Me And My Short Stories

Driving Around

Story: Driving Around

Author: Castle Freeman Jr

Collection: Round Mountain

Homer and Clay, two old guys, are driving home from town when they pick up a couple of hitchhikers, a boy and a girl who are clearly in love. They engage these youngsters in conversation, ask them about their tattoos, and once they drop them off their talk turns to other matters.

It is a slice of life, acutely observed, that reminded me of an Annie Proulx story. Beautifully done.

But there is something even more interesting, more special about this collection. It is published by Concord Free Press, one of the most extraordinary publishers on the planet. They give all their books away for free - print books, that is, not ebooks - and ask readers to donate some money or time to charity in return. I will never cease to be amazed by how wonderful a thing that is.

This particular book is aimed at raising money for the Hurricane Irene relief efforts, the first time CFP have published a title for one specific cause. You can request your copy here.

Rating: ****

Westport

Story: Westport

Author: Rakuko Sakai

Collection: Previously Unpublished

Over on my other blog today I have a world exclusive, the first publication of a short story by Japanese author Rakuko Sakai. It is translated from the Japanese by Jay Rubin, the man who has translated many of Haruki Murakami's novels, which I hope is recommendation enough for you to check it out.

I found it moving, and a little bit eerie.

Rating: ****

Light

Story: Light

Author: Andy Harrod

Collection: Living Room Stories

This great little handmade book is inspired by the Living Room Songs project undertaken by Icelandic composer Olafur Arnalds last year. Arnalds wrote and recorded a different piece in his living room every day for a week. You can find our more about it here.

Writer Andy Harrod has composed seven short stories designed to be read while listening to the songs. They are prose poems, really. Brief scenes and episodes, all concerning love or relationships. And they are pretty effective.

Light is my favourite. A glimpse of a marriage with a tremendously romantic and moving final line.

Living Room Stories is now in its second edition and costs just £5. You can find out more about it here.

Rating: ****

Across the Rooftops

Story: Across the Rooftops

Author: Kevin Barry

Collection: Dark Lies the Island

Some nice lines in this short tale of a man plucking up the courage to kiss the girl he fancies.

This meant everything. All of summer would be coloured by this.

It never quite catches fire but is decent enough.

Rating: ***