"The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry - Review

O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief" is a perfect example of the author's signature twist ending. The story lies in its subversion of the classic kidnapping plot. Instead of a terrified victim, the two hapless criminals find themselves held hostage by a hyperactive, imaginative, and utterly merciless little boy who calls himself Red Chief.

Beyond the sheer entertainment value, the story offers a subtle commentary on perception and value. The thing the men believed to be a valuable asset—the only child of a wealthy man—is revealed to be such a terror that his own father is reluctant to take him back. 

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/o-henry/short-story/the-ransom-of-red-chief

"The Night the Bed Fell" by James Thurber — Review

James Thurber’s "The Night the Bed Fell" is a masterclass in domestic chaos and gentle, absurdist humor. The story’s lies not in a complex plot, but in its perfect orchestration of a chain reaction of misunderstandings within a single, eccentrically charming household.

Thurber paints his family members with affectionate, exaggerated strokes—the father sleeping in the attic, the cousin fearing he will die in his sleep, the mother prone to alarmism. The simple incident of a collapsing cot becomes the catalyst for a symphony of panic, where everyone’s peculiarities collide in the dark. 

It’s a short, perfectly paced anecdote that leaves the reader with a sense of nostalgic warmth, reminding us that every family has its own "night the bed fell," a story that might be baffling to outsiders but is a cornerstone of its own shared history and identity.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://bayanbox.ir/view/2335342035464212911/The-Night-the-Bed-Fell-English.pdf

"The Stolen Cigar Case" — Review

This story is a parody of a famous detective like Sherlock Holmes. It shows a detective who is very confident and uses complicated logic for a simple problem: a missing cigar case. The humor comes from the fact that the detective's theories are incredibly smart-sounding but completely ridiculous. He invents a whole story about the thief's life based on tiny, unimportant details, which makes the reader laugh at his arrogance.

The best part of the story is the surprise ending. The story is clever because it makes fun of people who never admit they are wrong and always try to sound intelligent.

Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/bret-harte/short-story/the-stolen-cigar-case

"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