I think 'AIDS and Its Metaphors' is among her best fictional works. It's not only a fictional exploration but also a profound commentary on society's view of AIDS at the time. It combines her unique writing style with important social commentary.
Sure, 'The Benefactor' is one of her best. It has an interesting narrative structure that keeps the reader engaged.
One of her well - known fictions is 'The Volcano Lover'. It tells a story set against a historical backdrop, exploring themes of love, art, and power.
One of her notable fictions is 'The Volcano Lover'. It delves into complex relationships and historical settings.
One of her well - regarded novels is 'The Volcano Lover'.
Another great piece is 'Death Kit'. It's a rather experimental work that challenges the reader's perception of reality and identity. It has a somewhat dream - like quality that makes it a unique reading experience.
You could start with 'The Volcano Lover'. It's a more accessible one among her fictions. The story is based on the real - life relationship of Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton, and Sontag weaves in her ideas about art and beauty in a way that's easy to follow.
Susan Sontag's short stories are a great study in modern literature. They often touch on contemporary issues, albeit in a rather oblique way at times. Her works can be seen as a mirror of the society she was living in, reflecting the values, fears, and hopes of the people. Reading her short stories can be an enriching experience as it exposes the reader to different perspectives and ways of thinking.
The theme of love and relationships is quite prominent as well. Sontag explored different kinds of love, from passionate romantic love to the complex love within families. Her stories might show the power dynamics, the joys, and the sorrows that come with these relationships. Also, the theme of self - discovery through experiences, whether they are travel - related or personal challenges, is often present in her short stories.
One way could be to study their writing styles. Jon Berger might have certain narrative techniques and Susan Sontag may have her unique ways of presenting ideas. By borrowing elements from their works, like Berger's use of vivid descriptions if he does so, and Sontag's in - depth analysis approach, and incorporating them into a story. For example, if Berger often starts a story with a strong visual image, we can do the same in our story. And if Sontag is good at exploring the deeper meaning of events, we can add that layer of depth to our narrative.
One way is to draw on Berger's ideas about how we perceive images and Sontag's thoughts on photography and interpretation. For example, if the story involves descriptions of scenes or characters, we can use Berger's insights on how we look at things to make the descriptions more vivid. Sontag's ideas on the power of the visual can add depth to the story's mood. We could start the story with a visual image, and then use their concepts to unfold the narrative, like exploring how the characters in the story view the world around them through Berger's perspective and how the story's events are captured and remembered like in Sontag's view of photography.