2nd Quarter 2026 favorites

2nd Quarter 2026

The 2nd Quarter (Apr-Jun) stories ordered solely by my personal tastes.

  1. ‘Going To The Dogs’ by Richard Ford
  2. ‘Gold Watch’ by John McGahern
  3. ‘Putois’ by Anatole France
  4. ‘High Ground’ by John McGahern
  5. ‘Goodnight, Beautiful Women’ by Anna Noyes
  6. ‘Lara’s Theme’ by Madhuri Vijay
  7. ‘The Hungry Stones’ by Rabindraneth Tagore
  8. ‘Her Real Name’ by Charles D’Ambrosio
  9. ‘How Can I Tell You?’ by John O’Hara
  10. ‘Open House’ by Charles D’Ambrosio
  11. ‘Winter Dance’ by John O’Hara
  12. ‘Zero’ by John O’Hara
  13. ‘The Flatted Saxophone’ by John O’Hara
  14. ‘Days At Home’ by Maud Casey
  15. ‘Backrub’ by Tom Perrotta
  16. ‘A Good Location’ by John O’Hara
  17. ‘Antarctica’ by Laura Van Den Berg
  18. ‘Not-Daniel’ by Deesha Philyaw
  19. ‘A Bruise The Size And Shape Of A Door Handle’ by Daisy Johnson
  20. ‘Fam’ by Venita Blackburn
  21. ‘Ambrose’ by Allegra Goodman
  22. ‘Mobilization’ by Allegra Hyde

As always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter @ShortStoryMT.

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August 2023 favorites

August 2023

The August stories ordered solely on my personal tastes.

  1. ‘All Will Be Well’ by Yiyun Li
  2. ‘Virginia City’ by Claire Vaye Watkins
  3. ‘A Consent’ by Wendell Berry
  4. ‘The Hurt Man’ by Wendell Berry
  5. ‘A Sandstone Farmhouse’ by John Updike
  6. ‘Wednesday’s Child’ by Yiyun Li
  7. ‘After The Theatre’ by Anton Chekhov
  8. ‘Don’t Send A Boy To Do A Man’s Work’ by Wendell Berry
  9. ‘The Devastating Boys’ by Elizabeth Taylor
  10. ‘The Bride’ by Maeve Brennan
  11. ‘The First Kiss’ by Clarice Lispector
  12. ‘Exit Zero’ by Marie-Helene Bertino
  13. ‘The Lost Bet’ by Wendell Berry
  14. ‘Home Sickness’ by George Moore
  15. ‘Bettering Myself’ by Ottessa Moshfegh
  16. ‘The Management Of Grief’ by Bharati Mukherjee
  17. ‘Brawler’ by Lauren Groff
  18. ‘Plan Of The Peak Cavern’ by Emily Temple
  19. ‘Three Days’ by Samantha Hunt
  20. ‘Gryphon’ by Charles Baxter
  21. ‘Cords’ by Edna O’Brien
  22. ‘The Archivist’ by Claire Vaye Watkins
  23. ‘Moon Rocket’ by Elizabeth Spencer
  24. ‘Separation’ by Clare Sestanovich
  25. ‘Thicker Than Liquor’ by Wendell Berry
  26. ‘The Cult Of Mary’ by Laura Van Den Berg
  27. ‘You Are Now Entering The Human Heart’ by Janet Frame
  28. ‘Wide Spot’ by Thomas McGuane
  29. ‘A Prize For Every Player’ by A.M. Homes
  30. ‘Lord Emsworth And The Girlfriend’ by P.G. Wodehouse
  31. ‘Resistance’ by Stephan Enter

As always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter @ShortStoryMT.

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