Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri*
This collection of modern short stories uses characters of East Indian origin to explore the immigrant experience and the complexities of individuals who face various kinds of adversity in American society. Each story is a jewel with facets and sparkle all its own; Lahiri's art is complex and insightful. Fans of short story or people who savor Indian food, culture, or religion will be fascinated by Lahiri's look at melding cultures and the varieties of experience of those in its crosshairs.
The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
You'll find yourself laughing and crying in response to Alexie's depiction of life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Basketball, the highway, a car that only moves backwards, fry bread, powwows, and dancing are the backdrop for stories too sad to turn away from, but full also of humor, honesty, and forgiveness.
Teaching Stories selected by Robert Coles
The well-written pieces in this collection are by authors who contemplate the meaning of education--something one can only do objectively when not in school.
Welcome to the Monkeyhouse by Kurt Vonnegut
What if you could fix the overpopulation problem all by yourself? Switch bodies at will? Romp through the exploration of these crazy concepts-and a zillion others-in this amazing collection of Vonnegut short stories. They're a perfect way to percolate the mind in quick bursts over the summer. And, by the way, look out for Vonnegut's sucker-punch endings, his persiflage, and his subtle and believable character descriptions.
You've Got to Read This edited by Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard
Here's a collection of fascinating, classic short stories, some of which will blow you away. Put together by a cadre of contemporary writers discussing stories that had grabbed them, the collection reveals something about what contemporary artists value and what intrigues them.
