Latest Previews (Forethoughts)
Forethoughts: This Isn’t The Sort Of Thing That Happens To Someone Like You by Jon McGregor
Jon McGregor has finally got a collection of short stories published. This is it, and I’m about to read it. What’s in store? Pop in and find out.
Forethoughts: Light Lifting by Alexander MacLeod
Shortlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, Alexander MacLeod’s debut collection FINALLY hits UK shores. It’s about time because I couldn’t be more excited about reading it.
Latest Reviews (Afterthoughts)
Afterthoughts: There Are Little Kingdoms by Kevin Barry
If you’re looking for a sharp, witty and entertaining look at the more marginal side of life on the Emerald Isle, then you won’t go far wrong in picking up this collection. Barry is an exceptional storyteller, and this collection shows why.
Afterthoughts: Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Vol. 3
Coming with content that always feels fresh, original and consistently well written, this third offering from the BSSP is about as close to the perfect short story anthology as it likely to get.
Individual Short Story Reviews
Chekhov Shorts: Excellent People
This story explores non resistance to evil. It’s deeply philosophical, so if you like your Chekhov stories like that then this is one for you. If not, then best to move on to something else.
Chekhov Shorts: Hush!
An hilarious tale from Chekhov, which focuses on the theme of writing and the emotions and the dramatics that a writer often goes through in getting the words onto paper. Summing it up more succinctly, the protagonist is a bit of a diva, but then again aren’t all male writers? Thank you Chekhov for reminding me of that fact, and doing so in a highly entertaining way.
Devouring De Maupassant: The Rabbit
At first glance this looks to be a really entertaining story, but it ends up somewhat bland. A shame because it comes with a great cast.
Devouring De Maupassant: The Parrot
All in all an OK story, but it comes with nothing outstandingly special.
Short Story Review: ‘She Was Looking For This Coat’ by Jon McGregor
A brief but wholly engaging story, that’s as Chekhovian as anything I’ve seen written by the nineteenth-century Russian maestro.
Chekhov Shorts: Dreams
A fairly average tale, but worth reading for great character descriptions and a rather spectacularly painted image of Siberia.
Chekhov Shorts: Mire
A lengthy tale but one well worth sticking with for the entertainment factor. There’s a brilliant character in a Jewess, who is anything but the typical submissive nineteenth-century aristocratic lady. Funny stuff!
Devouring De Maupassant: The First Snowfall
An average story from Maupassant, that’s let down somewhat by a weakly constructed principle character.
Short Fiction News
Longlist for Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award 2012 unveiled
Comprised of an equal number of male vs female authors, this year’s 20 strong longlist is exciting, eclectic and wholly electric.
Costa Book Awards get ‘shorted’. A cause for celebration?
As Costa announce their decision to add a short story category to their Book Awards, I barely contain my excitement, while looking at whether this is a good move or not.
Peirene announce winners of ‘PeiShoStoMo’ 900-word story competition
The London publisher reveals the winner of their inaugural 900 word short story competition, to be French-based writer Rosa Rankin-Gee.
Bloomsbury embrace ‘year of the short story’
It’s 2012, year of the short story, and Bloomsbury are jumping right on board with the publication of five major short story collections.
Short Fiction Feature
If you only read one short story this week…
…then please make sure it’s one from the Bloomsbury ‘Year of the Short Story’ Sampler (provided you haven’t read it already of course), created to give a taste of each of the five collections that Bloomsbury are publishing during the first five months of 2012, in celebration of their ‘Year of the Short Story’. I’ve [...]
Reading the short story: my most valuable tip
I long ago dropped the discipline of only reading 2 short stories a day, but there’s one reading rule for short stories that will live with me until the day I die. It’s the most valuable ‘weapon’ in my short story reading arsenal, and I’m going to share it with you.
Discussing The Guardian’s ‘Twelve Tales of Christmas’
The Guardian kicks off it ‘Twelve Tales for Christmas’ series, and I take at look at the first offering, from one of my favourite short story writers (and many other people’s), Anton Chekhov.
If I had to pick a favourite literary form then short fiction would undoubtedly be the one. I love its scope, its variety, and I love that it can consumed in a single effortless 'bite'. Short fiction is revered here at RobAroundBooks, in all of its forms. From the memorable shorts of the classic authors to the genius snappy creations of the modern story tellers, all are represented on RobAroundBooks, and very much loved.
