Selected Shorts
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(10)
Readers & Writers
by Walter R. Brooks
read by Tony Roberts, John Shea, Blair Brown, Christina Pickles
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A boon for book lovers, this compilation features funny, fantastical and poignant stories about people with unique and passionate connections to the written word.
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(2)
Wondrous Women
by Teolinda Gersão
read by Kathleen Chalfant, Holly Hunter, Harold Gould, Jon Devries
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Strong female protagonists grace this collection celebrating women in all their incarnations, young and old: mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, lovers, widows ... and a 70-year-old nun.
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(18)
Funny Business
by Simon Rich
read by Wyatt Cenac, Isiah Sheffer, Alec Baldwin, Christina Pickles
Part of the Selected Shorts series
From wild and wacky to knee-slapping, laugh-out-loud fun, these humorous tales represent some of the best of recent seasons of the hit public radio series Selected Shorts. Comedian Wyatt Cenac gives a killer performance of Simon Rich's hilarious tale of woe from the point of view of a condom in a young man's wallet. Alec Baldwin gives a delightful over-the-top performance of James Thurber's wonderfully silly classic tale of the day everybody in a small Ohio town thought the dam broke. Joe Meno's playful and poignant People Are Becoming Clouds," slyly performed by Criminal Minds' Kirsten Vangsness, tells the story of a wife who simply laughs and turns into a puff of soft white vapor every time her husband tries to kiss her. David Rakoff reads Dave Eggers' sweet, good-humored story in which a father recounts to his son, while making dinner, how his parents saved the world together. Selected Shorts' founding host Isaiah Sheffer recounts two tales: New Yorker contributor Ian Frazier's wacky suggestion for young men today in Dating Your Mom," and David Schickler's raucous tale of a family catering company's crazy and delicious escapades in Wes Amerigo's Giant Fear." With stories that cover all types of humor, this assorted collection of memorable stories is sure to leave listeners grinning.
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The William Hurt Collection
by Tobias Wolff
read by William Wolff
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A collection of poignant, romantic and funny tales performed by Academy Award-winning actor William Hurt. This collection includes a bonus track of an exclusive interview with William Hurt. Hurt's readings are thoughtful, tender, romantic, and resonant. A treasure.
Stories in this set include:
Aleksandar Hemon's "Blind Josef Pronek" - A Bosnian man struggles to make a new life in America Richard Ford's "Communist" - A teenage boy's relationship to his single mother and her new boyfriend against the background of the stark Montana landscape Ron Carlson's "Towel Season" - A tender story of a scientist and his wife's rocky moments as he works on a tough math proof Tobias Wolff's "Nightingale" - A bullying father suddenly has doubts on his drive with his stoic son to military school to "toughen up" the boy Selected Shorts is an award-winning, one-hour program featuring readings of classic and new short fiction, recorded live at New York's Symphony Space. One of the most popular series on the airwaves, this unique show is hosted by Isaiah Sheffer and produced for radio by Symphony Space and WNYC Radio.
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Wartime Lives
by Robert Olen Butler
read by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Part of the Selected Shorts series
What happens to people's lives during times of battle and strife? From the American Revolution to the ongoing war in Iraq, the subject of this collection is how people cope with the dramatic shifts that come with war. Before Independence, a slave fights for freedom by taking up arms for the British, in WWI, a mother goes to the front lines to see her son, and in our time, a teenager in Oregon waits for e-mail from his father in the Middle East.
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Are We There Yet?
by Stuart Dybek
read by Keith Szarabajka, Mia Dillon, Andrea Marcovicci, David Rakoff
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A lot can happen on the way from one place to another, especially when an overnight flight makes for an unexpected romantic encounter between strangers seated together; a trucker finds life beyond the ranch where he grew up; and a bored Midwestern housewife tries to escape Kansas City. This anthology of tales about people in transit features Stuart Dybek's "Pet Milk", read by Keith Szarabajka; Martha Gellhorn's "Miami-New York", read by Joanna Gleason; Edward P. Jones' "An Orange Line Train to Ballston", read by Sonia Manzano; Annie Proulx's "The Trickle-Down Effect", read by James Naughton; Dorothy Thomas' "The Getaway", read by Mia Dillon; James Thurber's "A Ride with Olympy", read by David Rakoff; and Eudora Welty's "No Place for You, My Love", read by Andrea Marcovicci.
