5 Reasons to Start Reading Short Stories

I get the general impression that people don’t read short stories a lot. My spouse made a good point—like other small things, people don’t seem to go for short stories unless they are really into an author or reading. Similarly, most people don’t watch short films, but film buffs and filmmakers love them. Unless you’re really into music, you might not want to get a musician’s EP, you’d rather wait for the full album/LP. Most people don’t play short games (computer or regular video games), etc.

I can relate to all these feelings, but I will say that I’m a short story collection fiend and total convert.

Here are a few reasons to love short stories:

1. You read just one and you’ve read a whole story! It’s a nice little accomplishment. Say you want to read even a little every day, you could read one short story every night before bed and boom there you go, reading goal met!
2. Short story collections are great for waiting games—like if you’re waiting in line, on the bus, on a plane, waiting for an appointment, etc. You can finish a story in one sitting, you don’t have to dive in and remember where you are at like you would for a novel.
3. It’s ok to put a book of short stories down. Unlike a novel, you don’t have to read straight through. You can read a couple stories (read them out of order even!), and pick the collection up again when you need it without having to remember major plot details or characters.
4. You can read more than one collection of short stories at a time. I know a lot of people don’t like to read more than one book at a time, and I get that, you want to concentrate on the narrative. I have short story collections scattered about my house. I have one on my bedside table if I don’t feel like reading whatever novel I’m reading (see point 1) and one in the kitchen for when I have to watch something on the stove.
5. Short stories are a good way to get to know an author’s work. I have discovered many authors by reading one of their short stories in another collection. Most novelists have a short story or two out there, read that first to see if you like their work before committing to a longer novel. It’s like test tasting, really.

Here are some short story collections I love and would very much recommend.

What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi

This collection of stories by Helen Oyeyemi is actually my favourite book! Oyeyemi is one of my very favourite writers of all time. Her tales are always magic, and so real that after I read one of her works I'm often looking around wondering if I just missed some of that magic that she sees. Also - Oyeyemi always writes about POCs and more often than note, her writing features queer characters.


The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror by Daniel M. Lavery

If you loved The Toast, which was hilarious and witty, you will love these short stories by The Toast founder Daniel M. Lavery. They're cheeky little takes on classic fairy tales that will have you snickering away.


The Lonesome Bodybuilder: Stories by Yukiko Motoya

I'm very excited to see more Japanese fiction translations making their way to Canada these days. This collection by Motoya is one of the newest on this list and a very good one at that. Weird, awesome, and honestly pretty sweet at their core, these stories will make you laugh and wonder.

The Future is Blue by Catherynne M. Valente

I'm a bit of an embarrassing fan girl for Valente. Along with Helen Oyeyemi  above and Ruth Ozeki, Valente is one of my all-time faves. This collection is amazing because it can show her range so well as a writer. I love love love the story in this one, 'The Lily and the Horn' and have spent much time with my wife discussing who in our lives is a Lily and who is a Horn. What am I talking about? You'll just have to read to find out. Bonus - like Oyeyemi, Valente very often writes about queer characters.


What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky: Stories  Lesley Nneka Arimah

This collection by Lesley Nneka Arimah won a TON of awards when it was first published and for a darn good reason. Honestly, I personally was kind of put off by the first story of the collection when I first started reading this book, and set this book aside. I went back to it eventually and a good thing at that - while I still think the first story is my least fave in this collection, the rest are absolutely brilliant.


White Walls: Collected Stores by Tatyana Tolstaya

I read this collection in university. The stories are melancholic, detailed, and capture all the nuances of the lives of women. The stories aren’t necessarily super tragic or anything, but so beautiful they made my heart hurt. I often think about re-reading this collection, or just a story at a time, but honestly, these ones stay with you long after you’re done reading them. This collection holds a prized place on my bookshelf.


St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell

I loved all the stories in this book, like actually all of them. They are fantastic, surreal stories, right on the edge of reality. There are stories about kids with sleeping disorders, stories about two brothers trying to find their missing sister, and girls raised by wolves who are kidnapped by nuns. Russell has published two short story collections since this one, but this one remains my favourite.




A version of this was previously posted on The Closet Feminist