Is it raining? If so, you have a great opportunity to spend some time inside your cozy home. Curl up with a short story, and enjoy the pitter-patter of raindrops on your roof. Are meteorologists predicting lightning storms, brief cloudbursts, or a season of constant showers? For every forecast, there are short stories to enjoy. Here are three favorites!
A Short Story for a Brief Rain Shower
“Symbols and Signs” by Vladimir Nabokov begins on a rainy day. Two parents journey to bring a gift to their son on his birthday. The premise seems simple until you learn of the unique circumstances of the characters. As the title indicates, the tale is full of symbols. From small nestling birds to clothing hanging in store windows, inanimate objects are worthy of examination. If you have trouble interpreting the signs, there are a host of critiques available. Though this enigmatic story spans only a few pages, it is the subject of a book called Anatomy of a Short Story by Yuri Leving. According to one Amazon.com customer, the literary review is essential. “Without it, you will think you are reading a short story about an elderly Russian couple and their…son.”
A Short Story for a Lightning Storm
As the lightning flashes outside, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” will transport you to a utopian society. Children play barefoot as the city celebrates the arrival of summer. However, you have probably heard it said: “Nothing in life is free.” What price do the people of Omelas pay for their happiness? This short drama by Ursula K. Le Guin will raise questions that will endure long after the storm has passed.
Short Stories for the Rainy Season
Winesburg, Ohio is a collection of short stories by Sherwood Anderson. The twenty-two stories revolve around the lives of the townsfolk of a small fictional town called Winesburg. In the first story, the characters are labeled as grotesques. Each of the subsequent stories features the psychological quirks of one individual. The stories may initially seem unrelated to one another. However, there is a central moral lesson: Unhappiness is more about attitude than it is about circumstance. Though completed in 1919, it resonates with modern readers. After all, eccentric people are still as interesting today as ever!
What kind of books or stories do you turn to when the weather turns?