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Timeless Classics
by James Thurber
read by Isaiah Sheffer, Maria Tucci
Part of the Selected Shorts series
This 2007 Audie Award finalist features more than three hours of some of the greatest shorts stories of all time.
• James Thurber's "The Night the Ghost Got In"
performed by Isaiah Sheffer
Comic Mayhem is unleashed when a family hears a ghost in the night... and calls in the police.
• Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever"
performed by Maria Tucci
Two women reflect on romance and intrigue, long ago in Rome.
• Jack London's "Make Westing"
performed by Steven Gilborn
Danger, adventure, corruption and secrecy dog a ship as it rounds Cape Horn.
• D.H. Lawrence's "The Rocking Horse Winner"
performed by John Shea
A dark fable of a magical toy helping a little boy cope with family troubles.
• Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"
performed by Marian Seldes
In Jackson's classic nightmare of society and sacrifice, someone will be the chosen one.
• Raymond Carver's "Cathedral"
performed by James Naughton
A subtle and intimate portrait of a man during a visit from his wife's blind friend.
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New American Stories
by Aleksandar Hemon
read by Boyd Hemon
Part of the Selected Shorts series
New American Stories presents diverse stories of contemporary American life and dreams lost and found, by four of the best young, contemporary writers Jhumpa Lahiri, Sherman Alexie, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and Aleksandar Hemon, as performed by terrific stage and screen actors. All four writers have a unique perspective on the American experience which is reflected in their work. Whether they are immigrants from another country, or in the case of Sherman Alexie, a Native American, they're all writing from a voice that comes from being an outsider. They also share a well-deserved, universal praise for their work.
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Family Matters
by Various Authors
read by Various Readers
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Hilarious and colorful episodes in the lives of families... many depicted from a kid's-eye-view... are the theme for this compilation. Being part of a family is often trying, and stranger than any fiction, but never dull and always worth it in the end. Join these very different families as they face the shrinking of parents, the preemptive guilt of First Confession, the secret worlds of children, and more! Included are: Shirley Jackson's Charles Read by Lois Smith Laurie's parents are dying to meet the most misbehaved boy in school. Frank O'Connor's First Confession Read by Malachy McCourt A guilt-ridden Irish lad fears his first confession may be his last. Toure's Solomon's Big Day: A Children's Story Read by Daniel Alexander Jones A little boy named Solomon escapes into the magical world of his paintings. Grace Paley's The Loudest Voice Read by Linda Lavin This year's Christmas pageant stars a Jewish girl. Diane Leslie's A Life of Crime Read by Jill Eikenberry Love and passion, Hollywood style, from a girl's-eye-view. Etgar Keret's Pride and Joy Read by Robert Sean Leonard A young man struggles to save his shrinking parents. Rick Moody's Boys Read by B. D. Wong The world of boys.
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Travel Tales
by N. M. Kelby
read by Mia Dillon, Paul Hecht, Christina Pickles, Myra Lucretia Taylor
Part of the Selected Shorts series
This compilation features a wonderful selection of travel stories from public radio's Selected Shorts, an award-winning series of classic and contemporary short fiction read by distinguished stage and screen actors and recorded live at Peter Norton Symphony Space in New York City. Hilarity, suspense and high drama are offered up in this new mix of tales of travel to locales familiar and exotic. Take a trip in a time machine with Madame Bovary, join a father and son on a sailing voyage that goes dangerously awry, retreat to a country estate with the most eccentric hosts imaginable, and more!
