Two dazzling short stories, by 2 American masters.  For  Joyce Carol Oates this was her first or second published short story. Region of Ice  is an amazing and luminous story — read it tonite.  Joyce Carol Oates

One day I heard John Cheever’s

the late John Cheever

The Five-Forty-Eight read on a New Yorker Magazine broadcast.  It was brilliant, even feminist, and you can read it here.

Of course my current favourite is our very own Canadian Margaret Atwood.  Her short stories soar in every way. This one, the title story in this book,  The Stone Mattress is outstanding, macabre and oh NOT so gentle.  Read it here !