A Ghost Story by Mark Twain — Review

In the “A Ghost Story” by Mark Twain the writer makes it clear at the beginning that this is a classic story about a haunted house. After all, according to the plot, the main character ended up in a house where all sorts of evil spirits started to act up from time to time.

Eventually the author makes fun of those who like to believe in all sorts of nonsense and fables in the story. In this particular case, it’s the Cardiff Giant.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/mark-twain/short-story/a-ghost-story/

The Kiss by Anton Chekhov — Review

“The Kiss“ by Anton Chekhov tells how a local landowner invites officers to visit him. The house is cheerful and noisy, there are a lot of people, there is not a single free room. Time passes, dancing begins. But one funny event happens to the main character which greatly excites him and leaves an indelible mark on his soul, mind and heart.

Chekhov describes in detail and very vividly the thoughts of the main character, his feelings, assumptions, memories ... in a word, everything that is usually characteristic of a woman's nature, but clearly not a military man.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://learnenglish-new.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-Kiss-by-Anton-Chekhov-PDF-Book.pdf

The Storm by Kate Chopin — Review

«The Storm» is a story written by Kate Chopin. It was written in 1898 but remained unpublished for many years probably because for the late 19th century, this story must have seemed provocative and challenging social conventions.

The writer created a main character - a woman whose behavior could puzzle the reader of that time. The plot, at first glance, is simple. A married woman is alone at home. She is busy sewing and all about household chores. A storm begins to break out outside the window. At this time, a lone horseman approaches her porch. He needs somewhere to wait out the crazy storm. The hostess invites him in…

The author wrote about human nature and it was connected with unpredictable nature outside, storm in this case.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/the-storm/

The Umbrella Man by Roald Dahl— Review

“The Umbrella Man” is a humorous story written by Roald Dahl.

The narrator of this story is a 12-year-old girl who went to London with her mother to see a dentist.

When it was time to go home, they discovered that it was pouring rain and they had no umbrella. An older gentleman with an umbrella offered them a deal - he had forgotten his wallet at home and would like to sell them the umbrella in exchange for a taxi ride home.

The deal was made and both parties were happy. But the old man was not as simple as he seemed and then unixpected things began to happen.

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://staff.univ-batna2.dz/sites/default/files/ghodbane_nacira/files/the_umbrella_man_story_2022.pdf

The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick— Review

“The Hanging Stranger” is a horror story written by Philip K. Dicisk.

In a small provincial American town, strange, inexplicable events begin to occur. The main character of the story, the owner of a home appliance store, sees a man hanged on a lamppost, but discovers with horror and surprise that no one else notices it. Trying to figure out what is happening, he comes to an unexpected conclusion: this is an invasion of Earth, and it is impossible to predict what awaits earthlings!

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/41562/41562-h/41562-h.ht

Tobermory by Saki (H.H. Munro) — Review

"Tobermory” is a humorous story written by British writer Saki (H.H. Munro). The plot is about a cat who is taught to talk by one of the guests at a country house party.

He speaks to the hosts and guests with a tone of arrogance. He knows all the secrets of the inhabitants of this place.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://fountainheadpress.com/expandingthearc/assets/sakitobermory.pdf

The Student by Anton Chekhov — Review

The story "Student" by Anton Chekhov contains a philosophical and deep reflection on the meaning of life and the connection of times.

Student Ivan Velikopolsky looks in on his acquaintances, a mother and daughter, and talks about what happened before, and we look into the eyes of these women, and try to understand whether his words about the past touched them. As it turns out, yes, no matter how much the past is the past, it intersects with our present.

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

Robbie by Isaac Asimov— Review

The short story “Robbie” by Isaac Asimov is about a girl who loved her robot very much. It was irreplaceable for her, doing everything possible for the child.

She became so attached to the robot that she even stopped playing with her friends., Her mother was very worried about this and decided to help her daughter.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/machine/files/2014/09/1940-Isaac-Asimov-Robbie.pdf

The Light Of The World by Ernest Hemingway— Review

“The Light Of The World” by Ernest Hemingway is a short story that critics consider to be the most pessimistic and ruthless of all that Hemingway works.

The time of action is the Great Depression. The writer managed to fully convey the hopelessness of that time.