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Tales of Betrayal
by John Biguenet
read by David Strathairn, John Shea, Anne Meara, B. D. Wong
Part of the Selected Shorts series
In this compilation characters make choices that define their lives and suffer consequences often dire or disquieting. Abraham prepares to slay Isaac; siblings fall in love with the same man; a Thai man hides his secret guilt from his best friend on draft selection day; delve into the secret lives of people and discover what drives them to betrayal.
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Falling In Love
by Rick Bass
read by Various Readers
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Romance is in the air, tempting the imagination. Stirring tales of love, longing and desire. A great gift for your loved ones. Rick Bass's "Fires" performed by Ted Marcoux In the Rockies, a woman sets fire to a parched field to take the plunge into the pool of love. Padgett Powell's "The Winnowing of Mrs. Schuping" performed by Christina Pickles An eccentric southern dame cleans up her act and finds love. Laurie Colwin's "The Lone Pilgrim" performed by Hope Davis A New York artist longs for love and marital domesticity. E. Nesbit's "Melisande" performed by Jane Curtin A delicious fairy tale about a princess with a terrible curse. Edna O'Brien's "Violets" performed by Fionnula Flanagan A subtle portrait of a woman caught in an impossible affair. Maile Meloy's "Travis, B." performed by William Hurt A Western love story between a lonesome cowboy and a city gal.
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Whodunit?
by C. S. Montanye
read by Fionnula Flanagan, John Shea, Hattie Wilson
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A dashing lineup of elegant crime tales and gritty hardboiled detective stories, alternately menacing and cozy, with two exotic locales, and murder in the mix. Stories in this set include: Dashiell Hammett's "The Creeping Siamese", performed by John Shea - The Continental Op gets his man C.S. Montanye's "A Shock for the Countess", performed by Fionnula Flanagan - Intrigue in the alps in this clever tale of a jewelry heist Ed McBain's, "Improvisation", performed by Isaiah Sheffer - A hilarious story of two tall and willowy sisters up to no good Shirley Jackson's "The Summer People", performed by René Auberjonois - Spooky goings-on at a country cottage Nobel Prize-winner Nadine Gordimer's "Country Lovers", performed by Hattie Winston - Forbidden love on a South African farm Louise Erdrich's "Gleason", performed by Robert Sean Leonard - A simple plot goes terribly awry Selected Shorts is an award-winning, one-hour program featuring readings of classic and new short fiction, recorded live at New York's Symphony Space. One of the most popular series on the airwaves, this unique show is hosted by Isaiah Sheffer and produced for radio by Symphony Space and WNYC Radio.
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Lots of Laughs!
by Nicholson Baker
read by Thomas Gibson, Charles Keating, Christina Pickles, David Rakoff
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Selected Short's most popular volume! Over three hours of stories to tickle your funny bone. Nicholson Baker's "Subsoil" performed by Thomas Gibson A darkly comic thriller about a tractor historian besieged by man-eating potatoes. David Schickler's "Jamaica" performed by Isaiah Sheffer A man with his head stuck between the banisters has no choice but to listen in on his wife's "Gorgon Book Club." Neil Gaiman's "Chivalry" performed by Christina Pickles A delicious tale of an elderly British matron who buys the Holy Grail at a rummage sale. Leonard Michaels' "Nachman from Los Angeles" performed by David Rakoff A wonderfully silly tale of misadventure on a college campus. Etgar Keret's "Fatso" performed by John Guare An offbeat romance with a very comic nightly ritual.
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Baseball!
by Roger Angell
read by Roger Angell, A. Bartlett Giamatti, Jack Davidson, Arthur French
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A compilation, featuring more than three hours of some of the greatest short stories of all time, brought to life by distinguished stage and screen actors. Roger Angell and A. Bartlett Giamatti's "Play by Play" John Updike's "Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu" read by Jack Davidson - Ted Williams' miraculous Fenway farewell. Rolfe Humphries' "Polo Grounds" read by Fritz Weaver Robert Francis' "Pitcher" and "Base Stealer" read by Arthur French Robert Fitzgerald's "Cobb Would Have Caught It" read by Jonathan Hadary Roger Angell's "Game Six" read by the author - The classic description of the greatest game ever played. Yusef Komunyakaa's "Glory" read by Isaiah Sheffer W.P. Kinsella's "The Thrill of the Grass" read by John Shea - Longing for the good old days, a true baseball fan starts a quiet revolt against artificial turf. Ken Kalfus' "The Joy and Melancholy Baseball Trivia Quiz" read by Jack Davidson - A sophisticated comic flair, describes a number of entirely fictional baseball records. T.C. Boyle's "The Hector Quesadilla Story" read by Jerry Zaks - The funniest baseball story ever written - after 30 innings, the game still ain't over! A. Bartlett Giamatti's "The Green Fields of the Mind" read by the author - The reasons why we'll always love baseball.
