In an attempt to become more broadly read, I'm reading an anthology of american short stories - short stories by american writers. As the book was published in 1957, the stories were written between 1800 and 1957. Includes writers such as Poe, Thurber, James and others.

The writing itself is generally exceptional, if not a little verbose at times (I guess that was the style of the era). Like instead of just writing something like "One might say...", they would write something like "One might say, if one were so inclined, and of course having been exposed so such culture and behaviors, and not fearing that one might be wrong in saying so, ..."

Anyway, the writing itself is well regarded. However, upon reading about 15 or so stories, I find that I don't really enjoy the story for most of them. I'm not sure what makes them great stories. The book is an anthology of great stories, not great writing.

Probably just me. I'll finish the book since I want to be more broadly read. I'm just a little perplexed on what makes them great stories. I'm looking forward to another anthology where the stories are more enjoyable.

BTW, the editors seem to suggest that short story formats are dominated by american authors. True? Even today, not just back then? Seems non-intuitive since every culture seems like it would like a nice story. And one presumes that fables / tales (Grimms?) are a different medium than short stories. Not sure exactly what a short story is...

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Not sure exactly what a short story is...

Usually , a story of 1,000 to about 5,000 words fits the name.


..personal note: I've bought two books of short stories this year, one has 9 stories, the other has 19. both are about 300 pages. Pick your poison.

Edgar Allan Poe had some really good ones but my favorite to this day is Ray Bradbury. If you dig sci-fi that sometimes can venture into horror, this guy was a master of those type stories.

Yea. That's another problem. I would prefer a short story book that is easy to hold (light, small). The one I have has small-ish print and is 500 pages long. But it's a paperback size (4x6" or so). At an average of 20 pages per story, I'd prefer 4x6, larger print, less stories, more volumes.

Poe is very detailed but his stories seem to be on the more morbid side.

I used to read a lot of sci-fi as a teen. Bradbury, Asimov, Heinlein, etc. The two I didn't enjoy then that I do now are LOTR and Dune. Perhaps I'll pick it up again since they are mostly long forgetten now.

generally, short stories are just vignettes... a peak into a window of a much larger story. That story might not be told anywhere else, though, if the author didn't expound on it. That means that a lot of the context of the story is unavailable for the reader. This often means many details of the story don't get explained and the plot does not get resolved. That may be why you don't enjoy them. I happen to really like them because of that. They are often morally ambiguous, leaving the reader to extrapolate the greater context and why the behavior wherein might be acceptable or might not.

A few authors who wrote short stories (some of these could be novellas bc they are longer than 5000 words) I like... Hemingway, Steinbeck, Bukowski, et. al.

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I find that I don't really enjoy the story for most of them. I'm not sure what makes them great stories. The book is an anthology of great stories, not great writing.

Perhaps a question that would help us answer your question would be.

Why do you think they aren't great?

What made the stories less than enjoyable for you?

Fall of the House of Usher: detailed, descriptive writing. But the story wasn't interesting. Just droned on and on without end. Nothing happened. No likeable characters. No points or events that were remarkable.

Bartleby the Scrivener: Boring. Annoying characters and story.

Baker's Bluejay Yarn: this was short and more entertaining. Perhaps the bar was set so low that this story was a bit refreshing.

I don't know why these stories are considered 'great' - by what criteria? I don't find most of these stories memorable or creative or appealing. Poe's was, as usual, descriptive. But that in itself doesn't a good story make, just good writing.

I'm reading the book, like or not, just to say I've read these authors and their stories. To know that I've broadened my horizons. I'm just not really enjoying it as I thought I would.

You should probably try the 2025 anthology of Best American Short Stories. Stephen King is actually very good at short stories of you like that kind of fiction. Tenth of December by George Saunders is excellent. I'm not a huge fan of the format but enjoy a good story whatever its length if it is done correctly.

As a kid in the 1960s I often read Readers Digest condensed stories at Grandmas house Sunday afternoons.

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Fall of the House of Usher: detailed, descriptive writing. But the story wasn't interesting. Just droned on and on without end. Nothing happened. No likeable characters. No points or events that were remarkable.

I remember this from high school and its "greatness" comes from it being an example of a Classic Gothic Tale. It was meant to create a sense of claustrophobia with vague and unexplained reasons.

Did it do that for you?

You’re reading stories from the old 10th and 11th grade canon and finding them about as enjoyable as 10th and 11th graders found them. You might consider Hemingway’s collection of short stories. There are probably a few versions with different collections or there’s a complete set. There are plenty of collections of American short stories spanning various periods. They’re mostly classics curated by stuffy English professors. Chekhov and Tolstoy have collections of short works if you want to experience some Russian stuff.

Bartleby was annoying in high school but I kinda dig him now.

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Bartleby the Scrivener: Boring. Annoying characters and story.

Is considered one of Melvilles most famous stories because the meaning has been debated, ever since it's publication...and Melville wouldn't elaborate.

The story is meant to cause the reader to reflect on what the story refers to and what the character represent

No claustrophobia. I enjoyed other works like Tell Tale Heart (title?). Didn't enjoy Usher; again, good descriptive writing but the story didn't do anything for me. Couldn't wait for the story to end - it was way too long.

Bartleby: perhaps so. And since I have no one to debate the meaning with nor do I wish to debate w/ myself, I guess the intent is lost on me. Besides, given I don't really have much religious or historical or social/psychological depth of knowledge, metaphors may be largely lost on me. I'm reading for the explicit story, not deeper hidden meanings. I would need cliff notes or some guide for that.

I do like Hemingway - almost all that I've read was enjoyable. I could just ready Hemingway short stories but was trying to broaden my exposure across writers. Perhaps that's a needless endeavor; more successful with music than with short stories.

I'll finish this book. And then perhaps just stick to works from preferred writers.

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Originally posted by 9mmepiphany:
reflect on what the story refers to and what the character represent

I could tell you, but 'I would prefer not to.'

I read "Bartelby" in high school, and it was amongst the many pieces dating to that era that demonstrated the folly of paying authors by the word.

As to good reads in short story. O. Henry was well-regarded for his short stories, "The Gift of the Magi" I still recall.

Lol. Good one. That was one of the most annoying stories I've read.

The Great American Bathroom Book. series.

Got it. Read parts of it before. Planning to read it cover to cover after I finish this anthology (if I don't hate reading by then).

Short stories of Mark Helprin are excellent.

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Originally posted by oddball:
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

I loved short stories in school. I would read them from the front to keep up and read from the back for my own enjoyment.

Great short stories stick with you long after you've read them.

The Lottery was great. O'Henry's stories were a great read for me. I forget the titles. Maybe The Gift of the Magi which made me love irony. The husband sells his watch for a hair decoration his wife and pin her hair and the wife sells her hair for a watch chain for her husband's watch.

Thre's the story of the janitor who, because he didn't have any schooling was fired from his job. So, he started opening up businesses (I forgot what kind). He becomes so successful with so many branches that when someone found out he didn't have any schooling, they wondered where he would be given he'd accomplished so much with so little education. The guy answered matter-of-factly that he'd still be a janitor.

I think short stories were the TikTok videos of its time when kids found it hard to follow a long novel.