The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady: Short story by Khushwant SinghPublished in 1948, Khushwant Singh’s moving tribute to his grandmother was the first story of his long and distinguished writing career. The story spans a period of twenty years, from Singh’s earliest memories of the “so terribly old but always beautiful” woman, to her peaceful passing in almost surreal circumstances. He recalls their close friendship during his early schooling, the “turning point” when they moved to live with his parents in the city, and their growing estrangement as Western influences and higher education demands came between them. Themes: grandmother-grandson relationship (love, devotion), generation gap (education, culture), piety, change.

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The Ass, the Table, and the Stick

The Ass, the Table, and the Stick: English folktale from Joseph JacobsIn this English folktale, a young man works for a year and earns a magic donkey. An innkeeper tricks him out of it, so he works for another year and earns a magic table. The same innkeeper tricks him out of this. For his next job, the boy earns a magic stick. This helps the young man get his donkey and table back, as well as to marry his true love. Unfortunately, in winning the girl the young man shows a side of his personality that will make readers wonder if he really deserved all the magical help!

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A January Night / Poos Ki Raat

A January Night / Poos Ki Raat: Short story by PremchandThis story by Premchand highlights the plight of tenant farmers in pre-Independence India. In the Hindu calendar, the month of Poos (mid-December to mid-January) marks the beginning of winter. A farmer, forced to pay his debts with money he had saved to buy a blanket, watches over his crops one night in freezing temperatures. With his loyal dog beside him, he manages to survive the night. Unfortunately, his crops do not. His wife is devastated, but he is happy. Themes include the powerlessness and exploitation of tenant farmers, poverty, struggle, the harshness of nature, resilience.

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Greatness Strikes Where It Pleases

Greatness Strikes Where It Pleases: Short story by Lars GustafssonThis touching story by Lars Gustafsson explores the life of a severely retarded man who was institutionalized from age seven. Although it mentions the obvious issues of social isolation, loneliness, and ill-treatment, these are not the focus of the story. Rather, it is a celebration of how, cut off from society and without love or human companionship, he uses childhood memories to connect to the world through an imaginary private universe in which, as the creator, he holds a place of greatness. Themes include social isolation and loneliness, powerlessness, the importance of language, memories, imagination, connection.

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The Wife’s Story

The Wife's Story: Short story by Ursula Le GuinIn addition to its themes of love, trust, family and perception, this Ursula Le Guin story carries two important messages. The first is that we are often so blinded by our love for someone that we fail to notice subtle hints that may indicate flaws or emerging problems in their character. The second is that there are always two sides to every interaction between sentient beings. To many humans, wolves are wild, dangerous predators to be shot on sight. To wolves, man is a feared aggressor who all too often attacks and kills them for living as nature intended.

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Meeting Mrinal

Meeting Mrinal: Novelette by Chitra Banerjee DivakaruniIn this story by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, an Indian-American woman struggles to come to terms with the failure of her arranged marriage and her Americanized teenage son’s increasing withdrawal. After an unexpected visit from her closest childhood friend and rival, now a highly successful single businesswoman, she realizes that, despite the different directions their lives have taken, both have ended up lonely and disillusioned. Fortunately, after considering suicide, she recognizes that no life is perfect and decides to face up to her problems. Themes include cultural conflict, gender roles, arranged marriages, identity, generation gap, single motherhood, rivalry, pride, loneliness, disillusionment.

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The School Play

The School Play: Short story by Gary SotoThis Gary Soto story is about facing fear. The protagonist is scared of forgetting his only line in his sixth-grade play. In addition to worrying about being laughed at, another student has threatened to “bury his face in the ground” if he messes up. The play is about the infamous Donner Party. The fear theme is supported in its concluding words: You gotta suck it up (endure hardship) in bad times. Interestingly, although intended to suggest that the starving travelers should have been stronger in resisting cannibalism, this expression could also be used to justify eating dead bodies to survive?

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The Laugher

The Laugher: Short story by Heinrich BollIt is tempting to dismiss this story by Heinrich Böll as an entertaining bit of nonsense. On the surface, it is the unlikely tale of a once aspiring actor whose only talent is laughing convincingly and, where required, infectiously on demand. Although much sought after and a financial success, he detests the work because laughter is not in line with his usually sombre character. The story is a sad metaphor for the millions of people around the world who also find themselves trapped in unsatisfying jobs for which they may not be suited.

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