Web Stories30-Minute Reads: Top 5 Short Stories To Read When You’re Short On Time
Do you think reading an 800-page novel will make you a true-blue reader? Or are you stuck in a never-ending reading slump? Are you unable to meet your reading goals amid work deadlines? Or are you someone who wants to get into the habit of reading? No matter which category you fall into, we have something for everyone here. Reading can feel like a chore, especially when all your attention is spent on doom-scrolling. So, whether you want to start reading or trying to get over a slump, here are five of the best short stories of all time that you can finish in 30 minutes.
1. Ratan Babu and That Man by Satyajit Ray
An intriguing short story from Satyajit Ray, Ratan Babu and That Man weaves a remarkable tale. The story opens with the protagonist, Ratan Lal, an avid traveller who loves to tap into unexplored places. On one of his trips, he meets a strange man who turns out to be his doppelganger. Manilal Babu, Ratan Babu’s look-alike, tries to understand and empathise with the latter. But Ratan Babu has something else in his mind. What will he do with his alter ego? Ray’s wit and humour will grip you tightly as you delve deep into the story’s concept of alter ego.
2. The Word Love by Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni
Chitra Banerjee weaves a world of optimism and symbolism in her work. Falling under the category of motivational short stories, The Word Love is a part of the Arranged Marriage Stories collection. It depicts the story of an Indian immigrant woman who breaks the age-old family tradition of marrying only Indians within one’s caste. She falls in love with a US-born man, which is against her familial values. The story reveals her journey of hiding this secret from her mother and the consequences that follow. The Word Love is one of Devakaruni’s best short stories of all time.
3. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman
As bizarre as the title sounds, the story will send a chill down your spine. An unnamed narrator, a woman, opens the story, and we see her feelings through various journal entries. The story recounts the life of this narrator, who develops a strange connection with the yellow wallpaper as she attempts to rip it off. The story progresses simultaneously as the narrator tries to tear apart the wallpaper. The theme is centred around mental health and the life of a woman. The Yellow Wallpaper is one of the best stories of all time, and though a bit intense, it is easy to follow and read under 30 minutes.
4. The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe
Are you someone who loves to put a detective hat on whenever something weird happens around you? If yes, then The Purloined Letter is exactly what you should open. The case is too simple, or is it? The story reveals that a letter containing confidential information has been taken from Paris’ Royal Palace. Do you know who has taken it? Yes, a well-known government official who has carefully placed a similar-looking letter in exchange. Upon investigation, the police fail to retrieve the letter. Read the story to find where it is exactly.
5. The Boundary by Jhumpa Lahiri
Jhumpa Lahiri, a renowned American author of the bestseller book The Namesake, crafts beautiful short stories under the anthology titled Roman Stories. The Boundary, one of the short stories from the anthology, details a compelling tale of a family who goes for a vacation to the Roman countryside. The story is narrated by a teenage girl born to immigrant parents. The Boundary contains the accounts of her own family as well as those of the family she observes while on vacation. The two families highlight opposite worlds and the significance of what home means in their lives.
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Related: 10 Books Translated From Indian Languages To English To Add To Your Reading List
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