Five Short Stories You Must Read - By Emily Paull
A good short story is like a gentle stroke of the head, culminating in a punch to the guts. Think you know what’s really going on? Think again. You’ll agree that my love of magical realism really comes out in the selection of must-read stories that I have for you today…
1. The Great Awake by Julia Armfield (from the collection Salt Slow)
This whole collection is incredible, and I wanted to link for you one of the first two stories in the book (the first story is called Mantis) because both have stayed with me long after finishing. Julia’s collection is dark and witty and looks at things like body autonomy and difference with such a fresh perspective. I enjoy her sense of humour very much—including the Anne of Cleves joke in her Twitter bio.
2. Cat Person by Kristen Roupenian (from the collection You Know You Want This)
This collection was a lot better than I had any right to expect it to be, especially after this story, Cat Person, went viral. You’ve probably read it before, but there’s a reason so many people read it and shared it. Read it again, and then go and read the collection as a whole.
3. Gender Studies by Curtis Sittenfield (From You Think It, I’ll Say It)
Another incredible collection. I think I’m discovering that collections have more of an impact on me than individual stories as far as what sticks in the memory…
4. Where are you going, where have you been by Joyce Carol Oates
I mean, it’s iconic for a reason.
5. The Elements by Laura Elvery (from Trick of the Light)
One of the only examples I can think of where an historical fiction short story has been done so well.
Emily Paull is a former-bookseller and future-librarian from Perth who writes short stories and historical fiction. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies as well as Westerly journal. When she’s not writing, she can often be found with her nose in a book. Her debut short story collection, Well Behaved Women was published in late 2019 by Margaret River Press.
