Sometimes there just isn’t time for a novel, even in the summer. Don’t worry, you can still get your literary fix by reading a short story or two. Here are four stories I love, authors and time periods unrelated. They are succinct, powerful, and feature female protagonists. In particular, they explore themes to which we, as as Collegiettes©, can relate.
“The Prophecy”–Anjana Appachana
This story centers around college and an unplanned pregnancy–a common nightmare among students. Add in the strict social customs of 1980s India, and we have the plight of seventeen year old Amrita. Told in the point of view of her bewildered friend, Hemu, we see the formerly confident, driven Amrita descend into helplessness. Appachana wrote exclusively about women, focusing on their thoughts, feelings, and desires and “The Prophecy”–for its accessible language, vivid imagery, and compelling characters–is one of her best known stories. I read it first in high school and found it more realistic than any other tale of teen pregnancy–yes, including Juno.
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”–Joyce Carol Oates
Although Connie is just fifteen, her state of mind is identifiable to women of all ages. Who can be trusted? Who wants what’s best for me? When she’s home alone, finally rid of her overbearing family, she’s faced with a mysterious stranger who claims he just wants to go for a drive. This simple story packs so much suspense and drama, an entire movie was based around it–Smooth Talk, starring Laura Dern. While I haven’t seen the movie, I can attest to the power of the story. Connie, while not likable, is very familiar. Perhaps you have a sister like her, a friend, maybe it’s you yourself. Whatever your connection, you can be sure that Oates and her impeccable pacing will take you for a drive, too.
“Day of the Butterfly”–Alice Munro
Munro, who recently won the Nobel Prize for Literature, is known for her short stories. I’ve read a few and never found any as evocative as “Day of the Butterfly.” When a sixth grade outcast falls ill, the class comes with its token condolences, yet the protagonist feels she deserves more. There isn’t much else to the plot, but the story itself tackles topics such as the hypocrisy of adults, looking beyond oneself, and the reality of death. The story itself is over forty-five years old and feels slightly dated, but the characters and circumstances remain relevant.
“No One’s A Mystery”–Elizabeth Tallent
This isn’t a famous story, and may be a little difficult to track down. It’s also only two pages, but I find myself always returning to it, reliving the anecdote. The protagonist, just eighteen, is thrown into the adult world by having an affair with a married man. Still, she clings to childish notions of love and forever, and is unwilling to face bleak reality. In two pages, Tallent condenses the emotional intensity of an entire novel, and the result is a beautiful story about hope and trust.
Of course, there are numerous other stories that belong on this list as well. I invite you to check out the other works by these authors, as well as the works of Flannery O’Connor, Carson McCullers, and Jhumpa Lahiri, if you haven’t already. Happy reading!