When life becomes demanding, not only can it be difficult to find adequate time to read, but the thought of tackling a novel can be daunting. Short stories are much easier to get through when leisure time is limited. Here is a sampling of some titles the Lititz Public Library has to offer.
“Invisible Blood” edited by Maxim Jakubowski.
Delve into 17 stories that explore crime from a psychological perspective by popular authors including Jeffrey Deaver, Lee Child, and Christopher Fowler.
“Brief Cases: More Stories from the Dresden Files” by Jim Butcher.
Eleven short stories and one new novella feature supernatural adventures of the modern-day professional wizard Harry Dresden.
“Florida” by Lauren Groff.
Florida is the unifying theme in this collection of stories that boast a diverse cast of characters, are set over a wide span of time periods, and delve into a variety of emotions.
“The Moth Presents Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible” edited by Catherine Burns.
The Moth is a popular podcast that showcases true stories told live. Here are stories that focus on strength and perseverance in extreme circumstances that often lead to profound epiphanies.
“An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good” by Helene Tursten.
Five short mysteries with a generous helping of dark humor (in a surprisingly tiny book) follow the exploits of a curmudgeonly—and dangerous—Swedish woman.
“Anything Is Possible” by Elizabeth Strout.
Written by a Pulitzer Prize–winning author are nine emotionally charged stories all set in Amgash, Illinois; fans of the novel “My Name is Lucy Barton” will be happy to see its heroine revisited.
“Evening in Paradise: More Stories” by Lucia Berlin.
Berlin’s writing has been likened to literary masters such as Anton Chekhov; this posthumous collection showcases her remaining 22 short stories.
“Men Without Women” by Haruki Murakami.
Seven stories about lonely men explore solitude with a touch of humor.
“Seven Stones to Stand or Fall: A Collection of Outlander Fiction” by Diana Gabaldon.
Have you read all of the Outlander novels and find yourself longing for more? This collection of shorter (although still generously-lengthed) stories offers an extra helping of Outlander with themes ranging from time travel to zombies.
“Mothers: Stories” by Chris Power.
A tale of a woman’s ambiguous journey using an outdated travel guide is one of ten stories set in various countries and filled with characters faced with difficult decisions.
“Tales: Short Stories Featuring Ian Rutledge and Bess Crawford” by Charles Todd.
Four short stories and an excerpt from a novel, all set in post-WWI England, feature the protagonists from both of Todd’s mystery series.
“The Largesse of the Sea Maiden” by Denis Johnson.
These five stories that focus on mortality and the enigmatic side of life comprises the author’s last work before his death.
“Sing to It” by Amy Hempel.
Fifteen stories about characters struggling to find their niches in the world include tales about a dedicated volunteer from a dog shelter and about a woman who contemplates a painful decision she made in her teenage years.
“Being Various: New Irish Short Stories” ed. by Lucy Caldwell.
True to its title, here is a variety of stories—varied in authors and varied in themes—all from Ireland.
“Everything Inside: Stories” by Edwidge Danticat.
Eight engaging stories set in exotic locations focus on love, death, and survival.
Kathryn Raynor
September 18, 2019