Short Stories Seagull book

"The Trespasser" by Bonnie Jo Campbell

• Characters: Nola, the trespasser

• Author: Bonnie Jo Campbell, American short story writer

• Plot: Nola confronts a mysterious trespasser on her property

• Point of View: Third-person limited, focused on Nola

• Themes: Isolation, the struggle to survive, the psychological impact of intrusion

"San" by Lan Samantha Chang

• Characters: San, her mother

• Author: Lan Samantha Chang, Chinese-American writer

• Plot: San reflects on her relationship with her immigrant mother and cultural tensions

• Point of View: First-person narration from San's perspective

• Themes: Cultural identity, mother-daughter relationships, the immigrant experience

"Selling the General" by Jennifer Egan

• Characters: Lucy, The General

• Author: Jennifer Egan, American novelist and short story writer

• Plot: Lucy navigates the challenges of rebranding a controversial figure's public image

• Point of View: Third-person focused on Lucy's experiences

• Themes: Ethics in public relations, the power of image and reputation, moral ambiguity

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker

• Characters: Mama, Dee/Wangero, Maggie

• Author: Alice Walker, acclaimed African-American novelist, poet and activist

• Plot: Mama and Maggie struggle to reconcile their traditional values with Dee's newfound identity

• Point of View: First-person narration from Mama's perspective

• Themes: Tradition vs. modernity, cultural heritage, family dynamics

"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel García Márquez

• Characters: An old man with wings, the Pelayo family

• Author: Gabriel García Márquez, renowned Colombian novelist and short story writer

• Plot: A mysterious winged man arrives in a small town, sparking wonder and exploitation

• Point of View: Omniscient third-person narration

• Themes: The nature of miracles, human exploitation, the clash of the ordinary and extraordinary

“In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried" by Amy Hempel

• Characters: The narrator, her friend who is terminally ill

• Author: Amy Hempel, acclaimed American short story writer

• Plot: The narrator visits and reflects on her friend who is dying in the hospital

• Point of View: First-person narration from the protagonist

• Themes: Mortality, friendship, the challenge of communicating about death

"Story of An Hour" by Kate Chopin

• Characters: Mrs. Mallard, her husband Brently

• Author: Kate Chopin, American novelist and short story writer

• Plot: Mrs. Mallard grapples with grief and newfound freedom after learning of her husband's death

• Point of View: Third-person limited, focused on Mrs. Mallard

• Themes: Gender roles, the desire for freedom, the complex emotions around loss

"This Blessed House" by Jhumpa Lahiri

• Characters: Sanjeev and Twinkle, a newlywed couple

• Author: Jhumpa Lahiri, Indian-American author known for short stories and novels

• Plot: Twinkle discovers hidden Christian artifacts in their new home, much to Sanjeev's chagrin

• Point of View: Third-person limited, alternating between Sanjeev and Twinkle's perspectives

• Themes: Marital dynamics, cultural clashes, the search for meaning

I'm a Mad Dog Biting Myself for Sympathy" by Louise Erdrich

• Characters: The narrator, a troubled woman

• Author: Louise Erdrich, a celebrated Native American novelist and short story writer

• Plot: The narrator reflects on her struggles with mental illness and self-destructive behavior

• Point of View: First-person narration from the protagonist

• Themes: Mental illness, self-destruction, the human need for empathy

"The Lesson" by Toni Cade Bambara

• Characters: Sylvia, Miss Moore (the teacher), the other children

• Author: Toni Cade Bambara, acclaimed African-American short story writer and social activist

• Plot: Miss Moore takes underprivileged children on a field trip, opening their eyes to inequalities

• Point of View: First-person narration from Sylvia's perspective

• Themes: Education, socioeconomic inequality, the awakening of social consciousness

"Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin

• Characters: Sonny, the narrator (Sonny's brother)

• Author: James Baldwin, influential African-American novelist, essayist and activist

• Plot: The narrator tries to understand and connect with his troubled brother Sonny, a jazz musician

• Point of View: First-person narration from the brother's perspective

• Themes: Brotherly love, the power of art, the African-American experience