The Paper Dart
An ode to creativity and distraction

The Best, Diverse Short Story Collections for Busy Ladies (And Dudes, and Teens).

Here’s the deal: I don’t have a lot of time to read. And, if it’s been an especially long day, because the kids didn’t sleep, or the dog ate a dead bird at the park (that may have been today), by the time I do have a chance to sit down and read, my attention span is pretty comparable to that of a fruit fly (or a middle schooler after lunch).

So, short stories are really my jam. I love being able to read something deep, and thought-provoking, from beginning to end, in one night. Then, I can put the book down, spend the next four nights watching The Bachelor and scrolling Instagram, and eventually come back to my more intellectual pursuits without missing a beat (or having to re-read those first four chapters all over again).

In hopes that you, too, will fall in love with the genre, I’ve compiled a list of my absolute favorite short story collections (a few of which, TBH, I haven’t actually finished yet). The majority of those included on this list are written for adults, but I threw in one awesome YA option as well (heads up all you teachers of the middle grades).

I hope you find something you love, or that helps you see the world from a new perspective, or, even better, happens to do both.

The Short Story Book List:

Lot by Bryan Washington: Bryan Washington‘s stories are painfully real, and raw, but simultaneously lyrical and heartwarming. Washington has the magical ability to depict the messy, awkward, traumatic, and tragic events of everyday life in a way that is eye-opening, without being too precious or on the nose thematically. What I love most about this book is that the stories are all interrelated, but can also be read and understood in isolation. The collection tells the stories of the array of characters whose lives intersect in some way with the “protagonist’s”–an LGBTQ+, biracial young boy who is “coming of age” in a rapidly gentrifying part of Houston. I had to read some of these stories a few times over, not because the language itself is difficult, but because the narratives weren’t as “tidy” as I’m used to. This novel was so fresh and fascinating, and I can’t wait to read more of what Bryan Washington has to offer.

Buy It Here:

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans: This was a recent Book of the Month selection and I’ve really been trying to savor it. As of this week, I’ve only read the first three stories, so I can’t speak to the entire book, but so far, so GREAT. Each of the stories I’ve read thus far is timely and thought-provoking. While each one deals with issues of race, gender, intolerance, and the role of social media in setting the boundaries of what our society considers socially acceptable, there was one in particular that really struck me, and that I have continued to think about for weeks. This story in particular follows a “troubled” college student as she almost “accidentally” (?) morphs into a more controversial version of herself. And, when she finally takes a minute to look around and observe how she is being perceived, she doesn’t backtrack, or apologize, but, instead, further embraces her new persona, and continues to push the boundaries, just to see if she can. The story is strange and fascinating and got me thinking about what really motivates people to so wholeheartedly embrace and endorse certain controversial beliefs and perspectives.

Buy It Here:

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri: Pulitzer Prize Winner Alert! I actually read this story collection in college, after I was required to read one of Lahiri’s other books, The Namesake. Both of these books are still on my living room shelf, as they were my first real introduction to new immigrant literature (not sure if that’s a real genre?). Both The Namesake and The Interpreter of Maladies focus on the protagonist’s struggle to assimilate to a new culture, while simultaneously clinging to, or being pulled back by, the emotional and physical ties of “home” (despite the fact that home isn’t really the right word for it anymore). Lahiri is a lyrical storyteller and a masterful shaper of real and complex characters, many of whom I still think about years after reading about them.

Buy It Here:

The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu: This is a really fascinating and versatile collection of short stories. Including a blend of historical and science fiction, dystopia, fantasy, and a few more realistic depictions of the immigrant and/or human experience. ALL of these stories taught me something new, and really made me think, but I think my favorite was probably the last story, The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary, in which scientists invent a time machine that will allow one person to travel back in time to the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, and hold those responsible for the atrocities committed there accountable. This story opened my eyes to an important part of world history I previously did not know much about, but also posed some pretty deep philosophical questions about what history actually is, and who it “belongs” to. I would definitely recommend getting a hard copy (vs. audiobook) of this one, as you will probably want to annotate it.

Buy It Here:

The Yellow Wallpaper, Herland, and Selected Stories by Charlotte Perkins Gillman: I’ve talked this one up before, and won’t stop now! This story collection was written in the early 1900s, and is a must-read for anyone even remotely interested in feminist literature. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is part horror story, part feminist critique of the ways in which perinatal mental health disorders were, and still are, so often ignored and misunderstood by mainstream society. It is probably one of the most personally influential short stories I’ve ever read. The rest of the stories in this collection are simultaneously diverse and congruous, and would be great fodder for a woman’s circle or feminist book club. (If you start one, invite me please!)

Buy It Here:

Flying Lessons and Other Stories: This is an anthology of young adult short stories by some of the GREATS of both YA and children’s literature, including Ellen Oh, Jaqueline Woodson, Matt De La Pena, Kwame Alexander, etc. Most of these stories could be classified as “coming of age” tales, but the characters, settings and experiences are so much more textured and diverse than the stories I personally grew up reading. There are several LGBTQ+ stories included in this collection, and it’s an eye-opening and inspiring read for both kids and adults.

Buy It Here:

Week in Review – November 5, 2020

How I’m Feeling:

This week has been a weird one for sure. The election, and the combativeness and hostility that has come along with it, have really gotten me riled up. If I’m being totally honest, I have some controlling tendencies. I sometimes have a hard time letting go of things that are outside of my control, and can find myself overwhelmed by unresolvable frustration when I can’t “fix” or “change” things. I am making a conscious effort to get better at this, and have actually found Melody Beattie’s The Language of Letting Go to be particularly helpful in this arena.

