short story

Writings about a short story that I’ve recently consumed.

  • Idle Reflections

“An Ideal Craftsman”: Psychological Horror from Walter de la Mare

"An Ideal Craftsman" follows a young boy down to the larder, happening upon a crime scene.

1 year ago
  • Monthly Reading, Viewing Report

Cultural Consumption, 2022-Style! Best of!

The best books and films of 2022, some description thereof, as well as a few of the worst.

2 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Tyrannical Imagination: Henry James’ “An International Episode”

A passage from Henry James' novel "An International Episode" displays the tyranny of the imagination

2 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Suburban Micro-Aggressions: Shirley Jackson’s short story “Flower Garden”

Shirley Jackson's "Flower Garden" will mystify readers expecting horror, but civil discord is in no short supply

2 years ago
  • Short Story Month

Julio Cortázar’s “Bestiary”: Man-eating animals

The "Bestiary" narrates pre-adolescent Isabel's summer vacation with her cousin Nino and ... a tiger.

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“Blind Geronimo and His Brother”: Mistrust Finds its End

Brothers Geronimo and Carlo travel the roads of 19th century Italy, entertaining passers-by with song, but one plants a seed…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“Anxiety … Dizziness … Freedom”: Paraself Virtue

Ted Chiang's "Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom" considers the ethical effects of the consulation with a paraself, a self…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Gottfried Keller’s “The Little Dance Legend”: Pagans Mix Poorly

G. Keller's "The Little Dance Legend" is a quizzical story about Musa, a dancer among the saints whose dance and…

4 years ago
  • Short Story Month

“Beyond the Pale”: The Repressed Returns

William Trevor's "Beyond the Pale" tells of four friends visiting an idyllic Irish island, on the occasion of the return…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Ginzburg’s “The Mother”: Recollections Partial and Fleeting

Natalia Ginzburg's "The Mother" is a story about a "mother" from the perspective of her two boys who receive from…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Hoffman’s “Don Juan”: The Mysterious Visitation

Hoffmann's "Don Juan" is a theatre review written as a short story, bound to enlighten lovers of Don Giovanni and…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“An Unexpected Reunion”: Death’s Dominion Disturbed

In Johann Peter Hebel's "An Unexpected Reunion" death seems to separate a betrothed couple, but after the passing of much…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

Goethe’s Hymn to Virtue: “The Attorney”

Goethe's "The Attorney" shows that though habit and nature are not easily conquered, the powers of the sovereign will as…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

“The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling”: Writing on Trial

Writing explores writing in Ted Chiang's "The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling," in a story constructed of two…

4 years ago
  • On Literature, Books

‘Tis Short Story Month

During this lovely autumn month I will read a new short story each day and then write a brief post…

4 years ago