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Short stories: who would I like if I liked these?

21 replies

NewDayNewLife · 17/03/2022 21:23

Hi everyone,
I would appreciate some short story recommendations. I like stories that deal with family and other relationships. I'd prefer if they were somewhat modern (last 30 years or so), and minimal sci-fi or horror. Authorss whose short stories I have really enjyed in the past are Patrick Gale, Helen Simpson and Jojo Moyes. Thank you!

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NewDayNewLife · 17/03/2022 21:27

Sorry just to add, two other authors' short stories I really enjoyed are Tessa Hadley and Fay Weldon.

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LifeInAHamsterWheel · 17/03/2022 21:30

I don't generally read short stories but I read and really enjoyed "I am I am I am" by Maggie O'Farrell. Short and well written. Even better because they are all true stories, things that have happened to her over the years. I'd definitely recommend it.

NewDayNewLife · 17/03/2022 21:54

Thanks, @LifeInAHAMSTERWheel. That's a great book! I started it awhile back and life got in the way, so I should finish it. I agree, it was really well-written and the author can really hold her own!

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2022HereWeCome · 21/03/2022 09:36

I enjoyed Deborah Moggach's 'Changing Babies and Other Stories' many years ago. Don't know if they have dated though.

2022HereWeCome · 21/03/2022 09:37

I also like some of Margaret Atwood's short stories.

NewDayNewLife · 22/03/2022 17:32

@HereWeCome
Thank you for the recommendations! I didn't know until you posted that Deborah Moggach writes short stories as well as novels.

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Charette · 22/03/2022 22:56

Alice Munro, Edith Pearlman, Colm Toibin, Jane Stevenson (ignore her novels, but she has two brilliant collections of novellas, Good Women and Deceptions), Louise Kennedy, Danielle McLoughlin.

Viviennemary · 23/03/2022 14:48

I quite liked the short story compilations by Victoria Hislop.

shumway · 23/03/2022 15:24

Lorrie Moore, Lily King, Elizabeth McCracken, Amy Hempel.

DorotheaFrazil · 23/03/2022 15:39

Curtis Sittenfeld - short stories and novels.

NewDayNewLife · 24/03/2022 04:15

Thank you all so much for the new replies. I was able to look up most of them and it seems like their collections are largely what I'm interested in. I have some time off next week so am excited to get reading!

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SeaRabbit · 24/03/2022 04:53

They're not modern, but the short stories of Elizabeth Taylor are excellent- there is a collection but it's a huge volume, so better read electronically

overnightangel · 24/03/2022 05:12

The collection “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" by Raymond Carver 👍🏻

SparklingLime · 24/03/2022 05:20

Grace Paley, just outside your 30 years but fantastic.

NewDayNewLife · 24/03/2022 17:33

Thanks.
I'd heard of Elizabeth Taylor the actress but not Elizabeth Taylor the writer... I found her soon enough though.

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ElaineMarieBenes · 24/03/2022 21:04

George Saunders & Hillary Mantel

Amandanda · 25/03/2022 12:15

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DameHelena · 25/03/2022 14:41

Yes, I came on to say Lorrie Moore. Queen of the short story.
Also Anne Enright.

Vargas · 27/03/2022 18:32

Jhumpa Lahiri - so good.

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 27/03/2022 19:07

Emma Donoghue

NewDayNewLife · 29/03/2022 21:31

This thread has been extremely helpful. Thank you. I'm recovering from a surgery and short stories are nice to have and read for a shorter attention span. These past few days I have mainly been reading Edith Pearlman and Colm Toibin. And @Vargas, I had forgotten Jhumpa Lahiri, but yes, her Interpreter of Maladies collection was wonderful.

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