

If classic short stories are not your thing, this collection of contemporary short stories may suit you better: “Premium Harmony” by Stephen Kingīestselling novelist Stephen King may be better known for his full-length thrillers, but this “Premium Harmony” perfectly shows his style: An arguing couple drop by a convenience store and an unexpected event throws their lives off course. He meets his match when he presents his frog to a stranger, who cheats to win the bet. Wheeler ends up telling a story about Jim Smiley, who loved gambling over everything, even training animals to act as he wished so he could win the bets he placed before people. Mark Twain opens this short story with an unnamed narrator seeking out Simon Wheeler to ask about a Leonidas Smiley. “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain Although he writes through Eve’s entire life, the story focuses on the beginning of her life with Adam in the Garden of Eden. Legendary comedic writer Mark Twain is at it again with this witty and funny portrayal of the battle of the sexes. Some commentaries view this story as an allegory of the social ills accompanying the newly freed African-American slaves after the Civil War. The boy starts to play with the dark brown dog, but when he gets bored he abuses the dog. “A Dark Brown Dog” is about a young boy and the little dog that approaches him. The reminiscences and lessons they learn through the years will surely bring a smile to your face. This collection of short stories by the well-loved author of Pollyanna gives us a poignant and sometimes hilarious glimpse into the life and adventures of the elderly. He wakes up 20 years later, 20 years older, and finding everything in town changed beyond recognition.

This classic fantasy story tells of Rip Van Winkle, a farmer who comes upon a group of dwarfs and falls under an enchantment that causes him to sleep. Montgomery contains just as memorable characters, such as young violinist Felix Moore in Each in His Own Tongue and Prissy and her sister Emmeline in The Courting of Prissy Strong. This collection of short stories by Anne of Green Gables author L.M. This story has been adapted into a film entitled “Torture Ship,” released back in 1939. The first published work of The Call of the Wild author Jack London, this story follows the life of a mad scientist: he uses multiple scientific methods for his experiments with death and resuscitation. A native dog follows him as he makes his way through the extreme cold, underestimating the conditions that threaten his life. Jack London’s experiences in the wilderness seep through this “ To Build a Fire,” following an unnamed male character who sets out to the Yukon Territory in Canada. This Christmas-themed short story tells about a young couple who buy each other Christmas gifts even in the direst poverty. He ends up confessing his “perfect crime” to the police while denying his having committed murder out of greed. In this “ The Tell-Tale Heart,” the unnamed narrator struggles with madness and guilt, striving to convince the reader of his own sanity. This gothic story tells the legend of the headless horseman that haunts the town of Sleepy Hollow through the experiences of Ichabod Crane, a teacher who came to the town all the way from Connecticut. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving

Through this story, Woolf differentiates the material world from the story that exists in the narrator’s mind. This short story by Virginia Woolf follows the narrator’s thought trails as triggered by a mark she sees on the wall. If you are not used to reading classic books, classic short stories are a good way to start. Who knows, you may find some new writers whose style you love, opening the door to many new books for you to read in the future! Classic Short Stories Short stories are also a great way to try out new authors, without needing to invest either money or time in reading a full-length novel. And, with many of them available online, you can enjoy one even on your lunch break or while waiting for dinner to come out of the oven. The wonderful thing about short stories is that you can typically finish them in one sitting. Or, if you just need some entertainment but don’t have the time to delve into a full-length novel, short stories are a great option. If you’re a writer taking a break, reading others’ stories can help give you a new outlook on familiar experiences.
#MASTRAM STORIES READ ONLINE HOW TO#
They say that the best way to learn how to write is just to buckle yourself into your seat and start writing but the second-best way is to read other people’s work.
