I often  feel like a short story is only a snippet of what I should read about that particular story. It’s a tease. Unfailingly, I want to know what comes next.

I read Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout several years ago and loved it. My love was confirmed when it was awarded the Pultizer Prize in 2009. It is referred to as “a novel in stories.” Each chapter is a different story but there is a common denominator between all the characters in the book. Olive Kitteridge plays a part in each of the chapters and in each of the character’s lives. Though it is much like a book of short stories, it is not. Olive Kitteridge is the bond.

I stated my love for “a novel in stories” recently and Anna quickly put one in my hands. She recommenced A Short History of Women  by Kate Walbert.

Each chapter is written by a different women. Each of these women cover several generations in the Townsend family. The storyline is spread over several time periods and is very interesting to see what an entire family may face over time.

Just recently, Anna wrote a blog about Blueprints for Building Better Girls. See her post here.

I did a little research for some more titles that fall in this category. Here are just a few others  you might enjoy.

1. The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman

2. Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood

3. Edible Stories by Mark Kurlansky

4. I Hotel by Karen Yamashita (National Book Award Finalist 2010)

Anyone have a title to add to this list? Please share!  -Quinn

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