The heroes of this story are more easily called antiheroes. Life, love, friendship - all this, according to Hemingway, is not worth a penny in difficult times.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@ernesthemingway/the-light-of-the-world-6k8vrerpznmj

The White Quail by John Steinbeck— Review

“The White Quail” by John Steinbeck is A dramatic story. It can be classified as a love story. But this is a story of loneliness in a relationship between a man and a woman, a relationship in marriage. The main character is a woman obsessed with her garden near her house.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.fadedpage.com/showbook.php?pid=20220557

 

“The Last Dog” by Katherine Paterson— Review

The story “The Last Dog” by Katherine Paterson is set in a futuristic world where all animals have been wiped out by a deadly virus, except for one dog. It forms a special bond with his human friend and together they fight to survive and save the remaining wildlife.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.monroe.k12.nj.us/cms/lib/NJ01000268/Centricity/Domain/550/The%20Last%20Dog.pdf

“Regret” by Kate Chopin— Review

The story “Regret” by Kate Chopin is about an unmarried woman who looks after her neighbor’s children and after this realized that she deeply regrets never having married and had own children.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/regret/

“Despair In Love” by Honore de Balzac— Review

The story “Despair In Love” by Honore de Balzac is about love and women, their coquetry, their tyranny, cruelty, etc. The author expresses sympathy for the helplessness of men before the beauty of women.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/honore-de-balzac/short-story/despair-in-love/

“Three-Ten to Yuma” By Elmore Leonard— Review

The story “Three-Ten to Yuma” By Elmore Leonard is how the assistant marshal intends to deliver the imprisoned criminal to the Yuma prison.

He manages to put the criminal on the train, though he has to participate in a shootout. After this episode readers are waiting for the continuation: will they get to Yuma.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Leonard_Three-Ten_Yuma.pdf

“Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer— Review

The story “Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer is about a new universal assistant app.

It has appeared on the Internet - Abelique. It is a real AI assistant for all: it will motivate you to exercise and walk, tell you what to read and watch, what to wear and cook for dinner. And the first month you can use the program absolutely for free.

What will be a drawback in all this…

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/kritzer_05_23/

“So Much Water So Close to Home” by Raymond Carver — Review

The story “So Much Water So Close to Home” by Raymond Carver is about the most ordinary, those you can easily meet on the street. The writer shows us people from their different sides...

One day, four friends decided to go fishing on the river. And as soon as they found a suitable place, they didn’t even have time to set up camp, when one of them saw the body of a dead girl in a small backwater. They started thinking about what to do? And eventually they decided that it was late, they were all tired, and the girl “was in no hurry.”

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.nyx.net/~kbanker/chautauqua/carver.htm

The Lesson By Toni Cade Bambara — Review

The story “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara is narrated by an unnamed black girl living in a poor area of ​​New York City.

Miss Moore tells the narrator and a group of other neighborhood children that she intends to give them a lesson about money, and calls a cab for them to take them to a toy store in downtown New York City.

The children are shocked by the enormous prices of toys. This is probably the main idea of ​​the story - to show social inequality in modern society.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://yourhomeworksolutions.com/wp-content/uploads/edd/2017/10/The-Lesson-by-Bambara.pdf

The Christmas Tree and the Wedding by Fyodor Dostoevsky — Review

The short story “The Christmas Tree and the Wedding” by Fyodor Dostoevsky was told by an unknown person. A wedding he saw by chance reminded the hero of an incident at a children's ball.

This is a story about monetary gain, and how greedy a person can be when thirsty for profit. And how strange and difficult were the customs when parents selected grooms for their daughters.

The story will make you smile.

Here is the link to the text of the story:

https://americanliterature.com/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/short-story/the-christmas-tree-and-the-wedding/

«The Drunkard» by Frank O'Connor — Review

The short story «The Drunkard» by Frank O'Connor is a very curious story about a boy who accidentally drank his father's beer and thus saved him from binge drinking, probably forever...

The story will make you smile.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://joelfinley.tripod.com/Drunkard.htm

“The New Utopia” by Jerome K. Jerome — Review

The short story “The New Utopia” by Jerome K. Jerome is a vision of the future, where everyone is equal. Today these stories are everywhere, but in 1891 we can imagine the shock of those who read them.

