Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.
Today’s topic is Top Ten Books you’d recommend to someone who doesn’t like X (fill in the blank). I’ve chosen my Top Ten Favorite Short Stories for those who think they hate short stories. They are in no particular order and are linked to the actual story online so you can have fun reading! Also, these stories are a great introduction to some amazing authors and are often much more accessible than longer novel length works. Give them a try!
1. Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. A&P by John Updike
3. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
4. The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
5. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving
6. The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
7. The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin
8. Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway
9. A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner
10. A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor
The Blog of Litwits 
The Lottery was a short story that broke my heart when I read it back in high school.
Great choices for this week and an excellent topic!
The Lottery is definitely an intense story. I adore Shirley Jackson.
I was reminded of Shirley Jackson’s story last year when I read The Hunger Games and its own lottery. I like how in Jackson’s story a lot is left out as to the “why ” of the lottery.
Great list. I do not read a lot of short stories, but some of these sound really interesting and I would like to give them a try.
Do give them a try! I don’t read a lot of short stories either, but these are SUPERB.
Very Interesting list!
The Muggle
Thanks!
I absolutely love short stories so thanks for this list! I would love to see what are some recent collection of short stories you enjoyed.
One of my favorite modern collections is David Foster Wallace’s Girl With Curious Hair – the whole collection. I need to re-read and perhaps review it here.
Wow! I can’t believe I’ve read all of these but #4! 😀
(This is huge for me. I was SO unread two years ago.)
I was actually first exposed to most of these in school – either high school or college, so I cheated. But I’ve loved them all dearly. And congrats on the accomplishment!
Wow! I can’t believe I’ve read all of these but #4! (This is HUGE for me. I was SO unread two years ago.) 😉
LOL. Sorry, the comment disappeared so I thought it didn’t go through. 😛
Oh, what a great list! I read a lot of these in high school, and remember being struck by each one differently. I need to reread some of them, as I have forgotten a few of the more pertinent facts. Very cool post today!
Thanks! It made me realize how long it’s been since I’ve read these and how sad it is that I haven’t read more modern short stories because I do love the form.
Oh man.. A Good Man is Hard to Find is one of my FAVORITES. I would recommend this to anyone! I love short stories and how intense they can be, like little pops of WOW! Great topic and list!
Thanks! A Good Man is Hard to Find is amazing – as many of O’Connors stories are. Short stories, in my mind, are the hardest form of literature to write – but often the most rewarding!
Wooohoo! I chose short stories for today’s TTT, too! I see several here that I count among my faves, but I’ve mentioned them so many times on my blog, I tried to choose alternative stories for my post today. Love it!
I love short stories getting all this love! Can’t wait to read your list!
Young Goodman Brown is probably my favorite short story, to teach as well as to read. Although I do love Flannery O’Connor, especially Good Country People.
Good Country People is a fabulous story as well – haven’t read it in ages. Definitely need to do a re-read soon!
I did short stories for today’s TTT as well. You have some great suggestions that I’ve not read, so they will be going on my TBR list. 🙂
Short stories are amazing – and so often overlooked.
I almost did a list of short stories too but was so busy this week. I’ve read all but a couple of yours and have blogged about a few. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of my all time favorites. Irving is so good. I even once lived in “Irvington” (an old neighborhood in Indianapolis) so I guess I’d better like him.
-Jay