I’d like to read at least one collection of short stories every month this year. In addition to the collections already on my stands, I have my eye on the following books, a couple of which I’ve already read this year:

1.  Curfew Chronicles by Jennifer Rahim – I’ve fallen behind in my reading of Caribbean Literature. I intend to compile a list of ten books to help me catch up a bit.  In the meantime, I went looking for the longlist of the OCM Bocas Prize (for Caribbean Literature) and found three short story collections in the fiction category.  For sentimental reasons, I picked the Trinidadian book which “is a series of linked short stories unfolding over a period of twenty-four hours, with a cast of interconnected characters from all levels of society.”
2. Elsewhere, Home by Leila Aboulela –  from the author of Minaret, The Kindness of Enemies and Lyric Alley.
3. Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado – This debut collection is said to combine horror, science fiction and fairy tales.  The collection made a splash in 2017. Finalist and winner of several awards. Mentions and influences of Marquez, Shirley Jackson, Calvino etc. I’m intrigued.
4. Insurrections by Rion Amilcar Scott – another debut collection. I came across a mention of it by Daniel José Older, a writer I follow on Twitter.  Scott mentioned Edward P. Jones in an interview and that sealed it for me. I don’t mind admitting that I’m impressionable lol. Name-dropping one of my favorite writers goes a long way with me!
5. Soweto, Under the Apricot Tree by Niq Mhlongo – I met Niq when he came to Accra for the Pa Gya Lit Fest.  He is such a nice person.  Plus, he’s good friends with Zukiswa Wanner whom I adore. So more than sold.  Also, my reading of contemporary South African literature is abysmal and disgraceful. It needs fixing pronto. This collection is Mhlongo’s fifth book. I have one of his novel, Way Back Home, on my shelves already.
6. Tender by Sofia Samatar – 2018 is the year I finally read a Sofia Samatar book. Say Amen! I’ve had her award-wining fantasy novel, A Stranger in Olondria, on my wishlist for ever.
7. The Complete Stories by Clarice Lispector – 645 pages of Lispector glory. I’m not new to her works and I’m a huge fan.  This collection is, for me, a must-have, must-read work by the greatest Brazilian writer ever. Translated from the Portuguese by Katrina Dodson.
8. The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen – Nguyen’s first book, The Sympathizers, won the Pulitzer Prize.  I’ve decided my intro to his work will be this collection.
9. The World Goes On by László Krasznahorkai – His name will appear in the list of contenders for the Nobel prize this year and I figure I should know what I’m talking about. (hahaha).  Truly, he’s been on my wishlist for a while and I’ll start with his stories. Translated by John Batki, Ottilie Mulzet and George Szirtes
10. Things We Lost in the Fire by Marina Enriquez – Stories set in Argentina. I don’t recall what brought the collection to my attention but here it is.
11. What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah – I’ve finished this wonderful collection. A review is coming soonish.
12. What is Not Yours is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi – I’ve resolved to start reading Oyeyemi. I have another of her books, Boy, Snow, Bird, on my shelves.