Short Story Reviews
In American Dreams by Peter Carey we have the theme of conflict, art, reality, cultural dependency and guilt. Taken from his The Fat Man in History collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed young man and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Carey […]
Read moreIn Storm Petrel by Romesh Gunesekera we have the theme of aspirations, conflict, memories, enthusiasm, failure and friendship. Taken from his Monkfish Moon collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Gunesekera may be exploring the theme of aspirations […]
Read moreIn The End of the World by Mavis Gallant we have the theme of dislocation, alienation selfishness, infidelity, compassion, hopelessness, responsibility, loyalty and acceptance. Taken from her The End of the World and Other Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Billy Apostolesco and the reader realises from […]
Read moreIn A Country Cottage by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of happiness, love, conflict, anger and acceptance. 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 realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn Gone Astray by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of mistaken identity, breaking-in, confusion and hopelessness. 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 realises that Chekhov may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn The Head of the Family by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of depression, failure, domestic abuse, fear and paralysis. 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 realises that Chekhov may be […]
Read moreIn the short story In A Hotel by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of hostility, powerlessness, class, marriage, appearance, change and redemption. 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 it becomes clear to the […]
Read moreIn Sorrow by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of desperation, struggle, guilt, cruelty, hope, loss and self-pity. 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 it becomes clear to the reader that Chekhov may be […]
Read moreIn A Service of Love by O. Henry we have the theme of love, art, desperation, connection and honesty. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story it becomes clear to the reader that Henry may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn Tandy by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of belief, loneliness, self-image, influence, identity and hope. Taken from his Winesburg, Ohio collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Anderson may be exploring the theme of belief. Tom Hard is […]
Read moreIn A Man of Ideas by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of helplessness, fear, respect, trust, connection, pride and freedom. Taken from his Winesburg, Ohio collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Anderson may […]
Read moreIn Snapshot of a Dog by James Thurber we have the theme of memories, loyalty, determination, love, connection and pride. Taken from his The Middle-Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Thurber […]
Read moreIn Nine Needles by James Thurber we have the theme of anger, control, fear, courage, patriarchy and embarrassment. Taken from his Let Your Mind Alone collection the story is narrated by Thurber himself and from the beginning of the story it becomes clear to the reader that Thurber may be exploring the theme of anger. […]
Read moreIn Sugar Baby by Chinua Achebe we have the theme of addiction, friendship, control, frustration and anger. Taken from his Girls at War collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Mike and after reading the story the reader realises that Achebe is exploring the theme of addiction. Cletus is […]
Read moreIn Georgia and Them There United States by Velma Pollard we have the theme of discontent, connection, pride, shame and the American Dream. Narrated in the first person by a young Jamaican girl called June the reader realises after reading the story that Pollard may be exploring the theme of discontent. Aunt Teach appears to […]
Read moreIn Justice, a traditional Ethiopian tale, we have the theme of justice, mistaken identity, gratitude, disconnection, fear and anger. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that the story teller is exploring the theme of mistaken identity. The woman mistakenly believes that the […]
Read moreIn Different Values by Barbara Makhalisa we have the theme of patriarchy, control, connection, change, freedom, happiness and paralysis. Narrated in the first person by a woman called Liza it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Makhalisa may be exploring the theme of patriarchy. Liza is a maid whose entire life […]
Read moreIn The Girl With a Twisted Future by Mia Couto we have the theme of exploitation, control, anguish, paralysis, determination and happiness. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Couto may be exploring the theme of exploitation. Joseldo is forcing his daughter, Filomeninha, […]
Read moreIn While the Auto Waits by O. Henry we have the theme of identity, honesty, curiosity, independence and acceptance. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Henry may be exploring the theme of identity. […]
Read moreIn Let Me Tell a Story Now by Bessie Head we have the theme of writing, fear, self-belief and confidence. Taken from her Tales of Tenderness and Power collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Head may be exploring the […]
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