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 a flash fiction collection by Kevin Brockmeier.

All the stories involve ghosts in some way, but they range from scary to funny, charming to thought-provoking. And they’re short: Many of the stories unfold in 500 words, which Lent says makes this book easy to pick up for a quick story — and hard to put down. It’s full of fascinating first-lines and clever wording that kept her reading just one more, over and over.

Here’s one opening she shared from story No. 35 "New Life, New Civilizations:" 

Lent said she couldn’t resist continuing after an opening paragraph like that, particularly when the story resolves in a page and a half. 

Lent also recommends a previous novel by Brockmeier, “The Brief History of the Dead,” which also has ghosts. Published in 2006, it’s about the aftermath of a pandemic. 

Arts and Culture

The Thread® - Books and Literary News

Ask a bookseller

Emily Bright

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Lia Lent of WordsWorth Books in Little Rock, Ark., recommended “The Ghost Variations,” a flash fiction collection by Kevin Brockmeier. All the stories involve ghosts in some way, but they range from scary to funny, charming to thought-provoking. And they’re short.

Ask a bookseller recommends very short stories — all about ghosts

"The Ghost Variations,” by Kevin Brockmeier.

Ask a bookseller recommends very short stories — all about ghosts

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