People are practically sexless, the only differences are in their numbers. Bathing on schedule, working 3 hours a day... And wherever you go, the same thing awaits you.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://maisliberdade.pt/site/assets/files/3355/jerome_-_new_utopia.pdf

The Schartz-Metterklume Method by H.H. Munro (SAKI)— Review

The short story “The Schartz-Metterklume Method” by H.H. Munro (SAKI) tells about lady who gir stuck at the railway station, she was mistakenly met as a governess, and this mistake led to a rather funy story…

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/hh-munro-saki/short-story/the-schartz-metterklume-method

“Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo” by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse — Review

The short story “Mulliner’s Buck-U-Uppo” by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse tells about Augustine Mulliner, a quiet and sickly and overly modest assistant vicar, one day received from his Aunt Angela an experimental vitamin, body strengthening remedy…

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/p-g-wodehouse/mr-mulliner-stories/text/mulliners-buck-u-uppo

“A Traveler at Forty: Paris!” by Theodore Dreiser— Review

In 1913, Dreiser published a book in a new genre of travel writing - “A Traveler at Forty” (1913). The book is interesting for studying Dreiser's journalistic and literary skills, and for identifying his views on the most important social problems.

The story of the creation of the book “A Traveler at Forty” is as follows. In 1911, Dreiser traveled to Europe. He visited England, France, and Germany. He wrote a series of essays about this trip, which he finally edited and finished in January 1912. In 1913 it was published in book form.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://loa-shared.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Dreiser_Paris.pdf

“The Swimmer,” by John Cheever— Review

The story “The Swimmer,” by John Cheever is about the transformation of the main character from a state of well-being to... What exactly awaits him at the end of this adventure, conceived and carried out by him, readers will find out when they read.

The tragedy, meaninglessness and hopelessness of existence are metaphorically defined by the author in the description of events, characters, surroundings, and natural changes.

The story can be interpreted in different ways: as the fevered imagination of a crazy protagonist, and as a metaphor for life, which the author presents to us using the example of an unlucky person who has lost his social position.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1964/07/18/the-swimmer

Both Parties Concerned by J.D.Salinger — Review

The last sentence “I don’t care if it thunders every night” of the story “Both Parties Concerned” by J.D.Salinger makes clear that the story is about love. Readers can understand why after reading the whole story.

The narration is told in the first person. The narrator tells us in a rather interesting manner (written in such a very simple language to show the social status and not very great literacy of the hero) the story of his relationship with his young wife.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://pete0121.tripod.com/SALINGER/Both_Parties_Concerned.htm

A Duel by Guy de Maupassant— Review

The story “A Duel” by Guy de Maupassant is about time after the Franco-Prussian war 1870-1871.

The war is over, returning to peaceful life, the main character a French man, and also British and Prussian officers are traveling on the train. As winners, the Prussian officer behaves impudently, humiliating French man. And suddenly he breaks down...

The ending is amazing because it was he who was able to do something real.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/a-duel/

Zero Hour by Ray Bradbury— Review

The story «Zero Hour» by Ray Bradbury is about children, about their games, which at first glance seem completely harmless and meaningless.

A little girl told her parents something, but they didn’t believe her and just laughed. The girl talked about a new friend, about the future conquest of planet Earth, but the mother thought that this was just her daughter’s rich imagination, like other parents.

The story is frightening, the ending is generally predictable, but Bradbury knows how to write in such a way that you feel uneasy.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ray-bradbury/short-story/zero-hour/

The Mouse by H. H. Munro (Saki)— Review

The story “The Mouse” by H. H. Munro (Saki) is a short and funny.

On the train, a mouse got under Theodoric's clothes. But he didn’t like these creatures and, realizing that he could only get rid of it from his body if he undressed, he found himself in a difficult situation.

After all, there was a lady riding in the same compartment...

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.classicshorts.com/stories/mouse.html

The Denunciation by Ernest Hemingway— Review

The story «The Denunciation by Ernest Hemingway» is about the dilemma which people sometimes have in a divided society.

In a cafe, the author sees that a political opponent is sitting at the next table, moreover, a fascist who has gained so much impudence that he decided to join the Republican camp.

