Featured Stories

All at One Point

Some time ago we featured Distance of the Moon, the first story in Italo Calvino’s Cosmicomics collection. In this, the fourth story, we travel back to before the beginning of time. Everything (and everyone) in the universe existed in a single point in space. Things were rather crowded and people had no chance to move about and meet others. However, everyone knew and loved Mrs. Ph(i)Nk_0, whose wish for enough room to make noodles caused a burst of positive energy that resulted in the “big bang” and universe as we know it today. Theme: the power of selflessness and love.

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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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The Possibility of Evil

The Possibility of Evil: Short story by Shirley JacksonThe major theme of this Shirley Jackson story is that appearances can be misleading. A secondary theme, which is particularly relevant these days, is ‘fake news’. Miss Strangeworth, who possibly suffers from OCD, believes that her letters, although based purely on suspicion, are for the good of the community. Her objective may be noble, but many of the thoughts expressed are evil. The story’s message is two-fold: 1) we must be constantly on guard against the “possibility of evil”; and 2) evil is sometimes committed under the guise of seemingly good causes. Other themes: heritage, haughtiness, alienation, community, revenge.

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Goodbye, Columbus

Goodbye, Columbus: Short story by Philip RothMajor themes of this captivating story by Philip Roth are passion, sexuality, Jewish identity, and social class. When Neil, a twenty-three-year-old man from a working class Jewish family falls for Brenda, a spoiled college student from a wealthy one, the relationship appears doomed. Brenda’s competitive nature, Neil’s idealism, and his daily encounters with her emotionally dysfunctional family, lead to snide comments and constant bickering between them. The glue that holds their relationship together is sex, and readers are left to decide if Brenda ended it accidentally or deliberately. Other themes include family, materialism, manipulation, and control.

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Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock

Because My Father Always Said He Was the Only Indian Who Saw Jimi Hendrix Play 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at Woodstock: Short story by Sherman AlexieIn this story by Sherman Alexie a Native-American boy recalls the good and not-so-good times before his father rode off on his motorcycle, never to return. His father led a rebellious early life, spent two years in prison, visited Woodstock, and came home a heavy drinker. The relationship between his parents was volatile, alternating between alcohol induced arguments and lovemaking. The boy’s father had difficulty opening up and music, especially the titular song, was an important catalyst for communication between them. Themes include father-son relationships, war (in all contexts), alcoholism, marriage breakdown, abandonment, memory, the power of music.

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The Woman Who Came at Six O’Clock

The Woman Who Came at Six O'Clock: Short story by Gabriel Garcia MárquezThe central theme of this early Gabriel Garcia Márquez story is perception of others. ‘Queen’, the six o’clock regular in José’s restaurant, is a prostitute. Queen’s customers see her as a sex object, to be used and sometimes abused. The police see her as an alcoholic miscreant who cannot be trusted. José, who professes platonic love for Queen, sees the vulnerable human being within. Queen, who claims to be disgusted by all men, sees the caring, kind-hearted José only as someone to be taken advantage of. Other themes: habit, murder, naïveté vs. worldliness, misunderstanding, reputation.

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The Lady With the Dog

The Lady With the Dog: Short story by Anton ChekhovAnton Chekhov’s Lady With the Dog is about a philandering misogynist who meets a much younger woman while on vacation. Both have unhappy marriages; both are open to holiday romance. They enjoy a brief affair, then go their separate ways. After parting, each becomes obsessed with the memory of the other. He tracks her down, and soon they are planning a future together. The story has an open ending, but one suspects that each now looks at relationships and the world in a new way. Themes: love, infidelity, guilt, morality, chauvinism, sexual objectification, commitment.

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Long Walk to Forever

Long Walk to Forever: Short story by Kurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut described this semi-autobiographical tale, written in honor of his wife, as a sickeningly slick love story. A satire of the “love at first sight” romance cliché, it describes how, after a platonic friendship of almost twenty years, a single expression of love and two kisses is all it takes for Catharine to question her plans to marry another man and fall into Newt’s arms. Themes include communication (failure to express/discuss their feelings sooner), taking people for granted (Newt didn’t appreciate how much Catharine meant to him until almost losing her!), and fighting for what is important in life.

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