A modern master of the short story visits Arlington in April
The brilliant Ann Beattie speaks at Central Library on April 10 for Arlington Reads 2014, “Dazed and Confused,” a celebration of engrossing fiction for the complicated generation that came of age just after the tumultous 1960s. 
Now you can win a copy of Beattie’s Arlington Reads featured title, “The New Yorker Stories,” a timeless collection of her celebrated magazine works featuring her trademark wry wit and keen, casual observations.
Use the comments space below to tell us your all-time favorite short story, the author and give us a few sentences on why that story sticks with you.
Winners will be contacted by April 4. Because of costs and logistics, winning copies of “The New Yorker Stories” will be available for pick-up only at Central Library.
Admission and parking are free for Arlington Reads events. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Copies of Beattie’s books will also be sold the night of her appearance, courtesy of Barnes & Noble, Clarendon.
Arlington Reads is made possible through the generous support of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.
My favorite short story of all-time is “The Pit and the Pendulum” by Poe. It’s a classic of built-up fears and you can’t beat the opening line: “I was sick-sick unto death with that long agony…”
Has anyone really improved on horror writing since Mr. Poe? Good luck trying.
Thanks.
My favorite short story is seasonal — ‘The Gift of the Magi’ by O Henry. True love and selflessness. I remember the first time I read it in school and how much our teacher loved sharing it with us (and noticing our reaction, too, I’m sure).
My favorite story of all time is when Ann help out other people out
I’m not certain it is my favorite ever, but the short story that has doubtless stuck with me the longest is Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” It belongs in any primer on narrative style, and still stands as a concise (and devastating) assessment of social behavior. The plot continues to influence all sorts of fiction (see “The Hunger Games”); and unfortunately Jackson’s keen insight comes to mind all to often when reading the news of the day.
“The Dead” by James Joyce. It was hard to forget Gabriel, with all his flaws and insecurities; who hasn’t felt insecure and who doesn’t want to be remembered long after they’re gone?
My favorite short story is Guy de Maupassant’s “The Necklace.” Crafted as if a fable, Maupassant weaves the story of a woman addicted to lifestyle of status and the resulting downfall that comes with her hubris and greed. I read the story so many years ago but it has stuck with me ever since.
My favorite short story is “You’re Ugly, Too” by Lorrie Moore. Incredibly poignant, dark humor with a perfect twist at the end. Moore is a master of the short story (like Beattie).
My favorite short story is “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin. I first read it when I in high school, and thought it really captured the feeling of disconnectedness. It resonated with me at the time, and it is one of the few works that I still keep in hard copy.
I love short stories. The one that sticks with me the most is the Monkeys Paw by W.W Jacobs. My heart still ponds whenever I read it. It is true mastery to present a complete story in just a few words.
One of the most heart-wrenching story I’ve ever read is “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner. The weight of having to choose between loyalty to family and what’s right is depicted with force and intelligence.
So many to choose from! I fell in love with Beattie’s “Snow” during my first fiction class. It’s only 1.5 pages long, yet still dynamic and very intimate. Written in the 2nd person.
Christopher Buckley’s “We Have a Pope!” is the funniest short story I have ever read. I laughed all the way through! I can only take that extreme humor is short bursts like a short story. It’s not overly irreverent with regard to Catholicism, which is appreciated, but still so funny. I read this in Borders during a quick break for studying for the bar and that moment of fun was much needed.
I love short stories! There are so many good ones that have stuck with me. Some have already been mentioned in comments here. A recent favorite is The Tenth of December by George Saunders (This is also the title of his latest collection.) I love this man’s work. He always has a compelling story to tell. Tenth of December tells the story of a suicidal man and a young boy. It is very moving and poignant to me. After reading this story (it is the last one in the collection), I read three of his other collections too!
So many good ones, some already mentioned – I’ll go with What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander. All of the stories in this book made me think about things in different ways, made me laugh, made me cry.
My all-time favorite short story is “The Open Window” by Saki (H. H. Munro.)I shall never forget the impact it had on me when I read it for the first time. Written in the early part of the 20th century, it is a timeless treasure that delights and surprises.
I can’t pick just one story by my favorite writer, Tom Boyle (T.C. Boyle). His stories can be funny, scary, with vivid descriptions and twisty endings, and he’s the master of the first sentence that commands you to read the story. In “Descent of Man” a man describes his primate researcher wife as gradually becoming very like the chimp she’s teaching to speak in sign (“I was living with a woman who suddenly began to stink.”). “Chicxulub” parallels the effects of a meteor strike in Siberia in the 19th century with parents getting a late-night call from a hospital saying that their daughter was hit by a car. “The Lie” is about a guy’s small lie to stay home from work that snowballs into epic creepy but comic problems (a movie version just released). And “Filthy with Things” presents a radical solution for hoarders. Also, a new writer, Jamie Quatro, whose story “1.7 to Tennessee” has stuck with me: an old lady walks to the post office to mail a letter to the President after one too many family members died in a war.
A short story that I have always remembered: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry. Wife sells her cherished hair to buy husband a watch chain; husband sells his cherished watch to buy wife a set of combs. Now both have things they can’t even use. More importantly they have sacrificed for each other.
Cheever’s work is exceptional, particularly worth re-reaading is The Swimmer. If you are not familiar with what his voice sounds like, I would encourage you to get a disk of his reading some of his own work. Similarly, Faulkner’s recorded Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech is beautiful. A nice compliment to Beattie’s style is her contempoary, Richard Ford. Rock Springs remains is his most well known short story collection and, perhaps, his best.
Too many to choose from! I recently discovered ZZ Packer, and she has a wonderful voice and well-structured stories. I also recently enjoyed Alice Munro’s “Dear Life”, and I love the title story, but also several others. And then I’ve been a John Updike fan forever, and an inveterate New Yorker reader.