This week I’ve been gently challenged by Ola, who, in tandem with Piotrek, blogs about her reading, on Re-enchantment of the World. They recently described some Favourite Books in Five Words. This idea has, it seems, been circulating for at least a year, so I’m late – again.
I wondered whether the inspiration for this owed something to Hemmingway’s six word story. Once I’d made that connection it was inevitable that my list would be short fiction. I decided to limit myself to six that I’ve found unforgettable.
I begin with Mary Mann.
‘Who?’ you say.
I’m not surprised. She is a writer who has been shamefully neglected, so let me stretch the rules a little, and put her into context.
Mary Mann, born 1846, in Norfolk, was a merchant’s daughter who married a yeoman farmer in 1871. They had four children. Yeoman, by the way, means he farmed his own land. Many farmers were/are tenants. It has been suggested that Mary’s writing helped her transition from town life to an isolated rural community, and was a necessary supplement to the family income during the agricultural depression of the 1880s.
Women O’Dulditch, by Mary Mann (1908)
Dinah and Car’line’s ideal husband?
Bliss, by Katherine Mansfield (1918)
Revelations at Bertha’s dinner party.
Hills Like White Elephants, by Ernest Hemmingway (1927)
Listening for what’s not said.
A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1955)
Fate, reverence and a circus.
The Blush, by Elizabeth Taylor (1958)
Mrs Allen listens, watches: sees.
Puss in Boots, by Angela Carter (1979)
Sex, lies, rats and love.






There could, of course, have been more. On a different day of a different month, there would have been other choices.
Oh, I haven’t heard of this before! Great idea Cath. It’s like uncovering a books alternative title for yourself. I’ve just started following someone on Twitter who writes short stories inspired by results of the Exquisite Corpse game play. The results are fun and engaging! Blessings always, Deborah.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Deborah. I like the sound of the Exquisite Corpse short stories.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you’re on Twitter check out Anna Tizard (@AnnaTizard). I’m there too aka @liberatedsheep Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ll track you both down. Thanks for the pointer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to see Mary Mann there! ‘Some of the Shipwrecked’ and ‘Little Brother’ among my favourites… And Taylor’s ‘The Blush’ – what a clever story! BHDandMe
LikeLiked by 4 people
Yes, I’m tempted to give Mary Mann a post of her own. Such a fascinating writer.
LikeLike
What fun this is! Thanks for the reminder of Angela Carter – I love her stories 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Chris. Yes, love Angela Carter stories, such a wicked woman!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I really liked the Hemingway one and how he didn’t say the most important things but you read it between the lines. Brilliantly written! I must find the others to read. Thanks for the suggestions.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Thanks, Ann. I was quite pleased with myself on the Hemingway – not usually a good sign.
I’d love to see how other readers would whittle them down. It was an interesting challenge, though slightly frustrating to cut quite so much away.
LikeLike
It’s funny how these kinds of things catch on. There’s no limit to human creativity.
Hi Cath. Bye till next time.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Neil. Creativity is, indeed, such a wonderful and various thing. Love it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A fabulous selection. I don’t know Mary Mann so extra thanks for the introduction, Cath.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Maria. I hope you find Mary Mann rewarding.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I may have heard of Mary Mann before, but then again, maybe it was from one of your posts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t think I’ve blogged about her before, so perhaps you’ve read about her story, ‘Little Brother’, which has been anthologised.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok. It’s possible. I’m not sure, the name just rings a bell.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the shout-out, Cath! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed it. I remember this story by Hemingway, it was one of my favorites.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for the challenge, Ola, I did enjoy this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are awesome, Cath! I find such brevity to be very complicated and difficult. Maybe you can help me write the tagline for my upcoming novel!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Pam. It was quite a challenge, and I suspect other readers would find different aspects to focus on. I hope you’ll be allowed more than five words when it comes to the tagline for your novel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Cath, spare a thought for the poor author ~ all that work, 100,000 words reduced to 5, how galling 😉.
But it’s a lovely idea, and thanks for your suggestions.
Does it work for plays ~ “star crossed lovers, both die”?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Believe me, Mike, when I assure you that I did spare several thoughts for the authors. I hesitated several times, wondering how I had the cheek.
I think, however, these are like blurb, on the back of a novel, that generally entirely miss most of the points, because you can’t sum-up a complex, delicately balanced and carefully worded piece of literature by another writer, in a handful of your own words. Perhaps I should blog about that, next. Though I am drawn to the idea of applying this to plays…
I do like your Romeo and Juliet.
LikeLike
Interesting challenge! I don’t read a lot of short fiction so I’d be hard-pressed to name six stories. I can think of a few, though.
“By His Bootstraps” by Robert Heinlein
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
I could come up with more (probably ones by Stephen King and Clive Barker would be in there) but I would have to look them up. Those are the only three I thought of without referring to anything to refresh my memory.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I keep hearing about Robert Heinlein, he’s beginning to feel like a challenge I need to take up.
LikeLike
Ooo… what an interesting challenge! You did well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kally. Apologies for the delay in replying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No apologies needed 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
These words, they stir old memories…I feel like I read that Mansfield tale very, very long ago…thanks for this trip to the attic of old stories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Jean. It was a good opportunity for me to think about some of the stories that have most resonated.
LikeLiked by 1 person