I’ve been wanting to write some short stories of my own and have been trying to read some short story collections to get inspired. However, most of the stories I’ve read recently have had very sparse description and are more plot focused. And while I like the stories on their own merit, it’s not the tone I have in mind for my own stories, which makes it hard to find inspiration in these stories
Looking for something with very specific and descriptive prose/imagery (the weirder the better; I loved the prose in Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang for reference if anyone has read that). I also love it when authors play with character voice, form, style, POV, tense, etc
Preferably with morally gray characters, complex relationships between characters. By less plot-focused, I mean that the main events in the short stories should generally come from the characters themselves, not external factors (e.g. earthquake). I don’t even really care if there is a plot. If it’s just about a character doing something and reminiscing, I would love that too
Some other things I like (not required): relationship between parents and children, teenage friendships, feeling alienated from your culture, POV characters who would seem boring from the outside but have a very vivid inner life
by Classic-Asparagus