The majority of employees are allowed an hour in the middle of the day to get something to eat and relax. Some shop at the mall or hit the gym for a short workout. Still others like nothing more than to sit somewhere quiet and read one of their favorite lunchtime short stories. Sometimes it is easier to read something through to completion rather than try to read a few pages that are part of a larger work. There are many classics that can be absorbed in less than an hour.
Margaret Atwood is best known for her novels, but she wrote a great quick read called "Stone Mattress". The protagonist is Verna, a serial husband killer, who recognizes an old boyfriend at a pre-cruise function. It turns out he is the same boy who got her pregnant and then humiliated her. Verna decides to eliminate him once and for all using a billion year old fossil as the murder weapon.
Ernest Hemingway readers have strong opinions about his work. One that most will agree succeeds is "The Snows of Kilimanjaro". This story is set in Africa. Harry and Helen are there to escape their life in Paris, and Harry, it turns out, has a fatal gangrene infection. Before he dies, Harry thinks back to his past loves and the decisions that lead to his current situation.
"Three Questions" is Leo Tolstoy's parable of a king in search of answers to the most important questions in life. He seeks out a hermit and winds up nursing a would be assassin. In the end, the king finds the answers he was looking for had been with him all along.
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, became a household name with the publication of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". This is a cautionary story about Jim Smiley, a man ready to place a bet on anything, even how high a frog can jump. Jim met his match in a stranger who saw him coming, cheated him out of his money and took off.
"The Diamond As Big As the Ritz" is F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale about John Unger who meets Percy Washington at an exclusive prep school. Percy boasts his is the richest family in the world because they are sitting on top of a diamond as big as the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Those familiar with Fitzgerald will recognize the theme of a youthful man destroyed by a woman's wealth.
The iconic Irish novelist, James Joyce, wrote many short stories about Irish family life. "Eveline" is a good example of this. The title character has a choice to make. She can decide to remain with a hard and abusive father or travel far away from him with her lover. Her decision often surprises readers.
People who love to read easily get lost in good stories. They don't have to be long and complicated to engross a book lover. Well written stories come in all shapes and sizes.
Margaret Atwood is best known for her novels, but she wrote a great quick read called "Stone Mattress". The protagonist is Verna, a serial husband killer, who recognizes an old boyfriend at a pre-cruise function. It turns out he is the same boy who got her pregnant and then humiliated her. Verna decides to eliminate him once and for all using a billion year old fossil as the murder weapon.
Ernest Hemingway readers have strong opinions about his work. One that most will agree succeeds is "The Snows of Kilimanjaro". This story is set in Africa. Harry and Helen are there to escape their life in Paris, and Harry, it turns out, has a fatal gangrene infection. Before he dies, Harry thinks back to his past loves and the decisions that lead to his current situation.
"Three Questions" is Leo Tolstoy's parable of a king in search of answers to the most important questions in life. He seeks out a hermit and winds up nursing a would be assassin. In the end, the king finds the answers he was looking for had been with him all along.
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, became a household name with the publication of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County". This is a cautionary story about Jim Smiley, a man ready to place a bet on anything, even how high a frog can jump. Jim met his match in a stranger who saw him coming, cheated him out of his money and took off.
"The Diamond As Big As the Ritz" is F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale about John Unger who meets Percy Washington at an exclusive prep school. Percy boasts his is the richest family in the world because they are sitting on top of a diamond as big as the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Those familiar with Fitzgerald will recognize the theme of a youthful man destroyed by a woman's wealth.
The iconic Irish novelist, James Joyce, wrote many short stories about Irish family life. "Eveline" is a good example of this. The title character has a choice to make. She can decide to remain with a hard and abusive father or travel far away from him with her lover. Her decision often surprises readers.
People who love to read easily get lost in good stories. They don't have to be long and complicated to engross a book lover. Well written stories come in all shapes and sizes.
About the Author:
Discover the best lunchtime short stories by visiting our official website right now. To access our online collection and check out our blog, use the links at http://yourlunchtimeread.com/short-stories today.
No comments:
Post a Comment