Featured Stories

The Law of Life

The Law of Life: Short story by Jack LondonJack London‘s The Law of Life tells of the life and impending death of Koskoosh, an old Inuit who was once chief of his tribe but is left by them to die in the snow. Some critics suggest that although Koskoosh is the protagonist, the real hero of the story is an old moose that was too weak to keep up with its herd. Can you see why? Major themes: the inevitability of death (the law of life), survival of the individual (man vs. nature), survival of the tribe (expendability of the old and weak), tradition, courage, acceptance.

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Greyhound People

Greyhound People: Short story by Alice AdamsThis story by Alice Adams consists of several “snapshots” of the narrator’s encounters with fellow passengers on Greyhound buses. Recently divorced and facing potential homelessness, the woman’s self-esteem is at an all-time low. Taken in by an overbearing friend, her life has deteriorated into a daily grind. Faced with an inter-city bus commute morning and evening, the situations she encounters and people she meets awaken her to a whole new world. For perhaps the first time in her life, she begins to act independently and step out of her comfort zone. Themes: isolation, insecurity, friendship, dependency, anxiety/fear, personal growth.

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Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird

Blues Ain't No Mockin Bird: Short story by Toni Cade BambaraMajor themes of this story by Toni Cade Bambara are respect for oneself and others, and maintaining one’s dignity when treated disrespectfully. Two white men making a government film on their property anger the matriarch of a poor African-American family. They show disrespect by invading her family’s privacy and filming them without permission, speaking down to her in a condescending way, and ignoring her demand to stop filming. Although clearly enraged, she remains outwardly calm; not so her husband who, sensing her feelings, takes non-violent but decisive action. Other themes include social class, racism, privacy, storytelling.

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Gimpel the Fool

Gimpel the Fool: Short story by Isaac Bashevis SingerIf you take the story at face value (which is often dangerous with a first person narration), Isaac Singer’s Gimpel is no fool. He understands and rationalizes all that has happened in his life, claiming to have been misjudged due to being too trusting and accommodating towards others. Sadly, although not considering himself a fool, he feels compelled to accept the title. The real fools are shown to be those who took advantage of Gimpel, especially his debauched wife who suffers the consequences in the afterlife. Themes: faith, kindness and integrity, forgiveness, strength and wisdom, acceptance.

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The Werewolf

The Werewolf: Short story by Angela CarterAlthough the beginning of this Angela Carter “wolf tale” resembles the Charles Perrault children’s story Red Riding Hood things soon take a very different turn. A wolf loses a paw, grandma is missing a hand, and the villagers show their bravery by beating the old woman to death. Carter uses foreshadowing and omissions in the storyline to leave readers with a question: Was the grandmother really a witch/were-woman, or was the “good child” one of those northern country people with a cold heart mentioned in the opening sentence?. Themes include female empowerment, self-reliance, courage, betrayal?, superstition, mob violence.

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The Verger

The Verger: short story by W Somerset MaughamThis story by W Somerset Maugham is about man named Albert who has worked hard as a church official for 16 years. When a new vicar learns Albert cannot read or write, he tells him that he must leave the job. Rather than go home immediately, Albert walks the streets trying to think of what he can do. During the walk, he decides to open a business. He soon proves that you don’t need a good education to be a success. All you need is the ability to think creatively, and the courage to back your ideas.

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The Raft

The Raft: Short story by Stephen KingIn this story from Stephen King, the last swim of the season by four college students also proves to be the last swim of their lives. On an alcohol-fuelled whim, the foursome drive to a deserted lake to swim out to a raft moored fifty yards off shore, say good-bye to summer, and then swim back. As they reach the raft, they learn to their horror that a mysterious black mass floating on the surface is stalking them for its next meal(s). Themes include teenage exuberance, machismo, chauvinism, sexuality, fear, the unknown/supernatural.

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Il Colore Ritrovato

Il Colore Ritrovato: Short story by Mark HelprinThis story by Mark Helprin explores the theme “the price of fame”. An ageing impresario reflects on how he transformed a contented young laundry worker into the greatest opera singer in the world. He has just come across an innocent young street performer who could be even better, and faces a dilemma. Although his first discovery has found fame and fortune, he is unhappy about how it affected her. Should he immediately launch his excited new find into stardom, or insist that she takes time to consider the consequences? Other themes include entrepreneurship, responsibility, regret, compassion, redemption, art and beauty.

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