Short Stories to Keep You Occupied this Summer

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By Kati Wilkes

The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio by Ernest Hemingway (1933):

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not the biggest fan of Hemingway as a person, but you can’t deny that he sure knew how to write a good story. I initially encountered “The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio” while reading through a copy of The Snows of Kilimanjaro, and Other Stories. The story itself wasn’t what drew me to the collection, but it sure ended up being the most enjoyable read of the entire book. “The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio” follows a gambler named Cayetano who, after being shot, is recovering alone in a hospital. As the title suggests, during his stay at said hospital he crosses paths with a slew of nuns, as well as a small group of musicians who are brought in to lift his spirits. The story itself is told mainly through rather simplistic dialogue and doesn’t, at least on a surface level, seem to be all too complex. While I’m not usually the biggest fan of straight forward dialogue, Hemingway manages to weave in not only humor but also thought-provoking questions that make this read both digestible and, if I do say so myself, rather fun. If you aren’t necessarily an avid reader and don’t want to be bogged down by the minutiae of overly-complex storytelling and character development, this short story is certainly for you!

Track by Nicole Flattery (2017):

This short story ended up winning the White Review short story prize back in 2017, so it came as no surprise to me that I enjoyed this seemingly deadpan narrative about a young woman struggling through an abusive relationship and working, albeit failing, to stay afloat in a big city. What really set this story apart for me was the writing style itself and how it managed to convey both humor and this strong sense of pain that the main character was dealing with. I’d certainly suggest this to someone looking for something a bit longer (and more serious) to read that has a modern and more familiar setting.  

Three Thanksgivings by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1909):

If the name Charlotte Perkins Gilman rings a bell, there’s a good chance you may have encountered her immensely popular short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”. While I’m certainly a fan of Gilman’s brilliant feminist work in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” I thought I might also plug one of her lesser known works: “Three Thanksgivings”. The story follows Delia, the daughter of a late senator and the widow of a minister, who is faced with a dilemma. She is unable to pay the mortgage on her family home, so she either needs to sell it, find a way to pay it herself, or marry Mr. Peter Butts, who holds the home mortgage. Her solution is to open a women's club at the home and charge a membership fee in order to make a profit, and hopefully keep possession of the house. Much like “The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio,” this story has a fairly straightforward plot and narration style, which makes it a great read for anyone who doesn’t feel up to the challenge of a more traditional (and most likely convoluted) read. 

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury (1950): 

Veldt is defined by Miriam Webster dictionary as, “a grassland especially of Southern Africa usually with scattered shrubs or trees.” A logical next thought would be that this short story takes place in just that, a veldt. Without spoiling all too much, let me just tell you that this story does in fact take place in a veldt, just not at all in the way you think it will! 

The Lady, or the Tiger by Frank Stockton (1882):

“The Lady, or the Tiger” is certainly the oldest (and least enjoyed by me) story on this list, hence its placement at the bottom. Don’t get me wrong, this story is a classic for a reason, it just personally wasn’t to my liking. “The Lady, or the Tiger” follows a man accused of a crime against the mythical king. He must choose between two doors in a public area as his form of punishment; behind one door is a beautiful woman and behind the other is a tiger ready to kill the man. Though this story does have a rather whimsical undertone because of the time period and style it’s written in, the narrative itself isn’t all that interesting and is more along the lines of a  moral dilemma or thought experiment that is meant to provoke thought or spark conversation. If you do end up reading this short story, I’d suggest partnering up with a friend and tackling it together so that you’ll have someone to bounce ideas off and discuss the story with!