Short Story Reviews
In Rain by Richard Rive we have the theme of love, betrayal, selfishness, innocence, hope, desperation and compassion. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator it becomes clear to the reader after reading the story that Rive may be exploring the theme of love. Siena is desperate to find Joseph. She has heard […]
Read moreIn Grisha by Anton Chekhov we have the theme of innocence, patriarchy, control and fear. Taken from his The Complete 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 Chekhov may be exploring the theme of innocence. […]
Read moreIn On Being Tidy by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of change, order, tidiness and happiness. Taken from his Windfalls collection the reader realizes after reading the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of change. Gardiner finds it difficult to change from being untidy to tidy. Though he tidies up his desk […]
Read moreIn Scenes From a Family Christmas by Benjamin Law we have the theme of contentment, acceptance, appearance, confusion, innocence and disappointment. 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 […]
Read moreIn Wrecking Ball by Benjamin Law we have the theme of memories, appearance, acceptance, racism, struggle, letting go and moving on. 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 […]
Read moreIn A Talk Among Leisured People by Leo Tolstoy we have the theme of dissatisfaction, desire, change, honesty, ideals and suffering. Taken from his Walk in the Light collection the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Tolstoy may be exploring the theme of dissatisfaction. None of those in attendance are happy with […]
Read moreIn Nostalgia by C.A. Davids we have the theme of abuse, bitterness, selfishness, letting go, ignorance, paralysis and acceptance. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes after reading the story that Davids may be exploring the theme of abuse (sexual). Ella has been abused by her father when she was […]
Read moreIn Queer by Sherwood Anderson we have the theme of privacy, paranoia, anger, uncertainty, control, fear 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 the reader realizes that Anderson may be exploring the theme of privacy. […]
Read moreIn Disappearing by Monica Wood we have the theme of confidence, insecurity, obsession, acceptance, pride, change and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed woman the reader realizes after reading the story that Wood may be exploring the theme of confidence. The narrator is overweight and very conscious of it. In fact she […]
Read moreIn It Used to be Green Once by Patricia Grace we have the theme of shame, appearance, poverty, pride, good fortune and change. The story itself is a memory piece and is narrated in the first person by a woman who recalls events from her childhood and from the beginning of the story it is […]
Read moreIn The Silence by Haruki Murakami we have the theme of letting go, fear, anger, rivalry, forgiveness and acceptance. Taken from his The Elephant Vanishes collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realizes that Murakami may be exploring the theme of letting […]
Read moreIn Going for Bread by Patricia Grace we have the theme of fear, bullying, ignorance, anger, racism, conflict, struggle and love. Narrated in the third person by an unknown narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Grace may be exploring the theme of fear. Mereana is afraid to walk down the […]
Read moreIn Neighbours by Tim Winton we have the theme of prejudice, acceptance and culture. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Winton may be exploring the theme of prejudice. The young couple are uncertain of their neighbours, at first not liking them because […]
Read moreIn A Pair of Tickets by Amy Tan we have the theme of belonging, heritage, identity, letting go, connection and hope. Taken from her The Joy Luck Club collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Jing-Mei Woo (June) and from the beginning of the story the reader realizes that […]
Read moreIn Best Quality by Amy Tan we have the theme of self-worth, humiliation, confidence, sacrifice, selflessness and acceptance. Taken from her The Joy Luck Club collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Jing-Mei Woo (June) and after reading the story the reader realizes that Tan may be exploring the […]
Read moreIn A Call to Arms by Michelle Law we have the theme of embarrassment, shame, identity, belonging, acceptance and coming of age. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed female narrator the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Law may be exploring the theme of embarrassment. The fact that the narrator […]
Read moreIn The Face in the Mirror by Blossom Beeby we have the theme of curiosity, identity, shame and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by Beeby herself it becomes clear to the reader from the beginning of the story that Beeby may be exploring the theme of curiosity. Beeby stands out because she is Asian […]
Read moreIn Five Ways to Disappoint Your Vietnamese Mother by Diana Nguyen we have the theme of disappointment, happiness, independence, freedom, control, change and pride. Narrated in the first person by Nguyen herself the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Nguyen is exploring the theme of disappointment. Nguyen’s mother is disappointed that her […]
Read moreIn Chinese Dancing, Bendigo Style by Joo-Inn Chew we have the theme of belonging, identity, shame, confidence, acceptance, happiness and pride. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed young girl the reader realizes after reading the story that Chew may be exploring the theme of belonging. The narrator wants to belong but feels as […]
Read moreIn Perfect Chinese Children by Vanessa Woods we have the theme of shame, struggle, pride, happiness, hope, sacrifice and love. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed ten year old girl the reader realizes after reading the story that Woods may be exploring the theme of shame. The narrator’s mother feels shame over the […]
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