Featured Stories

The Balloon

The Balloon: Short story by Donald BarthelmeA huge balloon appears unexpectedly one night, covering 20 city blocks of central Manhattan. Nobody knows why it is there, triggering varying initial responses. After a short time, people begin to accept the balloon simply because it exists. They no longer need to know why. Like the balloon, this story by Donald Barthelme may appear confusing at first because it appears to have no message or theme. Barthelme is satirizing our need to know “why” (find a purpose or meaning) before we can appreciate a creative expression… whether it be a balloon, a work of art, or a story.

Continue ReadingThe Balloon

Immigration Blues

Immigration Blues: Short story by Bienvenido Santos This story by Bienvenido Santos deals with the plight of a Filipino woman wanting to make a future in the United States. Without a permanent visa, her only hope is to gain residence through marriage. Her sister learns of a retired Filipino widower with U.S. Citizenship. In a humorous visit laced with dramatic irony, the two women are initially too embarrassed to raise the topic of marriage. When the old man finally understands their purpose, he thanks God for allowing lightning to strike him twice. Themes include immigration, cultural isolation, hope, fear, pride, the emptiness of growing old alone.

Continue ReadingImmigration Blues

Resurrection of a Life

Resurrection of a Life: Short story by William SaroyanIn this story by William Saroyan, a man reflects on his life as a ten-year-old paperboy in 1917. As many of his memories appear infused with wisdom that usually comes with age, it is difficult to distinguish between his true boyhood thoughts and adult-inspired interpretations. One area where the difference is clear is religion. As a boy, he found it difficult to accept God due to the carnage of World War 1 and other injustices in his world. As an adult, he believes there is no death, and can never be. Themes: poverty, morality, facing and accepting reality, belonging, religion.

Continue ReadingResurrection of a Life

Everyday Use

Everyday Use: Short story by Alice WalkerAlice Walker’s study of mother-daughter relationships explores contrasting attitudes towards heritage. A self-centered college graduate (Dee) visits her mother, a poor farming widow. The mother values her African-American heritage; Dee tries to exploit it. Their positions are exemplified in a family heirloom: a hand-stitched quilt that has been promised to Dee’s sister. Dee demands it, claiming that such things are now trendy and valuable. She claims it will be wasted on her sister, who will probably put it to “everyday use”. Themes: heritage, racial identity, connection through tradition, appearance, materialism (the effect of higher education / city life on values).

Continue ReadingEveryday Use

Long Distance

Long Distance: Short story by Jane SmileyIn this story by Jane Smiley, an early middle-aged bachelor learns an important lesson about himself. The story begins with his Japanese girlfriend calling off their long-distance relationship due to the impending death of her father. Although she is distraught, he is relieved because he did not think he could meet her expectations. After drinking too much at a family Christmas gathering, he comes to realize that the self-centered affair has probably ruined the poor woman’s chances of a happy life. Themes include physical and emotional distance, family, marriage, responsibility, identity, loneliness and isolation, selfishness, guilt.

Continue ReadingLong Distance

The Man in the Black Suit

The Man in the Black Suit: Short story by Stephen KingThis story from Stephen King builds on a common legend in folklore in which an unsuspecting protagonist is tempted by the devil. King made two changes to the standard plot that result in a truly frightening the tale. First, the devil’s target is an innocent nine-year-old boy. Second, instead of the devil’s usual objective of offering an earthly reward in exchange for the boy’s soul, this devil is hungry and plans to give the poor lad a heavenly reward by eating him. Themes: isolation, innocence, the supernatural, deception, fear, religious belief, life-long trauma, aging and death.

Continue ReadingThe Man in the Black Suit

Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies: Short story by Jhumpa LahiriInterpreter of Maladies is the titular tale in Jhumpa Lahiri’s award-winning debut short story collection. The stories deal with different aspects of the cultural and relationship issues facing people of Indian heritage in the modern world. This story contrasts two empty marriages. The Indian protagonist (a doctor’s translator who moonlights as a tour guide) fantasizes that the wife in an Indian-American family he takes sightseeing has a romantic interest in him. Rather than love, she wants his help to find a “cure” for a foolish mistake she once made. Themes include marriage, communication, poor parenting, loss, guilt, loneliness, self-esteem.

Continue ReadingInterpreter of Maladies

The Pit and the Pendulum

The Pit and the Pendulum: Short story by Edgar Allan PoeIn this story by Edgar Allan Poe, a man in a dreamlike state of consciousness swoons upon being sentenced to death by the Spanish Inquisition. He wakes to find himself tied to a wooden frame in a chamber housing three forms of horrific death: a deep, water-filled pit; a slowly descending, razor-sharp pendulum; and contracting, red-hot walls. After almost giving up and welcoming death, he finds the will to live and devises a plan to escape the pendulum. As the walls close in, an unexpected visitor saves him. Themes include injustice, sadism, fear, time, the will to live, inventiveness, salvation

Continue ReadingThe Pit and the Pendulum