What is a good short story about a murder?
George Saunders Among the handful of short stories closest to my heart, I’ve chosen “The Love of a Good Woman” by Canadian writer Munro, from her 1998 collection of that name.
It’s about a murder – probably it’s a murder, because nothing is certain – and a love match that depends on keeping that murder secret.
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“Muscle” by Daniyal Mueenuddin
Daniyal Mueenuddin’s In Other Rooms, Other Wonders was a sensational debut collection of short stories.
Since reading it, I have been looking forward to his next work.
The following story appeared in The New Yorker.
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“Prophets” by Brandon Taylor
Brandon Taylor’s Real Life was shortlisted for The Booker Prize in 2020.
He followed it with the short story collection Filthy Animals, published in June, 2021.
The following story is set in the world of academia — Brandon Taylor’s Macondo.
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“The Great Escape” by Hilma Wolitzer
The current pandemic has changed our lives; I am one of those who felt that 2021 was tougher than 2020. Hilma Wolitzer’s story, published in her collection, Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarkettells a tender but sweeping story of a decades-long marriage.
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“The Hospital Where” by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Nana Kwame Adjei-Breynah’s story about a father and his writer son is a part of his celebrated collection Friday Black.
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“The Wind” by Lauren Groff
Lauren Groff had a lovely novella What’s the Time, Mr.Wolf? published in The New Yorkeras well, but this story is special and carries a punch.
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“Unread Messages” by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney won an O.
Henry Prize for this story in 2021.
Her third novel Beautiful World, Where Are Youwas published last year.
