Featured Stories

Under the Banyan Tree

Under the Banyan Tree: Short story by R. K. NarayanThis story by R. K. Narayan starts by contrasting the village of Somal’s poor utilities and sanitation practices with the almost idyllic existence of its inhabitants. Set before the coming of electronic media, the only regular source of entertainment is Nambi, the village storyteller. As de-facto village priest, Nambi is also the focal point of its culture and traditions. Sadly, he is getting old. He forgets prepared stories, and has difficulty coming up with new material. Fortunately, he has the good sense to make his ‘greatest’ story his last. Themes include storytelling, community, aging, knowing when to stop, spirituality..

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Day of the Butterfly

Day of the Butterfly: Short story by Alice MunroThe themes of this distressing story from Alice Munro are being different, isolation, bullying, connection and betrayal. Myra’s family looks and dresses differently. At school, her introverted younger brother needs her constant support and protection. The other children in her class (always in groups of course!) ridicule her. For most of them, feigned acceptance comes when Myra is hospitalized with leukemia and it becomes fashionable to be seen to care. Sadly, a brief period of connection with the narrator ends with a decision to discard what may have been Myra’s last ever gift

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Philomel Cottage

Philomel Cottage: Short story by Agatha ChristieThis romantic story with a deadly twist is one of Agatha Christie’s lesser-known tales. Shortly after newly-weds Alix and Gerald move into secluded Philomel Cottage, Alix hears some disturbing news from the gardener. Gerald’s angry reaction when she asks him about it makes her realize how little she really knows about him. She sets out to fill in the gaps and discovers a trail of bigamy, swindling, murder, and escape form prison. Sensing danger, some quick thinking and a terrible-tasting new brand of coffee save her life. Themes include love and romance, manipulation, isolation, innocence, curiosity, fear, and the supernatural.

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Secretary

Secretary: Short story by Mary GaitskillIn this story by Mary Gaitskill an insecure, introverted young woman from a dysfunctional family begins her first ever job as a secretary in a lawyer’s office. Unfortunately, her employer is a sadistic sexual predator. After several weeks of repeated spelling mistakes in letters she types, he calls her into his office and spanks her. She is both repulsed and sexually stimulated by the humiliation. She quits the job when he goes a step further and, after responding to the degradation by pleasuring herself, the poor woman suffers an emotional breakdown. Themes include innocence, sexuality, workplace harassment, sexual assault, BDSM.

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The Fortune-Teller

The Fortune-Teller: Short story by Joaquim Maria Machado de AssisThis story by Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis involves a love triangle between life-long best friends and a woman who is married to one of them. The sceptical lover laughs when the woman consults a fortune-teller for comfort that their relationship will last. Shortly afterwards, he begins to receive anonymous letters claiming that their affair is public knowledge. Ironically, when the husband sends a note asking for an urgent meeting at his house, the frightened lover visits the same fortune-teller for comfort that he is not walking into a trap. Themes include betrayal, adultery, superstition, fate.

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The Fiddler

The Fiddler: Short story by Herman MelvilleIn this story from Herman Melville, the major theme (finding the right balance between ambition, fame and happiness in life) is introduced indirectly through a chance meeting. A struggling writer is in a “desperate mood” after negative reviews of his latest work. His life changes when he is introduced to a contented, good-humored man who goes house to house teaching the fiddle. The writer admires the way “commonplace” fiddler, who appears to have no special talents, is able to live life to the fullest. Enlightenment comes when he learns the fiddler’s secret. Other themes: accepting criticism, judging by appearances.

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A Useless Man

A Useless Man: Short story by Sait Faik AbasıyanıkRather than being “useless”, the protagonist of this story by Sait Faik Abasıyanık admits to having given up on life. A recluse, he hasn’t washed himself or left his Istanbul neighborhood of four streets in seven years. He follows the same routine, meets the same people, and fantasizes about the same voluptuous Jewish woman every day. One day, for no apparent reason, he ventures further afield and is dumbstruck by the changes to and vibrancy of the city. After returning home, he is so disoriented by the experience that he contemplates suicide. Themes include alienation, loneliness, fear, hopelessness, depression.

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Ruthless

Ruthless: Flash story by William C. de MilleThe protagonist in this story by William C. de Mille is a narcissistic businessman. One of its themes is excessive materialism. The man is so obsessed with his possessions, including small items such as a bottle of Bourbon, that he would kill to prevent other people from having them. The major themes are vengeance and justice. The man’s wife points out that his actions in trying to take revenge on those who drank some of his liquor the previous winter go beyond justice: the law doesn’t punish burglary by death; so what right have you? In the end, justice prevails.

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