Featured Stories

Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon

Seventh Day of the Seventh Moon: Short story by Ken LiuIn this bittersweet story by Ken Liu, the myth behind China’s annual Qixi Festival comes to life to help two young women in love face a forced separation. On the eve before parting, flocks of magpies magically appear to transport them to the ‘bridge’ upon which the Qixi lovers meet once a year. The message they receive from the mythical couple is that if one loves someone and moves on, their love remains true no matter how many times they fall in love with others. Themes include culture, tradition, change (Westernization/commercialism), love, separation, moving on, sexuality, the supernatural.

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Old Man at the Bridge

Old Man at the Bridge: Short story by Ernest HemingwayAlthough a war story, the major theme of this vignette by Ernest Hemingway is not the physical horrors of armed conflict, but rather the psychological impact on the lives of those caught up in its wake. An old man has dedicated his life to caring for several pets. Forced to set them free and flee, he now fears for their safety and sits alone on a bridge, having lost the drive to go on. The narrator, a soldier focused on his duty, reluctantly leaves him to his fate. Other themes include alienation, anxiety, guilt and despair, resignation, duty vs. compassion.

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Supper

Supper: Short story by Lesléa NewmanThe major themes of this story by Lesléa Newman are sexuality and alienation. Protagonist Jocelyn’s annoying grandmother spoils supper by complaining about her vegetarian diet and trying to force her to eat some meat. Later, the grandmother makes a cruel comment about her being too skinny to attract boys. Jocelyn blushes because she thinks there might be something wrong with her. She “doesn’t like” boys, but found a kissing and petting ‘practice session’ with her best friend (who demonstrated what her experienced boyfriend does) sexually stimulating. Sadly, the poor girl doesn’t appear to have anyone to talk to about it.

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Where Is Here?

Where Is Here?: Short story by Joyce Carol OatesOne of the beauties of this unsettling story by Joyce Carol Oates is that it is open to many interpretations depending on how much one reads into the visitor’s identity and purpose. At its simplest, the story involves a man behaving strangely as he confronts pleasant and unpleasant memories during a visit to his childhood home. More imaginative interpretations include revisiting a scene of child abuse and/or patricide, and a ghostly warning from the past or future about looming danger or a cursed house. Themes: (general) nostalgia, connection, domestic violence; (through the riddles) mortality, time, infinity.

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Borrowing a Match

Borrowing-a-Match: Short story by Stephen LeacockHave you ever asked someone if you could borrow something, and then watched them go to so much trouble looking for it that you wish you hadn’t asked? If so, you will understand the building frustration of the man in this Stephen Leacock story. All he asked of a “decent, ordinary-looking” stranger was the loan of a match. In the process of looking for one, the stranger destroys his overcoat and the parcels and letters he is carrying, and then threatens to beat his young son when he gets home. Finally, . . . (you’ll have to read the story to find out!)

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Almost No Memory

Almost No Memory: Flash story by Lydia DavisWhen Lydia Davis wrote this flash story, she may have been reminded of a quote attributed to Albert Einstein: Never memorize what you can look up. Some people have a knack for remembering almost every detail of past events; others have a talent for putting names to faces or remembering facts and figures. However, most of us forget more than we remember. A word that often comes up in describing Davis’s writing is “playful”. Here she takes a playful look at memory (or rather lack of it!), and then moves on to memories and their relationship to original thought.

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A Wagner Matinée

A Wagner Matinée: Short story by Willa CatherWilla Cather’s A Wagner Matinée highlights the gulf between the hard, isolated life of the American West’s early settlers and the civilized, cultured life of the cities they left behind. The contrast is even greater for the protagonist’s Aunt Georgiana who is not only highly educated, but also accomplished in and passionate about classical music. Her state of almost catatonic shock upon returning to the city and tearful reaction to the musical performance may also indicate regret over her rash elopement thirty years earlier. Themes: hardship, isolation, loneliness, kindness, appreciation, the inspirational/healing power of music.

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Paste

Paste: Short story by Henry JamesThe main theme of this story from Henry James is that things aren’t always as they appear. The stepson of a deceased vicar’s wife offers her gaudy costume jewellery to his young cousin. Later, the cousin learns that one piece, a pearl necklace, may be genuine. This is one of those rare stories where a protagonist who chooses to do the right thing is the only loser. Mystery surrounds how the dead woman came by such a necklace, and its fate after she returns it. Other themes: temptation, morality, vanity, greed, betrayal.

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