What You’ll Find
Collections Like “Currency,” the stories in the collection “The One” share a theme — the path to finding that perfect match — but are all nonfiction instead of fiction. On the other hand, the “Out of Line” collection includes a mix of fiction and nonfiction works, each a take on “women on the verge of a breakthrough.” While most collections feature a variety of authors, “Nothing Like I Imagined (Except for Sometimes)” features six stories by writer Mindy Kaling, who explores her life as a single mom. Serials Unlike the collections, serials present multiple, connected works by the same author. “House of Crows” by Lisa Unger, for instance, is a four-part series about a group of friends whose shared secret begins to catch up with them many years later. “Young Blood,” a trilogy by film writer Andrew Barrer, chronicles the story of postmillennials who have discovered the fountain of youth. Featured Singles Just as the name suggests, singles are standalone works in a mix of genres, and include works by literary superstars such as Tom Perotta and David Sedaris, among other authors.
How to Enjoy Them
Once you’ve downloaded your titles, just send them to your Kindle device or app and they’ll pop up in your library. If you have an audio version in addition to the digital copy, you can easily toggle between them and pick up wherever you left off.
How They Benefit Authors
Creatively, many of the featured authors get to explore genres for which they’re not most well-known. For example, Jacquelyn Woodson and Naima Coster, both known for their fiction, each contributed nonfiction works in the collection “The One.”
How They Benefit Readers
If you’re like me, finding something short but rewarding between library books is reason enough to celebrate. But there are many other reasons you’ll want to add these stories to your rotation. First, it’s a great way to read an author you don’t know or to try out a different genre than your usual. The experiment won’t take longer than one sitting — and doesn’t require a big cost commitment. If you’re anxiously awaiting a favorite author’s next book, you might find something by them to read while you wait. Or, you may just discover your new favorite writer.