Silence, Colm Toibin EMPTY HOURS

by Patti Abbott

Based on a note in Henry James’s letters, this is the story of a woman who tells James a story about her life.

That Evening Sun, William Faulkner

by Patti Abbott

This is such a strong story in portraying how white southerners treated their black help in the thirties. When the family’s maid/cook, is fearful of her husband’s wrath at her pregnancy by a white man, the family she works for will only help her so far.

Courtesy Call by John Urban

by Barb Goffman

198/366 from the anthology Deadfall (Level Best Books, 2008)

Here’s a snippet of dialogue from this story that address its plot and theme so well:

“It’s tough being a cop in your home town, isn’t it, Jimmy. […] You’ve got to be the law but part of you wants to make it right for the people you grew up with, or at least look after them.”

A nice story. The editors of this anthology did a good job picking and (I’m guessing) editing the stories.

A Rose for Miss Emily, William Faulkner

by Patti Abbott

#220-The sad story of the town’s spinster who spent most of her life in a solitude few could bear.

“Funeral Games” by Kay Sexton

by kattomic

“Funeral Games” by Kay Sexton

08.13.12

Story 222/366

There’s a wonderful conceit at the heart of this story, and this is my favorite line: “It was hard to use musical code with someone sixty-seven years younger.”  You can read Sexton’s story in Storyglossia (Issue 21, July 2007) here. You can also read more of her short stories on East of the Web.

See you tomorrow!

“Jack O’Lantern” by Patricia A. McKillip

by kattomic

“Jack O’Lantern” by Patricia A. McKillip

08.11.12

Story 220/366

McKillip is an award-winning fantasy novelist. I am a fan of her Riddle-Master trilogy, and also the much-honored Forgotten Beast of Eld. This is the first of her short stories I’ve read. In her author’s note in the anthology, McKillip talks about the research she did into pre-Raphaelite painting, and when reading the story, you can imagine the pastel togas and Grecian robes in pink and pistachio. As always, McKillip’s gorgeous words envelop the reader.

This story appears in the anthology of original science fiction and fantasy, Firebirds Rising.

See you tomorrow!