I lead a  busy life. I often don’t have the time to sit down and read several chapters of a novel, and it might be weeks before I pick up the book again.  For me short stories are great, because I can read one story, and don’t have to worry about remembering which character did what the next time I have a few minutes to read.   I also love using short story anthologies to find new authors without committing to a whole novel.

The books on this list are all over the place, from 1940’s  “women’s fiction” to  modern fairy tales, science fiction and surrealism.

Christmas at Cold Comfort Farm by Gibbons, Stella Length: xvii, 298 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2011. by Gibbons, Stella Length: xvii, 298 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2011.	My mother she killed me, my father he ate me : forty new fairy tales Length: xxxi, 543 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2010. Length: xxxi, 543 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2010.
Fragile things : short fictions and wonders by Gaiman, Neil. Length: xxxi, 360 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: William Morrow, New York : 2006. by Gaiman, Neil. Length: xxxi, 360 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: William Morrow, New York : 2006.	Good bones : and simple murders by Atwood, Margaret Length: viii, 164 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Nan A. Talese, Doubleday, New York : 1994. by Atwood, Margaret Length: viii, 164 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Nan A. Talese, Doubleday, New York : 1994.
Little black book of stories by Byatt, A. S. Length: 240 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Knopf : New York : 2004. by Byatt, A. S. Length: 240 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Knopf : New York : 2004.	St. Lucy's home for girls raised by wolves by Russell, Karen Length: 246 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Knopf, New York : 2006. by Russell, Karen Length: 246 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Knopf, New York : 2006.
Birds of America by Moore, Lorrie. Length: 291 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Picador, New York : 1999. by Moore, Lorrie. Length: 291 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Picador, New York : 1999.	The birthday of the world and other stories by Le Guin, Ursula K. Length: xiii, 362 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, NY : c2002. by Le Guin, Ursula K. Length: xiii, 362 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers, New York, NY : c2002.
Magic for beginners by Link, Kelly. Length: 272 p. : Subjects: Publisher: Small Beer Press : Northhampton, MA : c2005. by Link, Kelly. Length: 272 p. : Subjects: Publisher: Small Beer Press : Northhampton, MA : c2005.	The bloody chamber : and other stories by Carter, Angela Length: 162 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2011, c1979. by Carter, Angela Length: 162 p. ; Subjects: Publisher: Penguin Books, New York : 2011, c1979.