Draw you in, shake you, leave you thinking

Priti Sharma
Managing Editor of Epigram Books

As a student of literature, years and years ago, I found the short story an absolute eye-opener. It showed me how literature could do everything it set out to do: draw you in, shake you a little and leave you thinking, all within the span of a few pages. But somewhere along the way, as I grew older, I stopped reading them. Like many, I began buying only novels. I'm not sure how or when that happened, but I simply stopped picking up short stories.

Now, you'd think, with MRT and bus rides, packed schedules, and the lure of a bedtime story that begins and ends before you nod off, the short story would be the perfect form to reach out to. I'd think so too. And yet, for the longest time, eleven novels sat by my bed (yes, I counted while dusting), and not a single short story collection was within reach.

"The best part of any short story, for me, is when it takes you one way and, before you know it, makes a sudden turn, leaving you surprised and smiling."

Then, last year, we set out to publish four short story collections, and I found myself having to read them. Oh, and what joy! It all came back to me: the anticipation of a fresh start every few days, the delight of finishing something in one sitting — characters, plot, resolution, all neatly contained. These days, I sip my morning tea in the bedroom, AC on, rocking gently, with a short story in hand.

So I implore you to pick up a short story collection. Live on the edge; who says you have to read the stories in order? Choose whichever one you fancy, read and savour. Even if it's just for a short while.

And if you're wondering where to start, one collection that's stayed with me is Eternal Summer of My Homeland. Its stories are quietly, even slyly, subversive. I'll say no more — you'll have to read it yourself.

Eternal Summer of My Homeland
Duty, desire and difficult choices shape these illuminating stories.

This collection illuminates the complexity of choice when duty and desire collide, exploring personal sacrifice. Stories feature a daughter coping with discovery after a mother's death, a husband struggling with his wife's pregnancy reaction, and an adolescent exchanging secrets with a domestic worker. Characters across various locations strive to find meaning and home.

Crossings: The Best Hainanese Chicken Rice And Other Life Dilemmas
If you like moral dilemmas and relatable characters.

A collection of short stories about regular people who suddenly find themselves at a pivotal crossroads — like a 10-year-old wrestling with family duty or a secretary asked to take over her boss. These are tales of big, messy moral questions, and the author, Willie Cheng, is a retired management consultant whose real-world experience makes these characters and their choices feel so real and relatable.

Regrettable Things That Happened Yesterday
If you like secrets, journalism, and lives unexpectedly altered by print.

A collection of ten short stories all connected by the central idea of newspapers — like a teen finding his granddad's secret in an obituary. Since Durai is a former journalist, she writes with a sharp, intimate knowledge of how little news items can totally derail or redefine a life.