Intellectual Masochism

I don't like short stories. And even though English teachers across the globe might twitch in horror, I don't know many people that do. Except for my beloved P.G. Wodehouse, most short story writers seem to feel a burden to send a message or social critique or statement on the darkness of either their souls or everyone around them in one fell punch. And since I'm not a masochist ( unless it comes to my back being scratched or weaving needles in and out of my palm or liking the feel of a knife's blade or...) ok, since I'm not usually a masochist, I don't want to be repeatedly slugged in the head. At least books couch their message in slightly more subtle terms. That is not saying that that books aren't dark or fatalistic but that doesn't seem to be the sole purpose of a majority of books.


Novellas are almost as bad: too short to be legitimate books and too long to be short stories, they try to straddle both worlds. I can't seem to invest myself in a story that I know is going to end soon. I find myself racing along to just find out what the "point" is that the author is trying to make; an attitude I rarely take with books.

However, perhaps I've been reading the wrong sort of short stories and novellas. If anyone out there has suggestions, I'd be happy to give them another try.