"The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asimov— Review

This story "The Fun They Had" by Isaac Asimov makes you think about the future. It shows two children who are surprised by an old book about schools in our time. For them, the idea of a school with human teachers and children playing together sounds like a fun adventure. The story makes the readers a chance to see our own normal life as something special and wonderful.

The story doesn't say that technology is bad, but it reminds us that the simple joys of being with friends are very important.


Here is the link to the text of the story:
http://www.visual-memory.co.uk/daniel/funtheyhad.html

"The Lottery Ticket" by Anton Chekhov — Review

Anton Chekhov's short story "The Lottery Ticket" is a psychological study that explores the corrosive power of greed and the fragility of human relationships. The plot is simple: a married couple believes they have won a large sum of money in the lottery, only to have their dreams shattered moments later. 

However, the genius of the story lies not in the external action but in the internal turmoil. Chekhov argues that the true tragedy is not the loss of wealth, but the shocking self-knowledge of how easily harmony can be destroyed by latent greed.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/anton-chekhov/short-story/the-lottery-ticket

Let Me Feel Your Pulse by O.Henry — Review

This story is a funny look at what can happen when we worry too much about our health. The main character feels sick and goes to many different doctors. Each doctor gives him a completely different and confusing diagnosis, which just makes him feel more anxious. 

‏In the end, the man finds his cure not from a doctor's medicine, but by escaping the busy city and relaxing in the calm countryside.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.loa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/OHenry-Feel-Your-Pulse.pdf

"In Defiance of Club Rules" by Tim Parks's — Review

Tim Parks's "In Defiance of Club Rules" is a concise and penetrating study of social hypocrisy and the psychology of an outsider. Set within the microcosm of an exclusive Italian sports club, the story uses a seemingly trivial tennis match as the arena for a much deeper conflict.

Parks, with his expatriate's keen eye, expertly dissects the unspoken codes of conduct, the subtle class hierarchies, and the stifling pressure to conform that defines this privileged environment. The protagonist's internal struggle—between his desire for acceptance and his mounting disgust at the club's snobbery—is rendered with acute psychological realism. The game itself becomes a powerful metaphor for a larger cultural and social mismatch, where the true battle is not played with rackets but with identities and pride. Parks proves that the most powerful resistance can sometimes be found not in winning, but in the deliberate and purposeful acceptance of a loss. 

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://clck.ru/3NtfC5

“Theft” by Katherine Anne Porter — Review

"Theft" by Katherine Anne Porter is a short story about a woman who realizes her purse is missing after a night out. The story follows her as she figures out who took it and confronts the cleaning woman in her building.

While this seems like a simple plot about a stolen object, the story is really about a much deeper kind of theft. The woman has a sudden, sad realization that she has carelessly allowed people in her life—mainly men who take her time, energy, and love—to steal pieces of her identity without giving anything real back. 

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pfwsmXFd0TnzLZWq9IroaTE9uvTZwM1n?clckid=0bf34c07 

"The Baby Party" by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Review

"The Baby Party" is a funny and clever story about how adults can act more childish than kids. At a children’s party, a small fight between two little girls turns into a big argument between their parents. The moms get angry, the dads start fighting, and what should have been a silly little problem becomes a ridiculous mess. 

Fitzgerald shows how silly people can be when they let their pride take over, especially over something as small as a kids' quarrel.

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/f-scott-fitzgerald/short-fiction/text/the-baby-party

'At the Sign of the Cat and Racket' by Honoré de Balzac — Review

This story by Balzac is about a young artist named Théodore who falls in love with Augustine, the daughter of a strict merchant family. They come from very different worlds: Théodore is all about art and feelings, while Augustine's family cares more about business and tradition. Even though her parents don't approve, Théodore and Augustine get married because they are so in love. However, their love isn't enough to make their marriage work. Théodore finds Augustine too simple for his artistic mind, and Augustine feels lost and neglected because she can't understand his world. This sadness slowly wears her down.

The story shows how difficult it can be when two people with very different ways of thinking try to build a life together, even if they love each other. It's a sad look at how art and everyday life can clash, and how misunderstanding can slowly destroy a relationship. 

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/honore-de-balzac/shorts-from-scenes-from-private-life/clara-bell_ellen-marriage/text/at-the-sign-of-the-cat-and-racket