But this week, I found myself falling back into some old, bad patterns. A few people I talked to reminded me that I need to start accepting the fact that there will always be people (people I love and care about more specifically) who have beliefs and values that are different than mine, and that it’s OK for them to have these beliefs and values. In theory, I understand this. I know that I am far from the smartest person in the world, and that everyone’s opinions are colored by their own belief systems and unique life experiences.

The problem now is that those “personal beliefs” are so often muddied by news outlets, on both sides, that position politicians or their policies as unequivocally “right.” To be honest, I find this both annoying, and offensive. What we need, is information, the space and trust to engage in our own, rational, dialogues around it, and the opportunities to make our own moral determinations.

On the other hand, I also don’t believe in moral relativism. I think that, on certain issues in particular, there is a clear right and wrong, and no one’s context or personal perspective will change that. I think that there are certain human rights that should not be up for debate, and certain modes of behavior that are always unacceptable. So, in short, I’m struggling. How do I “let go,” and respect the opinions of others (which I know are well-intentioned), when I feel so strongly that some of those opinions are, intentionally or not, hurtful and dangerous? How do I dedicate my career(s) (as both a teacher and a mother) to teaching children how to be fair and critical consumers of information, and then sit back and watch our own, trusted media outlets fail to live up to this pretty simple standard. (Literally though, it’s a 5th grade standard.) Sigh. If you have any thoughts for me, or just want to commiserate, lemme know.

What I’m Reading:

The Year of the Witching

This was my last “spooky” read of the season and, overall, I really enjoyed it. In the novel, the protagonist, Imanuelle, lives in the town of Bethel, which seems to be a fictionalized, and even more terrifyingly supernatural version of Puritan New England. This book touches on concepts like religious extremism, racism, and misogyny, and focuses heavily on the physical and sexual exploitation of the women in Bethel. I am a huge fan of both The Crucible and Women Talking, and I loved that this book digs into many of the same themes. I really enjoyed the fact that Imanuelle’s primary journey in this novel is one of self-reflection and personal growth–wherein she realizes that she has more power and good in her than anyone in her community would allow her to believe. (There’s also a good romance subplot sprinkled in there for good measure.)

While this book was exciting to read, and the setting was masterfully drawn, I had trouble really connecting with a few of the characters. Imanuelle was a little too self-effacing for my liking, and seemed to come to the same realization several times over. There were a few other characters who also didn’t feel as fully fleshed out as I would have liked them to be–particularly the witches, who I thought had the potential to be a really interesting and complex component of the story. Still, I’d give this book at least a 4.5/5 and definitely recommend it, despite the fact that the official “Spooky Season” has come to an end.

What My Kids Are Reading:

The Very First Americans – Cara Ashrose

I purchased this book in preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and was thoroughly surprised by how intrigued my 3.5 year old daughter was by it. The book describes the different American Indian tribes who lived in different areas of the country, prior to the arrival of Europeans. Margot had a lot of questions about the pictures (why do they all have long hair?), as well as the descriptions of their lifestyle (but why do they have to kill the buffalo?). She spent a full five minutes on the page that explained how the Sioux preferred living in tipis because they were so portable, and made a very cute connection to her own toy tipi, which she and her brother are always demanding I move to a different room in the house. This book is a little dated, and I was worried that it would read that way, but I actually found it very respectful and super informative. A definite recommend for the upcoming holiday season.

What I’m Listening To:

Holding Space – Cassidy Freitas

I have loved this podcast for a while, as it really speaks honestly about the beautiful, and difficult parts of motherhood. Dr. Cassidy is a Marriage and Family Therapist, and mother of young children, who shares her own experience as a new mom, as well as patterns she has gleaned from her research and practice. On this episode, she and Chasity Holcomb (of @momfully.you and momfullyyou.com) talk about how difficult the transition to motherhood can be–specifically as it relates to identity and a mom’s sense of self. I related to a lot of what both women had to say, and took away a few reminders, and some new tips–all of which I hope will help me make a plan for how I can set boundaries for myself when baby #3 arrives this spring. I highly recommend this episode to all moms, but particularly new moms, or expecting ones.

What I’m Wearing:

About two months ago, my family added another member to the brood: a wild, gorgeous, mixed-breed rescue puppy named Lemon. While I love her oodles, she eats EVERYTHING. A few weeks ago, she tore apart a few of my favorite sweaters, and my ABSOLUTE favorite shoes of all time, my Seychelles Mules. (Cue tiny violins). So, this week I purchased a few new sweaters, as well as TWO new pairs of mules… because it’s probably best to have a backup. You can check out my purchases by following the links below.

What We’re Playing:

We recently purchased this Sight Word Swat game, and Margot is surprisingly obsessed with it. The set comes with about 100 sight words, color-coded by difficulty. Parents can lay a set of words on the table, and then yell them out (I guess you don’t have to yell, but what’s the fun in that?) one at a time. The first player to swat the correct word gets to keep it. It’s a game I played in my middle school classroom (with vocab words for different units), and am loving watching my daughter get excited about it at home as well.

Until Next Time:

Thanks for reading friends, and I hope the weekend ahead is full of relaxation and a well-deserved vacation from the news. Drop me a comment or a DM if you want to chat – I appreciate you all more than you know!

AND, you can now follow me on Pinterest! Do it:

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