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Even More Laughs
by T. Coraghessan Boyle
read by Jerry Zaks, Alec Baldwin, Christine Baranski, Marian Seldes
Part of the Selected Shorts series
From silly chuckles to rueful ironic glee to deep cosmic laughter, this new volume of humorous tales samples the best of recent seasons of the popular public radio series Selected Shorts.
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Behaving Badly
by George Saunders
read by Jefferson Mays, Michael Imperioli, Anjelica Huston, Christina Pickles
Part of the Selected Shorts series
The award winning series of classic and contemporary fiction returns with a collection of darkly funny short stories by the likes of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Aimee Bender, A.M. Homes, Nathan Englander, Kim, Addonizio, and George Saunders. Readers include Anjelica Huston, Neil Gaiman, Michael Imperioli, Harris Yulin, Christina Pickles, Jefferson Mays, and Christine Ebersole.
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Poe!
by Edgar Allan Poe
read by Terrance Mann, Edgar Allan Auberjonois
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Poe! is a deliciously gripping sampling of the mad imagination of 19th century gothic master of horror and suspense, murder and mayhem, Edgar Allan Poe. The creepy, breathtaking, and soulful classic tales include: The Masque of the Red Death," the terrifying and ironic story of a nobleman who attempts to seal himself and his friends away from a terrible plague raging outside, performed by Fionnula Flanagan (Transamerica); The Pit and the Pendulum," a hair-raising first-person account of a man in a torture chamber during the Spanish Inquisition, performed to a fare-thee-well by Stephen Lang (Avatar); The Black Cat," in which a man's dead pet comes back to haunt him, performed by Tony winner Rene Auberjonois (Boston Legal). Plus there are dreamy, mesmerizing and haunting readings of Poe's wonderfully-atmospheric best-loved poems, The Bells," The Raven" and Annabel Lee."
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Edith Wharton
by Edith Wharton
read by Kathleen Chalfant, Edith Tucci
Part of the Selected Shorts series
Selected Shorts has toured The Mount, the stately and elegant home of the great American writer Edith Wharton, for the last several summers, presenting Broadway and Hollywood actors reading stories by Wharton and others. Selected Shorts now presents a collection of four of Edith Wharton's short stories, recorded live at the Mount, and featuring acclaimed actresses Kathleen Chalfant, Christina Pickles, Maria Tucci, and Brenda Wehle.
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For Better and for Worse
by Sherman Alexie
read by Keir Dullea, Joanna Gleason, Frances Sternhagen, Harold Gould
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A collection that anyone who's taken that walk down the aisle can relate to! Moving stories about married couples' powerful and complicated loves.
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American Classics
by Amy Tan
read by David Strathairn, Stockard Channing, Freda Foh Shen
Part of the Selected Shorts series
A compilation of classic tales by great American writers performed by terrific actors, with a lineup including Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and PEN Award winners.
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Pets!
by Gail Godwin
read by Various Readers
Part of the Selected Shorts series
The cast of characters in this compilation is a menagerie of animals... cats, dogs, birds, even a dragon... and their owners. These stories look at the myriad of experiences, and adventures, that pet ownership can bring. Join a medieval scholar who discovers that not all mythical creatures are extinct, stalk the night with the Cat of Frankenstein, kick that caffeine habit with a class of kindergartners, dance along with a divorcee and her dog, and more!
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