He has two options - to behave as if it's none of his business, especially since he is a foreigner there or to call a specific phone number.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://antilogicalism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/hemingway.pdf

Smith of Wootton Major by J. R. R. Tolkien — Review

The story “Smith of Wootton Major” by J. R. R. Tolkien has nothing common with the the plot of novel “The Lord of the Rings”.

Every 24 years, residents of the village organize a festival where a large cake is prepared. A star is hidden in an old tin box. The blacksmith's son Smith accidentally swallows a star and it turns out that the star is a magical object that changes the boy's life.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc19855333_678039689?hash=lsqEPCmAg67q9fai6WjAsKjPRjDXab3zFaqf0GS2X8g&dl=5lXCxhvUXpLVyGjbg3kzZrDIGNOuqD7uzKGykMWOL3P&api=1&no_preview=1&module=feed

A Joke by Anton Chekhov — Review

The story “A Joke” by Anton Chekhov shows a great sense of humor of the author. The main character of this story says three very important words which a girl waits with bated breath from her lover.

This short story can be interpreted in different ways. The main character, on whose behalf the story is told, can be accused of indecision and then he is worthy of sympathy. But on the other hand, if he was not serious and was just joking, then it was a bad joke that made its recipient suffer.

The story ends on positive notes, although some feelings of sadness and regret remain at the same time.

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

Two Wrongs by F. Scott Fitzgerald — Review

The short story “Two Wrongs” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, like all of Fitzgerald’s work, is about the psychology of relations between men and women. And since the writer always writes only about love in its different variations, it’s interesting and a little sad.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc19855333_677552659?hash=x9OpgBzUQPBhG3bQ3TVhTOpFPqUs0omqvpX8EbPAm0k&dl=WLwjDZAeRX8IHLGIyHSLPCFXJvPEyh04xPjLvZ2T6vH&api=1&no_preview=1&module=feed

The Red-Haired Girl by Penelope Fitzgerald — Review

The story "The Red-Haired Girl" by Penelope Fitzgerald tells about a group of young English artists who travel to France to practice air painting. One of them searches for a female model and finds at his hotel the ideal candidate – a young red-haired servant girl.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc19855333_675406974?hash=RvPG1XJz12XncEzllS4HA6BETFNYtovUHguQvrza3wP&dl=HLGGoYrEQUUig1p8AP83uv3l216qvhaZ2KnRkr162z8&api=1&no_preview=1

The Philanthropist and the Happy Cat by H.H. Munro (SAKI)— Review

“The Philanthropist and the Happy Cat” by H.H. Munro (SAKI) is a story about how easily a cat can become happy and how much sometimes people have to suffer, aware that happiness is not possible to achieve.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/hh-munro-saki/short-story/the-philanthropist-and-the-happy-cat

Homework by Helen Simpson— Review

The story “Homework” by Helen Simpsonis written in the form of a dialogue between a mother and her son and raises issues of schooling, raising children, family relationships, etc.

The son is thirteen. He comes home from school and tells his mother that he has to write an essay about an event that changed his life. The mother agrees to help him to write a story about his parents divorce.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/06/25/homework-8

One Autumn Night by Maxim Gorky— Review

“One Autumn Night” by Maxim Gorky is a story-memory. Here Gorky talks about his impressions of “women’s first kisses.” There is no condemnation of the fallen woman here.

Natasha is still too young to realize her fall. The hero feels pity for her; it is Natasha who warms his heart with her sincerity, simplicity, and sympathy. The writer does not indicate the way out, he is only bitterly aware of the fact that reality can be a “heavy and bad dream.”

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/maxim-gorky/short-story/one-autumn-night

The Sound Machine by Roald Dahl— Review

The story “The Sound Machine” by Roald Dahl told about a man who was passionate about sound. He created the theory that there are many sounds in the world, and people are unable to hear them due to high frequencies.

The author explained what would happen if a person could understand the feelings of other organisms, such as trees or flowers. The scream of a tree is worse than a human scream, because it sounds scared, monotonous, and voiceless.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1949/09/17/the-sound-machine

The Winter Sound by Herbert Ernest Bates— Review

The story "The Winter Sound” by Herbert Ernest Bates tells the simple story of a woman who has entered into adulthood. The only creature close to her is a small poodle, which she trained to look at other dogs with disdain and mockery. The dog’s “snobbery” became a reflection of the owner’s internal perception of the world around her.

