Short Reads for a Short Month

February is the shortest month, so maybe it’s a good time for a few short stories? 420 Characters is a collection of VERY short stories. Each contains 420 characters or less because they were born as a posts on “a famous social networking site.” This collection features stories that are gritty, poignant, dark, and whimsical by turns. Don’t like one of them? You can move on to the next in less than a minute!

If you’re more in the mood for some abbreviated biography, check out Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure. In this book folks try to encapsulate their lives in one pithy soundbite. Do you think you could do the same? Even if you can't, it's fun to try! There’s also a version for teens: I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure .

If this sounds like something you’d like, you’ll be happy to hear that the editor behind the Six-Word Memoirs series just came out with another collection of slice-of-life anecdotes called The Moment: Wild, Poignant, Life-Changing Stories From 125 Writers and Artists Famous & Obscure. The authors and illustrators in this book examine the moments in their lives when they experienced “the one-time chances, unexpected coincidences, and sudden catastrophes that made all the difference.” And they do it three pages or less!

Do you have a favorite short book or story?

Do you have a great 6-word autobiography?

Let us know in comments!

Review by Danny Hanbery