Originally published in 1894, The Jungle Book was a collection of stories by Bombay-born Rudyard Kipling. Published in magazines in 1893, they quickly gained popularity, hence why they were made into a book just a year later. Due to Kipling’s upbringing in British India (he later move to England), his stories were influenced by animals and the wild magic of
John Updike’s “Oliver’s Evolution” is one of those short stories that spans a lifetime, and does it magically. Perhaps best known for writing The Witches of Eastwick, Updike was a poet, novelist, short story writer, and a literary and art critic. But somehow, the one story that seems to have an allure of its own is this one. It’s short, at
There are plenty of short stories out there but few grasp what the purpose behind the short length really means. A short story should be founded upon the idea that a deep meaning can be portrayed in a few pages. A story that can get to that meaning, and leave readers pondering, even after just three pages, is worth the
This month we have an appointment with a very particular doctor—I mean poet. The great Dr. Seuss! Originally born Theodor Seuss Geisel, he would often say that he was saving his real name for the Great American Novel he would one day write. It might not have been true, however, since when talking to the media, he seemed to be
A.M. Homes, straight out of Washington D.C., represents her fearless hometown with her controversial novels, and strange short stories. Known for never pulling punches, she has written for several publications, including BOMB Magazine. She currently writes for shows as well. But despite all this, despite publishing her first book back in 1989, Homes wrote one story that touched many an avid
This month, we’re going to talk about Jack Handey’s “The Voices In My Head.” The story is short and simple, focusing on a man who hears voices in his head (obviously) and who seems to be pushed into doing both productive things and into making common mistakes. At first glance, the story seems to be a little silly and maybe
Halloween is surely over, but there is no inappropriate time for a creepy story. OK, maybe a wedding, or a funeral, but still. Creepy stories have a tradition behind them, being passed down through word of mouth, leading to legends and myths, folklore, and gossip. Books and movies, games and shows. Without these creepy tales, one could not express nor
First of all, who is Harpo Marx? History seems to have left Harpo as silent as his performances—at least in the memories of most people. Everyone seems to remember his brother Groucho’s signature looks and quotes and most everyone has at least heard of the Marx Brothers, so logic would say, one would remember them all… right? Yet, what happens
Feature image: The Mad Crow by Roy Peak Poe… try. I mean it. Try Poe… Make Poe’s poe-try day today! Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) is best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre. Being part of the Romantic Movement, Poe was one of the pioneers of the short story genre in America and he is considered
Etgar Keret‘s Crazy Glue may not be lengthy, but that doesn’t mean a thing. The story is powerfully written, as is all of Keret’s work, including short stories, graphic novels, and TV and film writing. But somehow, this one story, stands out in a way that his other work can’t, and that’s saying quite a bit. In Crazy Glue, readers
When was the last time you had an adventure so out of the ordinary that you doubted anyone would ever believe you if you told them? You still want to tell them all about it because it was so magical and wonderful, but you know that if you try then for sure you’ll be laughed at. What about telling it
One of the weirdest forms of poetry, believe it or not, is the nursery rhyme. We rarely think of them or their meaning. We grew up memorizing these surreal lines of verse we heard from our grandmas. Some of us have even fallen asleep to them. There couldn’t possibly be some kind of weird, twisted history to them, could there?
