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Original poster

Is there such a thing as books with a collection of short stories for adults?

70 replies

PlumpAndGrump · 30/12/2023 23:07

I want to get back into reading again but every time I start a book I never get round to finishing it because life is hectic with 3 young children and I am exhausted.

I've recently got my 6 year old the 5 Minute Stories by Enid Blyton which is just a collection of shorter reads as he is moving on from younger books, and I wonder if there is something like this for adults.

I've tried audio books too but find it difficult to get into them if I don't gel with the narrators voice, it puts me off. I prefer actual books with pages anyway.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations. If no such thing exists then could I possible take recommendations for easy enjoyable reads to get back into it again? I feel like my life is missing an unputdownable book.

OP posts:
PGmicstand · 30/12/2023 23:10

Joanne Harris and Neil Gaiman have both published short story collections.

Changingplace · 30/12/2023 23:11

Yes, Kate Atkinson has a collection of short stories and if you like suspense/thriller/horror stories then Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery collection is brilliant.

aliceinanwonderland · 30/12/2023 23:12

Agatha Christie published lots of short stories which were then adapted for the Poirot series.
If you go into Waterstones the staff are usually very helpful or just look on Amazon
I love a short story!!

mum2jakie · 30/12/2023 23:12

Agatha Christie books are my go to choice for easy reading. She has a lot of short story collections some recently republished under seasonal themes - Autumn Chills, Midsummer Mysteries, Midwinter Murder and Sinister Spring.

crazyBadger · 30/12/2023 23:17

I always have an audio book on the go...

Finished loads of books this year, school run, shopping, making the bed throw on some headphones ...

DuchessOfPort · 30/12/2023 23:23

Roalld Dahl did some great adult short stories. Creepy and clever!

Pieceofpurplesky · 30/12/2023 23:32

I got this for Christmas - I've read a couple and they are brilliant

Is there such a thing as books with a collection of short stories for adults?
Middlefadiddle · 30/12/2023 23:41

A little Aloud is a great anthology of short stories and poems. It’s used by the Reader organisation in their shared reading groups.

Minieggy · 30/12/2023 23:51

I love O Henry, Edgar Allan Poe and Paul Auster's short stories.

MadeOfAllWork · 30/12/2023 23:53

Yes. I have a lovely collection of short stories by various authors. Mine is a sci-fi collection but they do mystery etc too.

(it’s downstairs and I’m in bed or I would look find the publishers)

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 30/12/2023 23:56

Rumpole of the Bailey!
i defy anyone to be uncheered by those.

also Agatha Christie as pp, and i used to like the Virago anthologies - ghost Stories etc

DahliaMacNamara · 31/12/2023 00:03

Another idea is to go for books that aren't short stories as such, but each chapter is a discrete entity in itself. I find that kind of thing useful at this time of year, when it can be hard to find enough time to yourself to really get going. My currently-reading list includes:
James Herriot's vet books
A Rumpole of the Bailey (John Mortimer)
Comfort Eating (Grace Dent).

DahliaMacNamara · 31/12/2023 00:04

X-post @RubaiyatOfAnyone . So obviously a genius idea,

pettyreason · 31/12/2023 00:07

What kind of thing do you like reading?
Lots to choose from: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/short-stories?page=1

I find book series (especially crime/mystery) much easier to read than short stories though, which can be quite dense and require more concentration than the average novel.

Disasterclass · 31/12/2023 00:09

Alice Monroe has brilliant short stories. Also Lorrie Moore

Misknit · 31/12/2023 00:16

'How to Breathe Underwater' by
Julie Orringer is an awesome collection by one author and 'Outsiders' an anthology edited by Alice Slater has short stories from multiple authors.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 31/12/2023 17:25

@DahliaMacNamara and you remembered James Herriot which i really should have! Great minds.
i’ve never heard of the Grace Dent but will give it a go.

persisted · 31/12/2023 17:40

Daphne du Maurier has a few collections of short stories. I like Don't look now which is ghost stories.

ReTrainTheBrain · 01/01/2024 09:12

Stephen King has a few too.

ToThineOwnSelf · 01/01/2024 10:05

Dear Life by Alice Munro is good

Mammyloveswine · 01/01/2024 11:36

Roald Dahls short stories are fab! Skin and other stories I would highly recommend!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/01/2024 11:42

Another vote for Daphne du Maurier, The collection 'The birds and other stories' is also good.
Saki is brilliant.
5 volumes of Philip K Dick if you like sci-fi
Penguin do a number of short story anthologies.

LilyLemonade · 01/01/2024 11:42

Short story authors I have enjoyed include
Helen Simpson
Raymond Carver
Somerset Maugham

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/01/2024 11:46

And to add John Wyndham - 'Consider her Ways and other stories.'

CrossPurposes · 01/01/2024 13:37

As others have suggested Agatha Christie is a great start for short stories. There are so many because they were originally published in newspapers and magazines. And the advantage over other much vaunted writers is that they have really satisfying conclusions. I do like a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Also look out for other crime and anthologies. I love a locked room mystery.