I only read most of these because I had to for a class, but I would highly recommend them. Like, I've read each one at least three times now. They influence my creative writing. They keep me up at night. They're fantastic. Proceed with caution; you'll still be thinking about these stories years from now, I promise.
1. "Bullet in the Brain"
GiphyI don't even know what to say about this beauty by Tobias Wolff. It's a really thought-provoking piece of writing, and I could honestly read it every day and never get tired of it. Find it here.
2. "A Good Man is Hard to Find"
GiphyThere's a super sassy grandmother in this short story, so I really don't know what else you could possibly want from your reading selections. Also, Flannery O'Connor is a brilliant writer. Obviously. Find the story here.
3. "The Necklace"
GiphyThis is truly a classic. If you haven't already read this, I'm pretty sure you're in the minority, but I'm including it because it deserves a place of honor on this list. What a tale. Aesop's-Fables-style moral included. Find it here.
4. "The Story of an Hour"
GiphyKate Chopin's writing is always eerily enchanting in my opinion. This is one of her most famous stories, and for good reason. Find it here.
P.S., I'd definitely recommend reading her short novel "The Awakening." It's another masterpiece.
5. "A Rose for Emily"
GiphyAnother pretty famous work. William Faulkner's chronic manipulation of time is super confusing, but honestly it's worth navigating in this read. Find it here.
6. "A&P"
GiphyThe most interesting story ever set in a grocery store. 12/10, John Updike is my writing idol. Find "A&P" here.
7. "A Worn Path"
GiphyThis story left me super confused, so feel free to reach out if you read it and comprehend its message. Overall, splendid writing and Eudora Welty is a genius. Find her story here.
8. "Roman Fever"
GiphyWe love good old-fashioned drama between old friends. Also, I'm not saying there's a plot twist, but there's a plot twist. Find Edith Wharton's work of art here.
9. "Girl"
GiphyThis is almost poetic. Every time I read "Girl" I find something I didn't notice before. It's truly impressive, and there's so much to talk about—everything from the POV to the plot is fascinating. Find it here.
10. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
GiphyHonestly, I felt like I'd entered another dimension as I read this story. At the end, I had goosebumps. Definitely give this a shot, because it's a doozy. Find it here.
11. "The Cask of Amontillado"
GiphyI mean, I couldn't not include Edgar Allan Poe. Be real. Find the story here.
12. "The Most Dangerous Game"
GiphyThis is definitely a longer one, but I read it in 9th grade and I still think about it all the time (I'm in my third year of university now). I mean, Richard Connell is a genius. Find the story here.
You have twelve distinguished, impressive stories in your arsenal of holiday reads, so now I must recommend a different kind of short story. I didn't grant it a coveted spot on this list of celebrated short stories but feel free to read one of my own short stories here. ;)
Now that you're all stuck thinking about these incredible plotlines as well, I'm signing off. Good luck getting rid of the lingering goosebumps from "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
