Featured Stories

The Sisters

The Sisters: Short story by James JoyceSeveral themes in this story by James Joyce (paralysis, corruption and abuse of authority) are said to represent major issues facing both Ireland and its Catholic Church in the early 1900s. The story, which takes place shortly after the death of a Catholic priest, is narrated by a boy who was friends with and mentored by the cleric. He is angered by insinuations the priest was involved in a scandal but also feels “freed”, presumably because he can resume a normal boyhood. Other themes include religion, secular vs. religious education, fall from grace, mental illness, loneliness, death, “freedom”.

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Immigration Blues

Immigration Blues: Short story by Bienvenido Santos This story by Bienvenido Santos deals with the plight of a Filipino woman wanting to make a future in the United States. Without a permanent visa, her only hope is to gain residence through marriage. Her sister learns of a retired Filipino widower with U.S. Citizenship. In a humorous visit laced with dramatic irony, the two women are initially too embarrassed to raise the topic of marriage. When the old man finally understands their purpose, he thanks God for allowing lightning to strike him twice. Themes include immigration, cultural isolation, hope, fear, pride, the emptiness of growing old alone.

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Haircut

Haircut: Short story by Ring LardnerThis story by Ring Lardner shows how satire can be used to raise awareness of problems in society. A small-town barber talks to a visitor about local life. The barber seems to think the town is a good place to live. However, the stories he tells suggest otherwise… especially if you are a woman or impaired in some way. Most of the barber’s stories are about a dead customer who he says had a kind heart but just liked to have fun with people. We hope you can see that the customer was not kind at all!

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The World Goes On

The World Goes On: Short story by László KrasznahorkaiThe recent (November, 2025) inferno that destroyed five high-rise apartment blocks in Hong Kong reminded me of this story by László Krasznahorkai. The narrator struggles to express his feelings as images of the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center collapse constantly replay in his mind. Rather than an isolated terrorist event, he rationalizes that the root cause was an “immeasurably vast” destructive power that arrived on earth simultaneously with humans and releases itself in cycles of destruction and new beginnings. Themes include the limitations of language in dealing with apocalyptic events and the unpredictable, cyclical nature of destruction and renewal.

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Mrs. Bathurst

Mrs. Bathurst: Short story by Rudyard KiplingA major theme of this enigmatic story by Rudyard Kipling is the potential destructive power of love. Interestingly, we never meet the two central characters: Mrs. Bathurst, a New Zealand hotel keeper renowned for her kindness to needy sailors, and “Click” Vickery, a naval warrant officer who once had a serious affair with her. Vickery becomes so obsessed with a cinematograph clip in a traveling circus showing Mrs. Bathurst in London that he deserts his ship and follows the circus to the next town. Other themes include alienation, chance and accident, ambiguity, passion, death and guilt.

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Broken Chain

Broken Chain: Short story by Gary SotoThe major lesson of this story from Gary Soto is that what someone is like on the inside is more important than his or her looks. An insecure seventh-grader is obsessed with his appearance (teeth, V-cut abs, hairstyle and clothes). His outlook on relationships changes when an act of kindness results in a bike-riding “date” with a girl. When his bicycle chain breaks, it looks like the date will be a disaster. Fortunately, his older brother comes to the rescue and the boy experiences his first touch of “love”. Themes: identity vs. appearance, sibling rivalry (jealousy) / brotherly love, courage.

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Tickets, Please

Tickets, Please: Short story by D. H. LawrenceThis story by D. H. Lawrence is a humorous take on gender dynamics during World War 1 after a disproportionate number of women entered the workforce to replace men sent to war. It deals with a group of hardened women (they fear nobody, and everybody fears them) working as tram conductors in England’s industrial Midlands. When a womanizing ticket inspector takes advantage of one too many of the conductors, they join forces and exact sweet revenge. An important (feminist) theme of the story is exploited women finding their collective “voice”. Other themes include power, desire, passion, rejection, vengeance and rage.

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Soldier’s Home

Soldier's Home: Short story by Ernest HemingwayThis story by Ernest Hemingway about an American soldier’s difficulty “fitting in” after returning from World War 1 is a wonderful example of the author’s Iceberg Theory, with much of the protagonist’s background hidden from readers. Upon return, the soldier finds himself alienated from his culture, community, friends, and family. He falls into depression and lethargy, obsessed with watching local girls go by, but avoiding contact with them. This may be due to an earlier failed relationship, or his distaste for his pious, controlling mother. Themes include PTSD, alienation, cultural and social change, fear of involvement and commitment.

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