading “Emerald City” a collection of short stories by Jennifer Egan. Other recommended short story collections I read this year include: The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher” by Hilary Mantel, “Noctures” by Kazuo Ishiguro, and “The State We Are In” by Ann Beattie. I will definitely check out your recommendation, Barbara. Thanks.
A Good Man is Hard to Find” was always one of my faves, although I found it quite unsettling and chilling and on that note, I can never forget “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. Still haunts me to this day.
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Sad to say, but none. I’ve not been drawn to short stories in the past, but I’ve recently come across some anthologies that I’m enjoying and this list gives me a solid starting point for some more. Thanks!
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Only one for me – but that just gives me ideas on what to read next! Thanks for stopping by!
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I’ve read many short stories, but only the Pie one from this list. Coincidentally, My best friend just gifted me Love, Great Short Stories by Women chosen by Victoria Hilsop. Looking forward to reading. Short fiction is intense and gives readers a feel for the author’s style and longer work.
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Looks amazing. I’d never heard of this. Thanks for sharing all the links, too! 🙂 You know I love short fiction.
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Yes Sarah I was thinking of you! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
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I’m clicking away here! 😀
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I’m sure I have some of these in my many anthologies- let me know if you read any of them!
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I’m going to read ALL of them. 🙂
A few sound familiar (Lamb to the Slaughter, The Bookseller…) but I don’t remember them. I’m at once cringing that I haven’t read them and excited I found this amazing list of new reads. I think some of these were also in my university anthologies (good ol’ Norton Anthology). I’ve read Poe’s Tell-Tale heart and a bunch of others from him but one of my favorites is The Cask of Amontillado.
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I’m in the same shoes as you — I’ve only read The Tell-Tale Heart. This is a great list! I will try to make a point of getting to more of these.
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