hello again...just wanted to share my love for one of the most interesting but many times forgotten genres of literature and that is the short story. Of course we all have experienced the anthologies filled with short stories (among other works) that we would receive and read all through school and even college. But, I've taken to choosing a short story collection sometimes when I need a break from the novel. A mixed bag of smaller, intense tales worth telling. Sometimes, there is one writer but the ones I enjoy the most are from various authors pulled together under some theme.
My absolute favorite anthology is Gotham Writer's Workshop Fiction Gallery. Gotham's Writer's Workshop is a creative writing school and I suppose that is the reason why this book is GOOD! The book has work from Chekhov, ZZ Packer, Lahiri, Dorothy Parker, Chopin, Danticat and many, many more. A few stories that I truly enjoy and recommend are the following:

1. Going for the Orange Julius by Myla Goldberg (truly funny, abt a fascinating, Pink Cadillac driving grandma and the dating tips she has for her granddaughter at the mall).

2. Crazy Life by Lou Mathews (a street smart/ book smart chola trying to save her boyfriend from livin la vida loca).

3. The Palace Thief by Ethan Canin (a well-written long short story about moral choices).

Another collection of short stories I love is This Is Not Chick Lit. I wasn't as familiar with the authors in this text. Curtis Sittenfeld was a name I recognized and love, so I bought it. Plus, I did judge the book by its cover (which is simply black with the title in big block pink letters, oh the irony). Favorite stories from this collection include The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a second person account of a Nigerian immigrant adjusting to American life while balancing a connection to home. Loves it. Ava Bean by Jennifer S. Davis is hilarious. Also loved The Red Coat by Caitlin Macy. Fantastic characterization.
I could go on and on but I won't. If you want to stick with one author, try Jhumpha Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies and even better Unaccustomed Earth. Of course, you can't go wrong with The Portable Dorothy Parker. I'll talk you to more about those two in future entries. In addition, I'll keep you posted on other great short story collections as I remember and read more. Hope this was helpful!