This month, local readers are picking up collections of short stories for the Mid Sussex Reading Challenge. We’re hearing from lots of people who don’t tend to read short stories – has the challenge encouraged you to pick up something different? Let us know!
In February, James from Burgess Hill Library read Eleven Kinds of Loneliness by Richard Yates, a collection of stories about people striving for the American Dream in the 1950s. Read on to find out what he thought!
Rating: 5 out of 5
I’m not usually a great reader of short stories, but for a book group I was asked to read Eleven kinds of Loneliness. Dutifully I started to read each story, not holding out a lot of hope.
However, each story is like reading a stunning short novel, full of memorable characters that you deeply care about, intriguing plots and themes that will keep your interest.
The people in the stories are imperfect as we all are, in situations that we could easily find ourselves in, but they’re never dull or mundane.
Also, the stories all join together somehow. There is a continuity that isn’t instantly recognisable but as you start reading each one there is a beautiful glimmering thread that runs through each one. It’s more than loneliness being the theme for each story, it’s the unabashed poignancy of the whole collection that hits you straight in the soul.
It’s a book that stays with you because of the beauty of the writing and the quiet desperation of the characters. Read it, you definitely won’t regret it.
Has James inspired you to give this collection of short stories a go? If so, reserve your copy by visiting our library catalogue.
Would you like to submit a book review for our blog? Let us know what you’ve been reading!
Mid Sussex Reading Challenge 2020 
This does look like the kind of book I would like but I cannot find it in the catalogue. Richard Yates’ collected stories are there. I am giving up on my February collection of short stories as someone is waiting for it. I will return it tomorrow and look for something better.
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