They often have strong emotions. The characters' love can be passionate, like in 'The Notebook' where the two lovers have a deep and abiding love that endures through many years and hardships.
The stories in 'the best short love stories' also tend to be very relatable. They touch on common experiences in love such as the first meeting, the development of feelings, and the challenges faced in a relationship. Whether it's the butterflies in the stomach during the early days of a relationship or the heartache of a breakup, these stories capture those emotions in a way that readers can easily identify with. They use vivid descriptions and simple yet effective language to draw the readers into the world of the story and make them feel as if they are experiencing the love story themselves.
Often they involve some sort of external obstacle like family feud in Romeo and Juliet. This external force is so strong that it seems impossible for the lovers to be together.
Well, most of them are rich in symbolism. For instance, certain flowers or religious symbols can represent love or the purity of the relationship. The language used is often very evocative, painting a detailed picture of the characters' feelings. And the stories usually end in a way that either gives a sense of hope for the love to prevail against all odds or a tragic end that makes the reader reflect on the power and complexity of love.
Well, one characteristic is the intense emotional exploration. Since gay love has often faced challenges in society, these stories usually dig deep into the characters' feelings of love, fear, and hope. For example, in 'Call Me by Your Name', the main characters' love is filled with hesitation because of the era they live in. Another characteristic is the focus on identity. Gay love short stories often show the characters' journey in understanding and accepting their sexual identity. In 'Maurice', the title character struggles with his homosexuality for a long time before fully embracing his love. And also, the settings play a role. Many of these stories are set in places where the characters' love is either accepted or strongly opposed, which adds to the drama.
Many of them are set in the backdrop of the rich Indian culture. For example, the festivals, the traditional clothing, and the architecture are often described. This gives the stories a unique and colorful setting that enhances the love story. For instance, a couple might meet during Diwali and their love story unfolds with the glittering lights and joyous atmosphere of the festival.
Well, they often have a concise yet powerful narrative. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the story is short but manages to convey the depth of the couple's love through their self - sacrificing actions. They also tend to explore universal themes like love, sacrifice, and the human condition in a relatively small space.
The best short short stories usually have a tight plot. Take 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' for instance. The events are carefully crafted to build suspense and surprise. They also tend to have well - drawn characters despite their brevity. In 'Hills Like White Elephants', the two main characters' personalities and relationship are subtly revealed through their dialogue. Moreover, they can often make a big impact with just a few words, like 'The Lady, or the Tiger?' which leaves you pondering long after reading.
They probably have engaging plots. Since they are short stories, they need to grab the reader's attention quickly. So, there could be unexpected twists and turns, like in a mystery - themed story where the solution is not what you initially expect. In addition, the use of vivid language is common. With limited space, the authors need to create a vivid world. They might use unique descriptions of settings and characters to make them come alive in the reader's mind. This helps to make the short story memorable despite its brevity.
The short stories in 'best 2019 short stories' may also be known for their ability to evoke strong emotions in a limited number of words. They can make you feel joy, sadness, or surprise in just a few pages. Take a story about a child's first encounter with loss. It can be so poignant that it stays with you long after you've finished reading, even though it's a short piece.
The 10 best short stories often have a unique narrative voice. In 'Hills Like White Elephants', Hemingway's sparse style gives the story a certain tension. They also tend to be very focused. 'The Necklace' focuses on the consequences of one woman's pride and it doesn't deviate from that central idea. Moreover, they can create a strong emotional impact in a short amount of time. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' manages to evoke feelings of claustrophobia and madness in a relatively brief story.