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The Lottery and Other Stories (1949)

by Shirley Jackson

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
3,608923,484 (4.02)217
A powerful collection of short stories by Shirley Jackson"The Lottery," one of the most terrifying stories of the twentieth century, created a sensation when it was first published in the New Yorker. "Powerful and haunting," and "nights of unrest" were typical reader responses. This collection, the only one to appear during Jackson's lifetime, unites "The Lottery" with twenty-four equally unusual stories. Together they demonstrate her remarkable range-from the hilarious to the truly horrible-and power as a storyteller.… (more)
  1. 30
    What We Talk about When We Talk about Love by Raymond Carver (whitewavedarling)
    whitewavedarling: Similar styles and character types, though Jackson's stories are a bit more developed in regard to character and plot. Both authors have a tendency of working toward endings that leave a reader making final decisions instead of tying everything up fully with a more traditional ending.… (more)
  2. 10
    The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty (whitewavedarling)
    whitewavedarling: Welty and Jackson work with similar character types and have similar themes and writing styles. Other than those fans who enjoy Welty primarily for her station in Southern Lit., I'd say that fans of one writer will likely enjoy the short stories of the other.… (more)
  3. 10
    Death in Spring by Mercè Rodoreda (bluepiano)
    bluepiano: There's a likeness between 'The Lottery' and Rodoreda's novel inasmuch as both are about disquieting traditional rituals in isolated villages.The latter is of course longer & so more complex, and it's strikingly memorable.
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» See also 217 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 89 (next | show all)
Incredible all the way through. Shirley Jackson is described, both generally and in the blurbs on the book, as a master of early horror, and that's true in a sense. But Jackson's horror isn't Lovecraftian, nor Kingian - Shirley Jackson writes a simpler, more mundane horror. She imagines a world where all of your nagging, anxious thoughts are true: your neighbors do hate you behind your back, being fired from your job was personal, and nothing can be relied on in a world that will smile to your face but scowl and forget you when you turn away. ( )
  DarthFisticuffs | Feb 25, 2024 |
With a touch of the darkness in the stories of Flannery O'Connor, these stories leave you thinking you've just been to the Twilight Zone. ( )
  jemisonreads | Jan 22, 2024 |
Two stars because short story anthologies are often not an interesting format for me. Shirley Jackson is so good at writing horror that -all- of these came off as unsettling at least. Two of her stories are ones other authors have turned into funnier works: Louis Sachar's Wayside School series has a character named Beebee Gunn blame her bratty behavior on her brother, Ray, who turns out not to exist. Sachar also re-told one of her other stories as funny but I can't remember which. I view it as a homage to Jackson, not stealing plot or anything. I read this collection, wondering if I'd be interested in short stories by her. Short stories...I will probably read an anthology from time to time. I really wanted to read "The Lottery" in particular. It was made out to be far more horrifying than it actually was. There was a lot of implying things and subtle clues. Multiple people have insisted that the entire "Hunger Games" series is an elaborate retelling of "The Lottery." The actual reaping clearly is. But the actual Games, the throwing in previous victors in the second book, and "Mockingjay" in its entirety, have nothing to do with Jackson's "The Lottery." I knew about the twist and what was really going on before I read this short story. Somehow it was still super unsettling. If I had gone in not knowing what "Lottery" was about, I may not have understood. Or maybe I'd be even more horrified. Still unsettling. I'm glad I got to read this! ( )
  iszevthere | Nov 5, 2023 |
Buenísimo, sobre todo la intriga constante de no saber que esta sucediendo durante las pocas páginas que tiene. ( )
  mahebelen | Aug 25, 2023 |
This book was really frustrating to read. Every story just...didn't have a point? Every character felt emotionless and shallow. I read almost 300 pages and then decided to skip to The Lottery. Even that story, which is super famous, felt flat and characterless. I'm not a big fan of short stories to begin with, but I think that Jackson's writing truly shines in her novels. These stories just feel soulless. ( )
  LynnMPK | Jun 29, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 89 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (6 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Jackson, ShirleyAuthorprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Buckley, LynnCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Grube, AnetteTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Homes, A. M.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Leube, AnnaContributorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Williamson, LeslieCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For my mother and father
First words
He was just tight enough and just familiar enough with the house to be able to go out into the kitchen alone, apparently to get ice, but actually to sober up a little; he was not quite enough a friend of the family to pass out on the living room couch.
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Disambiguation notice
PLEASE NOTE: This work is a COLLECTION of stories by Shirley Jackson that includes "The Lottery" and many other stories.  It is NOT to be used for stand-alone copies of "The Lottery" (a short story) or for briefer collections or compilations.  It has been printed in several editions, and I have kept with this work books that have the ISBN number of the collection even if only titled "The Lottery."
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A powerful collection of short stories by Shirley Jackson"The Lottery," one of the most terrifying stories of the twentieth century, created a sensation when it was first published in the New Yorker. "Powerful and haunting," and "nights of unrest" were typical reader responses. This collection, the only one to appear during Jackson's lifetime, unites "The Lottery" with twenty-four equally unusual stories. Together they demonstrate her remarkable range-from the hilarious to the truly horrible-and power as a storyteller.

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Unsettling stories
that make one think about the
monster in us all.
(passion4reading)

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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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