The author described the main character’s casual acquaintance with a man, who unexpectedly appeared at the house at the end of September.

The story is simple, unremarkable, in general, the most ordinary, without intrigue and strong shocks.

Bates is like British Chekhov: the same short, laconic phrases, detailed description of everyday scenes and an abundance of dialogues. An absence of moralizing and attempts to moralize, subtle authorial irony and dispassionate narration, devoid of any emotions.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc19855333_676160648?hash=oyChIT0gL3ABWrfSJ4ZhYqJkP4nhmAEAZdTa2CCyGYo&dl=Ksprb02EakO8UTDEvqL4m8yT95FCR3rZ3AltfcrUJUz&api=1&no_preview=1

The Boarding House by James Joyce — Review

The story "The Boarding House» by James Joyce tells about a young and quite promising guest of the boarding house and the daughter of the owner of this house.

The story can end with shame or a happy marriage. In this case, the choice is up to the young man.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/james-joyce/short-story/the-boarding-house

Flood Show by Charles Baxter — Review

The story "Flood Show" by Charles Baxter includes lots of descriptions of everyday life of a small city. The narration is full of allegories such as signs related to memories of the main character.

The plot tells about a man who almost drowns trying to cross a flooded river to reunite with his ex-wife. It takes ostensibly strange turns to get to his sentimental conclusions.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/95jun/flood.htm

The Skylight Room by O. Henry— Review

The story «The Skylight Room» by O. Henry masterfully condemns human callousness, egoism, which is combined with the humiliation of human dignity.

The main character is the girl who lives on the very top of the house is in a stuffy, cramped attic with sloping bare walls, so reminiscent of a coffin, and a single window. Here live people who are not able to pay much money for rent.

This girl manages to find an outlet even in such a gloomy attic. An outlet that saved her even in the most difficult moments.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/the-skylight-room

The Gentleman from San Francisco by Ivan Bunin— Review

The story “The Gentleman from San Francisco'' by Ivan Buninthe begins since a ship landes safely in Naples.

The author does not name the rich main character from San Francisco. We only know that he is 58 years old. Why? Because this is a collective image.

Here he is rather as a symbol of the material world. He is used to living in luxury, he is self-confident, self-sufficient, and he makes grandiose plans.

The story can be divided for two parts: before and after it (something) happens.

Much of the story is allegorical, the author of course invented the whole plot, but how relevant it is! It makes us think about our priorities, the choices we make, and the overall meaning of our lives.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ivan-bunin/short-story/the-gentleman-from-san-francisco

Hemingway museum (Cuba, February 2024)

In additional to previous publication related to the story of Ernest Hemingway here some pictures from museum hear to Havana, Cuba where Hemingway lived more than ten years. These pictures were taken on 19 of February 2024 during the trip to Cuba.

The End of Something by Ernest Hemingway— Review

The main character of the story “The End of Something” by Ernest Hemingway returns to the village of his childhood. This village no longer exists. The sawmill was closed, and there was no longer any need for a settlement; everyone went elsewhere. Something is over.

The main character goes fishing with his girlfriend. Their behavior and conversations shows to readers that it is the end of their relationship: one still loves, but the other is already tired of everything.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/ernest-hemingway/short-story/the-end-of-something

The Green Nude by Irwin Shaw — Review

The Green Nude by Irwin Shaw is a story about an artist who, in all the countries where he lived, painted portraits of naked women in green tones, for which he was ostracized and forced to flee the country.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://vk.com/doc19855333_674146359?hash=bd0KB4ibLN3D15Y1Rk1usAR9lb5XJ4YwZDzTTwfD1Ak&dl=ECxAzh2GaPRPsn2f2JkmH6POID5zsk1Oza8ghJIWyEw&api=1&no_preview=1&module=feed

Sonny's Blues By James Baldwin— Review

The story “Sonny's Blues” by James Baldwin is about two brothers from Harlem who see the world in completely different views, but at the same time do not stop loving each other and hoping that brotherly love is stronger than any problems.

The author presents in the story poverty, and the desire for people to escape, and how innocent children choose a bad fate. But Baldwin has hope for the best, at least for someone.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://www.ndsu.edu/pubweb/~cinichol/CreativeWriting/323Online/SonnysBlues.pdf