Good morning, Saloners!
I must admit that I have never felt as comfortable with short stories as I do with novels. The problem with short stories, it eventually occurred to me, is that they are always presented in an anthology or magazine. With that format, it’s hard to appreciate the structure of an individual story. When you’re reading a novel, you simply can’t help sensing when you are halfway through, or getting close to the end, just by the thickness of the stack of remaining pages. I would argue that this sense of “where we are” affects our understanding and appreciation of stories more than we may realize. In fact, I always feel disgruntled when a novel ends before I think it’s going to, for example, when the publisher includes the first chapter of the author’s next book as a teaser. Man, I hate that.
Anyway, once I realized this, I started wishing that I could read stand-alone short stories. I had this little fantasy in the back of my mind for a long time before I learned that such a thing actually exists. It’s called One Story. You subscribe and every three weeks they send you a single short story. It’s printed like a pamphlet, and you can totally gauge “where you are” by the thickness of the remaining pages. Problem solved.
I love reading these. Not only has their unique format totally confirmed my theory, but there is a lot of variety and interest in the stories themselves. They never repeat an author, and they are always good. Plus, and this is the best of all, these little pamphlets fit neatly in your purse or pocket. You can carry one with you at all times because you never know when you might want to whip one out and start reading. Dentist’s office, playground, auto mechanic… they’re perfect!
What about you? What are your thoughts on novels versus short stories?
11 Comments
Very cool! Have you read any of note that you can recommend?
I find myself reading short novels much more than long ones. Has my attention span shrunk?
Just bookmarked the site. Love these! Thanks so much for sharing. Book bloggers have some of the best finds!
Today I am reading The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Happy reading!
I’m not one for short stories. I think I want something I can sink my teeth into, characters I can stick it out with for a while. Though maybe part of my problem is the gauging thing… I should give this a try and see if it helps.
What a neat concept! I’ll definitely check these out. I agree — I always feel a bit uneasy reading short stories, never knowing when they’re going to end! I do better with collections by the same author.
BTW, re you question on my Sunday Salon — Hilma Wolitzer is Meg Wolitzer’s mother.
Yeah, April, I’m glad you asked. Actually I meant to mention one of the stories in the post. Yesterday I read Lauren Goff’s “Sir Fleeting” while I was getting a pedicure (see what I mean about how convenient these are?). It was an absolutely exquisite story about a woman who encounters this dashing Lothario at various different points in her life. The writing was both poetic and succinct and I found it very moving. I think I read somewhere that Goff has published a novel (?) and if so, I am very eager to read it.
Becca, thanks for the info. I will definitely check her out!
Thanks for the comments! If you decide to subscribe, let me know.
I have actually been trying to read more short stories lately — trying to expand my reading horizons!! It seems like, in general, short stories examine human nature very closely — they are as not plot-driven (probably because of their relative brevity).
I like the idea of “One Story” because if you like one you’ve read, you can then find more from that author. I should look into a subscription for myself.
I actually prefer short stories. That’s probably why I read periodicals so much. I don’t lose the flow, and I can cram in much more. Or so I think.
What a great concept. I think, when I read short stories, I look to see how long they are before I get started on them. Probably what I need to read now actually, given the small windows of time I get.
With anthologies – and even with chapters in novels – I have always solved that “sense of where we are” need by turning to the end of the chapter and holding the remaining pages in my hand, or counting the number of pages. I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes to have a headcount.
This is one of the main reasons I have assumed I would not like to have a Kindle. It looks as if the “page turning” aesthetic, and “sense of where we are,” as you put it, would be completely lost. (Of course, I am also a Luddite in general. . . .)
I think that’s spot on! Every time I read a short story (which comes as a collection in book format), I keep going back to check “where I am”; how much further I have left, how far I’ve gone. Because it’s a short story. I know it’s gonna end soon. I want to know when. It’s almost distracting really.
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[...] at On the Curve tells us why she likes “One Story”. This intrigued me enough that I subscribed (they offer two free trial issues to start with). [...]