We’re college students. I get it. Sometimes there are just too many things going on to even think about reading a book, especially one that’s not a textbook. Even though it’s only three weeks into the semester (has it really only been three weeks?), it sometimes feels like free time is a rich commodity.
Luckily, there are many great short stories that encapsulate the brilliance of reading a novel without the massive time commitment. And a big plus, all the stories are available for free on the Internet, so they’re are always there when you want them. Next time you’re waiting for your class to start or while you’re grabbing a quick bite to eat, these rapid reads can be the perfect distraction.
**“[Silver Water](http://www.beyondthecouch.org/0307/silver_water_0307.htm)” by Amy Bloom**
Amy Bloom’s short story “Silver Water” was originally published in her collection “Come to Me.” In the poignant tale of her sister’s decline into severe mental illness, Bloom perfectly characterizes her love for her sister Rose, as flawed as it may be. The story encompasses her and her parents’ struggles with Rose’s disease and their amusing stories as the family tears through a near-obscene amount of therapists. While you might even find yourself laughing at the funny anecdotes and wonderfully quirky moments, at its heart, this is a story of family and the struggles they must endure together. The language used in this story illustrates a brilliant picture and is some of the best writing I have read in quite some time. I must warn you, though: When you’re reading this short story, you might want to grab a box of tissues. Either from crying laughing or sobbing in sadness, I can guarantee there’ll be some tears.
**“[The Story of an Hour](http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/hour)” by Kate Chopin**
This story couldn’t be more than two or three pages long, but it is one of the best narratives I’ve ever read. “The Story of an Hour” is one of Kate Chopin’s 1800s precursors to feminine storytelling, and it is a stunning piece about a woman, Mrs. Mallard, learning that her husband has been killed. Filled with incredible imagery and expert foreshadowing, “The Story of an Hour” is both a morose story and a tale of joy, all in a neat little package. The length of the story is likely the most incredible aspect about it — at just over 1,000 words, Chopin manages to give a contextual backstory to almost all the events in the story without it being overwhelming. She envelops the reader in Mrs. Mallard’s journey of reactions, allowing the reader to experience the main character’s near constant grief and guilt along with her. With twists, turns and a particularly heart-wrenching ending, “The Story of an Hour” is a story that absolutely can’t be overlooked.
**“[Roy Spivey](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/06/11/roy-spivey)” by Miranda July**
Originally printed in a June 2007 issue of The New Yorker, “Roy Spivey” is the story of a regular everyday woman who gets seated next to a big celebrity on a flight. Although she doesn’t mention his name in the story because of supposed “espionage,” she does mention that he is a starlet-dating Hollywood heartthrob with the letter “V” in his name. While most of us have probably wished to be seated next to a celebrity like Leonardo DeCaprio or Beyoncé on a long flight, the narrator is more curiously interested than completely star-struck. After Roy wakes up from sleep mid-flight, the narrator finds that they have a special connection. Simply and clearly written with a humorous touch, July manages to tell a lightweight story while still conveying a deeper meaning. “Roy Spivey” is a delightful and eccentric look at the way a chance meeting and lucky moment can be a touchstone for a lifetime.
**“[For Esme – With Love and Squalor](http://www.mercerislandschools.org/cms/lib3/WA01001855/Centricity/Domain/1259/for%20esme%20salinger.pdf)” by J.D. Salinger**
Written over 60 years ago for Salinger’s “Nine Stories” collection, “For Esme – With Love and Squalor” holds a modern biting wit and sharp tongue. The story followed Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye” fame, and at 15 pages, it is the lengthiest story on the list. But being a slightly longer short story doesn’t make it any less amazing. In “For Esme – With Love and Squalor”, there are a few different stories: from a mysterious woman asking about Americans, tea and fist fights, to a delightfully punk riddle-telling kid, this story encompasses many parts of a narrative that make their way together. The story is not told chronologically and switches back and forth from narrators halfway through. Aspects of Salinger’s storytelling aid in adding a unique layer of interest to it. “For Esme – With Love and Squalor” is a story that embraces the comical conversationalist as well as the grimy nature of a wartime battle. A “strangely emotional” narrative, “For Esme – With Love and Squalor” is a melancholic tale about a loss of innocence and the, well, “squalor”-filled moments that really make up real life.