Short Story Reviews
In Conversations with My Parents by Oanh Thi Tran we have the theme of connection, family, loyalty, respect and, love. Narrated in the first person by Thi Tran herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Thi Tran may be exploring the theme of connection and family. While in the hospital with […]
Read moreIn Factory Town by Minoru Betsuyaku we have the theme of the environment, competition, innocence, capitalism, consumerism and progress. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Betsuyaku may be exploring the theme of the environment. At first the townspeople are open and even excited by […]
Read moreIn My Son the Fanatic by Hanif Kureishi we have the theme of worry, radicalization, change, conflict, control, struggle and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Kureishi may be exploring the theme of worry. Parvez has concerns with the direction his […]
Read moreIn The Repentant Sinner by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of mercy, weakness, sin, connection, faith, hope and happiness. Taken from his Walk in the Light 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 Empty Drum by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of jealousy, class, control, fear, happiness and power. Taken from his Walk in the Light collection it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme of jealousy. The King is jealous of Emelyan because his wife […]
Read moreIn The Family Business by Benjamin Law we have the theme of connection, identity, loss, success, respect and isolation. Taken from his The Family Law collection the story is narrated in the first person by Law himself and after reading the story it becomes clear to the reader that Law may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn Baked Beans and Burnt Toast by Jacqui Larkin we have the theme of identity, expression, change, connection, heritage and memories. Narrated in the first person by Larkin herself it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Larkin may be exploring the theme of identity. Larkin though of Chinese origin does not […]
Read moreIn The First Day by Edward P. Jones we have the theme of connection, desperation, love, pride, authority and fear. Narrated in the first person by a young five year old black girl the reader realizes after reading the story that Jones may be exploring the theme of connection. The narrator’s mother longs to bring […]
Read moreIn The Relative Advantages of Learning My Language by Amy Choi we have the theme of kindness, connection, loss, identity, maturity, guilt and responsibility. Narrated in the first person by Choi herself it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that Choi may be exploring the theme of kindness or rather […]
Read moreIn Letterbox-Gate by Liza-Mare Syron we have the theme of identity, connection, shame, honesty, reconciliation and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by Syron herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Syron may be exploring the theme of identity. Syron can trace her family back to the First Fleet on her […]
Read moreIn Easter, 1969 by Katie Bryan we have the theme of family, barriers, class, innocence and fear. Narrated in the first person by Bryan herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Bryan may be exploring the theme of family. Bryan’s mother is preparing a cake for Katie’s birthday party. Which suggests […]
Read moreIn Dear Australia by Don Bemrose we have the theme of regret, guilt, identity, letting go, pride and love. Narrated in the first person, by way of an epistolary narrative, by Bemrose himself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Bemrose may be exploring the theme of regret. Bemrose finds it difficult […]
Read moreIn Benched by Santilla Chingaipe we have the theme of connection, identity, authority, power, independence and pride. Narrated in the first person by Chingaipe herself the reader realizes after reading the story that Chingaipe may be exploring the theme of connection. Chingaipe’s parents want her to participate in team sports as they feel it will […]
Read moreIn Ant Bush by Sefakor Aku Zikpi we have the theme of appearance, identity, acceptance, fear, confidence and happiness. Narrated in the first person by Zikpi herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Zikpi may be exploring the theme of appearance. Zikpi wants her hair to be different and not to […]
Read moreIn Winston by Lauren Mullings we have the theme of hardship, bullying, racism, deflection, anxiety, acceptance and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by Mullings herself the reader realizes after reading the story that Mullings may be exploring the theme of hardship. Mullings finds it difficult to co-exist with some of her classmates. […]
Read moreIn The Whitest White Girl by Prue Axam we have the theme of history, heritage, pride, innocence, acceptance, freedom and injustice. Narrated in the first person by Axam herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Axam may be exploring the theme of history and heritage. Axam can trace her family genealogy […]
Read moreIn Septimus by John Wickham we have the theme of sorrow, poverty, struggle, responsibility, happiness, selflessness and kindness. Narrated in the first person by a female narrator (Septimus’ sister) the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Wickham may be exploring the theme of sorrow. Septimus’ mother is crying because Septimus is happy […]
Read moreIn Blending Families by Shona Kambarami we have the theme of racism, prejudice, connection, ignorance and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by Kambarami herself the reader realizes from the opening sentence of the story that Kambarami may be exploring the theme of racism. Kambarami feels as though Ben (Him’s father) is a racist even […]
Read moreIn Her Mother’s Daughter by Nyadol Nyuon we have the theme of sacrifice, identity, separation, racism, pride, freedom, connection and belonging. Narrated in the first person by Nyuon herself it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Nyuon may be exploring the theme of sacrifice. Nyuon’s father gave his life during the […]
Read moreIn Power by Hope Mathumbu we have the theme of faith, power, innocence, jealousy, sibling rivalry and friendship. Narrated in the first person by Mathumbu herself the reader realises from the beginning of the story that Mathumbu may be exploring the theme of faith and the power of faith over an individual. Though Mathumbu wants […]
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