Short stories | Lecturia

María Fernanda Ampuero: Ali

“Ali” is a short story by Ecuadorian writer María Fernanda Ampuero, published in 2018 in the book Pelea de gallos. It tells the story of Ali, a kind-hearted woman who, unlike other women in her social circle, is unusually generous and attentive to those who work in her home. However, as time goes by, her behavior begins to change in a disturbing way. Through the collective voice of the workers, the story shows domestic life from the inside and gives a glimpse of how, in that everyday space, tensions and memories accumulate, destabilizing the apparent normality of the home.

Flannery O’Connor: A Good Man Is Hard to Find

“A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a short story by Flannery O’Connor, published in 1953. A family from the southern United States embarks on a vacation trip to Florida. During the trip, the grandmother entertains her grandchildren with stories from her youth. Captivated, the children insist on taking a detour to visit an old plantation that their grandmother mentions in her stories. Despite the father’s resistance, he finally gives in to family pressure and takes a rural road suggested by his mother. This seemingly innocuous decision will lead the group to an unexpected encounter with destiny.

Arthur Conan Doyle: The Leather Funnel

“The Leather Funnel” is a Gothic short story by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in November 1902 in McClure’s magazine. A man visits his friend Lionel Dacre, a wealthy collector of strange objects and occult books, in Paris. During his stay, an ancient and enigmatic leather funnel arouses the visitor’s curiosity. Dacre, convinced that certain objects retain traces of extreme experiences and can transmit them to sensitive minds, proposes a unique experiment to his guest: to sleep next to the funnel in order to access, through sleep, revelations about his dark past.

Silvina Ocampo: The House Made of Sugar

“The House Made of Sugar” (La casa de azúcar) is a short story by Silvina Ocampo published in 1959 in the collection La furia. It tells the story of a newlywed couple who move into a house that appears to be new. The woman, Cristina, is deeply superstitious and phobic, which significantly influences her daily life. Her husband, trying to appease these obsessions, hides the true history of the house from her. As they settle in, unusual events begin to occur that gradually alter the dynamics of their relationship and their perception of their surroundings.

Julio Cortázar: Circe

“Circe” is a short story by Julio Cortázar, published in 1951 as part of the Bestiario collection. Dark rumors surround Delia Mañara, a young woman marked by the tragic deaths of her two former boyfriends. Mario, a neighbor in the neighborhood, decides to defend her from the gossip and begins to visit her, gradually entering the secretive world of the Mañaras. There, Delia attracts him with her unique culinary skills and domestic rituals, while the young man tries to unravel the enigma of a woman who seems to exert a disturbing influence on everything around her.

Edgar Allan Poe: Morella

“Morella” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in April 1835 in the Southern Literary Messenger. A man marries Morella, a woman of great erudition and a marked inclination toward metaphysics and mystical knowledge. Although he initially feels deeply attached to her, over time he experiences a growing detachment and an inexplicable aversion toward his wife, a feeling that intensifies as she languishes and her presence becomes increasingly disturbing.