Best short story collections to read for any kind of reader

Short stories are perfect for the way most of us actually read — a complete world before bed, a finished arc on a lunch break. A great collection gives you the satisfaction of a novel several times over. Here are five we hand to readers of every stripe.

Interpreter of Maladies — Jhumpa Lahiri

Lahiri’s Pulitzer-winning debut about Indian and Indian-American lives is quietly perfect. Warm, precise, and emotionally enormous — a flawless place to start.

Tenth of December — George Saunders

Funny, strange, and unexpectedly tender. Saunders bends reality just enough to break your heart; the title story alone is worth the price.

Her Body and Other Parties — Carmen Maria Machado

Genre-blurring stories that mix horror, fairy tale, and fierce feminist wit. Inventive and unsettling in the best way — perfect for readers who want to be surprised.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love — Raymond Carver

The high-water mark of spare, minimalist American storytelling. Ordinary people, ordinary kitchens, and an ache that sneaks up on you. A short story masterclass.

Nine Stories — J.D. Salinger

The companion to The Catcher in the Rye, and arguably the better book. “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” is one of the most quietly devastating stories ever written.

How to read a collection

You don’t have to go front to back — flip to a title that grabs you and dip in. That low commitment is exactly why collections make such great companions for a busy season or a stalled reading streak.

Find your next collection

Browse our shelves or visit us in Milwaukie to thumb through a few. If you only have a weekend, our short books to finish in a weekend pairs nicely, and a sharp collection is a great book club pick too. Ask the Matchmakerfor one in your taste, then trade it in for credit when you’re finished.