Short Story Reviews
In The Landlady by Roald Dahl we have the theme of appearance, identity, acceptance, loneliness, innocence and conflict. 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 the reader realises that Dahl may be exploring the theme of appearance. […]
Read moreIn Flight by John Steinbeck we have the theme of innocence, coming of age, resilience, hardship, struggle, escape and loss. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck maybe exploring the transition from innocence […]
Read moreIn The Gospel According to Mark by Jorge Luis Borges we have the theme of sacrifice, judgement, perception, innocence and tradition. Taken from his Completed Fictions collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Borges may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck we have the theme of opportunity, dissatisfaction, gender roles, boredom, responsibility and equality. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck may be exploring the theme of boredom. […]
Read moreIn Louis by Saki we have the theme of conflict, selfishness, cunning, control and independence. 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 Saki may be exploring the theme of conflict. Strudwarden […]
Read moreIn Louise by Saki we have the theme of selfishness, materialism, connection and class. 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 the reader realises that Saki may be exploring the theme of selfishness. Jane appears to be […]
Read moreIn The Window by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of friendship, connection, change, escape and isolation. Taken from his Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed male narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring the theme of connection. Both […]
Read moreIn Breakfast by John Steinbeck we have the theme of contentment, gratitude, struggle, determination, insecurity and kindness. Taken from his The Long Valley collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Steinbeck may be exploring the theme of contentment. The family […]
Read moreIn A Shocking Accident by Graham Greene we have the theme of frustration, perception, social opinion, fear, acceptance, love and coming of age. Taken from his Complete Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Greene may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh we have the theme of innocence, friendship, love, connection, kindness, selflessness, respect and acceptance. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator the story is a memory piece and after reading the story the reader realises that Singh may be exploring the theme of innocence. […]
Read moreIn A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez we have the theme of prosperity, connection, gratitude, appearance, tradition and selfishness. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Márquez may be exploring […]
Read moreIn The Demon Lover by Elizabeth Bowen we have the theme of conflict, fear, commitment, control and innocence. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Bowen may be exploring the theme of conflict. Kathleen after reading the letter realises that her past has caught up […]
Read moreIn The Wrong Heaven by Rabindranath Tagore we have the theme of discontent, change, happiness, freedom and paralysis. Narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading the story that Tagore may be exploring the theme of change. The main protagonist, a loafer or idler, without it being his intention […]
Read moreIn The Cherry Tree by Ruskin Bond we have the theme of struggle, resilience, dedication, conflict, growth, responsibility and pride. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Bond may be exploring the theme of […]
Read moreIn Balthazar’s Marvelous Afternoon by Gabriel García Márquez we have the theme of conflict, humility, greed, generosity and pride. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Márquez may be exploring the theme of conflict. Balthazar […]
Read moreIn The Barber’s Trade Union by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of class, appearance, alienation, arrogance, ingenuity, independence, admiration, respect, control and freedom. Taken from his Selected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young unnamed boy and after reading the story the reader realises that Anand […]
Read moreIn A Pair of Mustachios by Mulk Raj Anand we have the theme of pride, class, conformity, acceptance, tradition and freedom. 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 Anand may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn Idiots First by Bernard Malamud we have the theme of desperation, selflessness, acceptance, connection, determination, kindness and mortality. Taken from his The Complete Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Malamud may be exploring the theme of desperation. […]
Read moreIn The Cow of the Barricades by Raja Rao we have the theme of conflict, independence, struggle, control, sacrifice, peace and freedom. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Rao may be exploring the theme […]
Read moreIn A Real Durwan by Jhumpa Lahiri we have the theme of struggle, conflict, responsibility, jealousy, aspirations and resilience. Taken from her Interpreter of Maladies collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and from the beginning of the story the reader realises that Lahiri may be exploring the theme […]
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