If you are anything like me, you love reading but do not have the time to sit and constantly read novels. As hard as I try, I never seem to finish any novels that I do read, or it literally takes me months on months to finish just one book. My love for reading came to a bitter end when I started college. I could not manage to work, do school work, and find the time to read for pleasure. This became harder when I became an English major as well because I was strictly reading pieces that were meant for class. However, I found an alternative! Short stories give you a chance to read an entire plot, but not make the commitment to reading a large amount of pages. Over the course of the past two years I have found millions of short stories that are absolutely amazing. However, these ten short stories stuck out the most to me and made an everlasting impression:
1. "It Will Look Like A Sunset", by Kelley Sundberg
This short story focuses on an abusive relationship, and how the women justifies it. If you have a love for Lifetime movies, this piece is perfect for you. Even if you do not enjoy this type of genre, this piece shows what it is like to be on the victim side of an abusive relationship.
2. "A Very Large Man With Enormous Wings", by Gabriel Marquez
Marquez has at least three life lessons within this short story. This short story balances anti-realism, and realism all while keeping a consistent theme of magic. This story questions compassion and cruelty.
3. "Girl", by Jamaica Kincaid
My favorite of this list is this short story. It is one sentence long, and extremely accurate on how women are supposed to act within society. This story is based off of a Caribbean culture, but it is amazing to see how it applies within different ones as well. This story is a powerful feminist piece that will make you think about the double standard.
4. "Boys", by Rick Moody
Following the theme of gender, this piece follows two brothers from the time they are small boys to the time they are men. Demonstrating how each one of their lives interacts with each others, this piece teaches how quickly life passes us by.
5. "The Gift of the Magi", by O. Henry
Perfect for the holidays, this piece teaches a lesson on what we really should value. This piece challenges materialism and idealism. This short story is extremely popular, and has become a well known holiday story.
6. "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas", by Ursula Le Guin
I recently have read this one for a class project, and I fell in love. This short story is simply amazing. Not only does it not have a plot at all, but it demonstrates that your happiness comes at the cost of another persons' happiness. Guin is known for her plotless fiction, but this one stands out among the rest. It makes you question what we take for granted.
7. "The Cask of the Amontillado", by Edgar Allan Poe
Out of the list, this one is by far the creepiest. It falls into the horror, and thriller genre all while maintaining a twist ending. Poe is usually known for his dark writing, and this piece fits perfectly in his description. This story teaches the valuable lesson of who to trust, and to mind your own business.
8. "Lust", By Susan Minot
This short story follows the struggle of a teenage girl discovering her sexuality. This piece pushes the barrier of the popularity of the "hook up" culture and shows what it really does to a person on an emotional level. Despite being published in the eighties, this piece is extremely relevant to today's society.
9. "A Good Man is Hard to Find", by Flannery O'Connor
This piece is horrible. It is in fact so horrible, it is actually good. O'Connor build such unlikable characters that their fate is satisfying. Just a warning this piece is does deal with racism, however it illustrates how karma will sneak up on you. These arrogant characters eventually deserve what they receive, and this story has the most satisfying ending out of every story on this list.
10. "To Build a Fire", by Jack London
This short story is beautiful. London is an amazing writer, and makes the reader feel emotionally connected with his words. This piece gives the reader a new perspective on death.
