BLOG 1: Short Stories of all the time
The short story is sometimes an under-appreciated art form. Within the space of a few pages, an author must weave a story that’s compelling, create characters readers care about and drive the story to its ultimate conclusion — a feat that can be difficult to accomplish even with a great degree of savvy. Yet these authors have mastered the art of the short story, turning condensed pieces into memorable works of literature that stick with readers long after they’ve finished.
Some good examples are:
- “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”by Ernest Hemingway: A writer on safari in Africa is close to death and looks back on his life regrettably in this short tale.
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien: Nominated for and winning numerous literary awards, this collection of stories about the Vietnam War is moving– perhaps even more so because many of them are based on the author’s own experiences.
- “The Body”by Stephen King: Adapted into the movie Stand By Me, this short tale documents both the depth of friendship and the horrors of misfortune.
- “The Telltale Heart”by Edgar Allan Poe: There are few out there who haven’t read or at least heard of this classic tale. Over a few short pages, Poe builds the suspense as a murderer begins to feel the guilt of his crime.
- “Three Questions”by Leo Tolstoy: While Tolstoy may be better known for his epic novels, this short story in the form of a parable about a king searching for the most important questions in life shows he mastered the medium of the short story as well.
- “Fall of the House of Usher”by Edgar Allan Poe: This classic tale of gothic horror will have you hanging on to every last detail.
Source: http://www.onlineclasses.org/resources/the-50-best-short-stories-of-all-time/
Have you read any of the short stories mentioned above? If so, what do you think about them? If not, what other short stories have you read do you recommend to read?
Read the following article and answer the questions:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-benefits-reading-why-you-should-read-everyday.html
- Which of these benefits do you find the most interesting? Why?
- Which other benefits would you add to the list?
- Do you have a favorite author? Why do you like his or her work?
- List some books you would encourage other people to read. Why would you recommend these books to others?
