Short Story Reviews
In Trauma Is a Time Traveller by Ahmed Yussuf we have the theme of struggle, loss, tradition, abuse and escape. Narrated in the second person by an unnamed narrator the story itself is a harrowing tale of one young boy’s difficulties as he is growing up. He is unloved by his father who is abusive […]
Read moreIn Confessions of a Dustbin by M. Karunanidhi we have the theme of loss, loneliness, and freedom. Narrated in the first person by the dustbin itself it becomes clearer to him that he as hears story of professionals of faith and love that the dustbin makes to make a connection with others. Who merely see […]
Read moreIn Whistling in the Dark by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of loneliness, companionship, connection and solidarity. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Bond may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn Between Earth and Sky by Patricia Grace we have the theme of struggle, happiness, connection and freedom. Taken from her The Dream Sleepers collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed female narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that Grace may be exploring the theme of struggle. […]
Read moreIn Beans by Patricia Grace we have the theme of hard-work, enthusiasm, innocence, independence, gratitude, nature and appreciation. Taken from her The Dream Sleepers collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed boy and the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Grace may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn Big Brother, Little Sister by Witi Ihimaera we have the theme of desperation, violence, insecurity, selfishness, hope and paralysis. Taken from his The New Net Goes Fishing collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and the reader realizes after reading the story that Ihimaera may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn A Game of Cards by Witi Ihimaera we have the theme of connection, love, matriarchy, wisdom, tradition and mortality. Taken from his Pounamu Pounamu collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young male narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Ihimaera may be exploring the theme of connection. […]
Read moreIn A Room of One’s Own by Benjamin Law we have the theme of conflict, sibling rivalry, fear and reconciliation. Taken from his The Family Law collection the story is narrated in the first person by Law himself and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Law may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn The Performing Child by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of aspirations, control, selfishness, acceptance and freedom. Taken from his An Astrologer’s Day and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Narayan may be exploring […]
Read moreIn Courage in the Time of Harmattan by Ugochukwu Udorji we have the theme of conflict, letting go, ego and paralysis. Narrated in the second person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Udorji may be exploring the theme of conflict. The young boy finds himself in conflict with Chike […]
Read moreIn Robert and the Dog by Ken Saro-Wiwa we have the theme of control, jealousy, hierarchy and poverty. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Saro-Wiwa may be exploring the theme of control. Robert, who is a servant, believes that it is easier to control […]
Read moreIn Ilyas by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of happiness, materialism, generosity, faith, loss and gratitude. Taken from his Walk in the Light and Twenty-Three Tales collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn the short story In the Box by Taeko Kōno we have the theme of revenge, control, struggle, anger, gratitude and connection. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator (male) the reader realizes after reading the story that Kōno may be exploring the theme of revenge. The narrator is angry that the woman […]
Read moreIn Millicent by Merle Hodge we have the theme of control, conflict, innocence, insecurity and pride. Narrated in the first person by a young unnamed boy the reader realizes after reading the story that Hodge may be exploring the theme of control. Miss is in complete control of her class or she likes to think […]
Read moreIn My First Kiss by Lian Low we have the theme of curiosity, sexuality, connection, freedom, vulnerability, discovery and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by Low herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Low may be exploring the theme of curiosity. Low spent her first fourteen years of her life […]
Read moreIn Destiny by Shalini Akhil we have the theme of connection, belonging, identity, culture, tradition, desire and change. Narrated in the first person by Akhil herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Akhil may be exploring the theme of connection. Akhil has a fondness for Wonder Woman or more importantly the […]
Read moreIn Hot and Spicy by Oliver Phommavanh we have the theme of curiosity, connection, cunning, embarrassment, tradition, culture, identity and failure. Narrated in the first person by a young Year 6 boy called Albert Yip. The reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Phommavanh may be exploring the theme of curiosity. Albert’s parents […]
Read moreIn Hanoi and Other Homes by Sim Shen we have the theme of memories, belonging, connection, identity, change, acceptance and culture. Narrated in the first person by Shen himself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Shen may be exploring the theme of memories. Shen can recall the last time he visited […]
Read moreIn Are You Different by Mia Francis we have the theme of adoption, connection, culture, racism and freedom. Narrated in the first person by Francis herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Francis may be exploring the theme of adoption. Francis adopts Ricky from an orphanage in Manila. It is clear […]
Read moreIn The Dreamer by Saki we have the theme of class, materialism, gender, control and identity. Taken from his The Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that Saki may be exploring the theme of class. […]
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