It is not often that I read short stories, but I was given a book by Jhumpa Lahiri: Interpreter of Maladies. It is a wonderful collection of stories connecting first-generation Americans with their culture from India. I highly recommend this book. Lahiri is an engaging writer. She can build character and plot is limited number of pages.
Could you recommend a collection of your favorite short stories???
Short stories
Paulette, one of my all-time favorite short story writers was Flannery O'Connor. Her stories are quite unusual, and I found them fascinating. I read them years ago, and they made a big impression on me. At the same time, I read a book of her letters, in which she sometimes discussed the story she was working on. I would read the story after reading her letter(s) about it, which made it especially interesting.