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Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl invited us to share ten books involving food (that are not cookbooks). I started writing that list and realized that I was recreating a past Top Ten Tuesday, Books That Make Me Hungry. So I’m going to write about ten fictional story collections that I liked instead.
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint–I have long been a fan of de Lint’s urban fantasy, especially his loosely connected works set in the fictional city of Newford. This story collection was the first “Newford book” that de Lint published and it introduces us to a lot of recurring characters who became some of my favorites.
Just After Sunset by Stephen King–I am a fan of Stephen King, though I find it impossible to keep up with him. I could have included almost any of his short story collections in this space but I’ve actually reviewed this one on this blog. His short stories have always scared me more than his novels. I’ll find myself thinking about them and peering around uneasily in some of my quietest moments.
Full Throttle by Joe Hill–This author also creates scenes in his short stories that stay with me long after I turn the last page. I may have liked 20th Century Ghosts just a bit more than Full Throttle but I never reviewed the former on my blog.
I Am Legend and Other Stories by Richard Matheson–I don’t know that I’ve ever felt as alone as I did reading the novella, “I Am Legend.” It’s truly a classic.
He Is Legend. An Anthology Celebrating Richard Matheson edited by Christopher Conlon–I was pleasantly surprised by how well this group of authors conveyed the style and feel of Matheson’s work.
A Lot Like Christmas by Connie Willis–I search for Christmas books and collections every year but find myself disappointed by all the remarkably similar, saccharine books I find everywhere (Just my opinion–We all have different tastes and I respect that many of you love the very same books that I write off). This collection of original holiday science fiction stories was just what I needed last year.
Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days by Jeannette Winterson–Some memoir-ish bits snuck into this collection but it’s largely fictional and haunting. I haven’t read much of Winterson’s work but I’ve loved what I have read.
A River Runs Through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean–I haven’t reviewed this collection because I don’t really know what there is to say, especially about the title story. The setting, the family relationships–it’s simply beautifully and evocatively written.
Astray by Emma Donoghue–Whenever I read something by Donoghue, I always kick myself for not making my way through more of her backlist. I mostly loved this collection of stories about characters who have each gone astray in their own ways.
Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman–Recently someone very nicely pointed out to me that several women have alleged that Gaiman sexually assaulted them. I am horrified but otherwise don’t know what to do with that information, much as I don’t know what to do about my love for Harry Potter and my abhorrence for the hateful things Rowling writes and says about the trans community. So I guess consider this a qualified recommendation.
That’s my list! Have you read any of these? Which collections would you recommend? Link up every Tuesday at That Artsy Reader Girl!
8 Comments
I adored Willis’ Christmas story collection! I love her short stories, period, but the Christmas ones seemed extra special. Also, if you want to read a novella by her in the same vein, try Take A Look At The Five And Ten. I liked that one a lot, too.
Also, yes! De Lint is wonderful as well. I need to continue the Newford series, there’s still so many I haven’t read.
My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2024/09/03/top-ten-tuesday-non-cookbook-foodie-books/
(Sorry I’m late! The Monday holiday messed with my sense of time.)
I used to read a lot of science fiction story collections, from the thirties, forties, and fifties (the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s…guess you have to clarify that now!) I haven’t read many short story collections lately. I’m not sure why.
Oh, I love short story collections! They’re so satisfying. You never quite know what you’ll find in them.
Here is my Top Ten Tuesday.
Me too! I didn’t include many here, but I especially like collections featuring different authors. I find new authors to check out that way.
I don’t read a lot of story collections. Just every once in a while since they are usually novella length and that is not always my favorite. Have a great week!
I somehow didn’t list many anthologies that include several authors but I like those because they sometimes introduce me to new authors I might not have found otherwise.
Ha! I remembered that earlier TTT post, too, but I just reshared mine!
I agree with you about Stephen King’s short stories being scarier than his long fiction. I listened to his most recent short story collection, You Like It Darker, this summer, and it was good!
Also agree with you on the Connie Willis and Jeannette Winterson collections, Emma Donoghue, and Full Throttle! I haven’t read Charles de Lint, Norman MacLean, or Richard Matheson, but I guess I should!
I didn’t know that about Neil Gaiman, but I have been trying to give JK Rowling the benefit of the doubt, but after the whole Olympic women’s boxing hatefulness, I might stop reading the Robert Galbraith books.
I was wondering if I was completely out of touch or if the Gaiman thing has really been that low profile. I’m glad I’m not the only one who was out of the loop but a write up in Rolling Stone seems like it should have brought more attention to the matter. Rowling just keeps digging deeper and deeper into that hatefulness. I haven’t read a Galbraith book in years but I did just spend hours and hours and hours playing the Hogwarts Legacy video game. It’s so hard to know what to do when you love a character/franchise and then the author behaves in ways you just can’t support.