14 Prose And Poetry Collections Worth Diving Into

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 21 June 2018

Not everyone has enough time to dedicate to a series of novels. For them, short fiction and poems are a great opportunity. Whether you want to focus on how word choice impacts your emotions or get sucked into a relatable experience without the commitment, something on this list will be perfect for your next read. When you click links from this website, we may receive advertising revenue to support our research. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

Great Poetry & Prose Collections

  1. Subway Dancer and Other Stories by Catherine Ryan Hyde
  2. The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
  3. Knockemstiff by Donald Ray Pollock
  4. the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace
  5. Tenth of December by George Saunders
  6. Chasers of the Light by Tyler Knott Gregson
  7. The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God by Etgar Keret
  8. No Matter The Wreckage by Sarah Kay
  9. Word Puppets by Mary Robinette Kowal
  10. Devotions by Mary Oliver
  11. The Devil and the Deep by Ellen Datlow
  12. From Dark Places by Emma Newman
  13. Pessimism for Beginners by Sophie Hannah
  14. Pump Six and Other Stories by Paolo Bacigalupi

Are Our Brains Hardwired To Love Poetry?

In Depth

Prose and poetry are short forms of literature that are very interesting to dive into, especially when you are not in the mood to read long novels. In no particular order, here are 15 prose and poetry collections that will make you fall in love with every word.

#1: "Subway Dancer and Other Stories" by Catherine Ryan Hyde. This book contains short stories that are inspirational and hopeful. They are light, realistic, and unique. It's something that is very easy to read, relatable, and full of life lessons all at the same time. Some of the stories that readers are going to discover are "Witness to Breath" and "Disappearances." The author did her best to give life to every character and to speak to her readers through her unique voice.

#2: "The Sun and Her Flowers" by Rupi Kaur. At 24, Kaur was already called one of the best poets of her generation by big names such as USA Today, Bustle, and The Times London. Her previous book, "Milk and Honey," was a huge success and her second book "The Sun and Her Flowers" is no different. It contains verses that will greatly resonate with readers. It has different themes than the author's first book, but her strong voice and brave writing style continues.

At 24, Kaur was already called one of the best poets of her generation by big names such as USA Today, Bustle, and The Times London.

#3: "Knockemstiff" by Donald Ray Pollock. The little town of Knockemstiff, Ohio might not be famous, but Donald Ray Pollock found a way to give life to his hometown through fiction. The thought-provoking stories showcase the author's dark sense of humor throughout the book.

#4: "the princess saves herself in this one" by Amanda Lovelace blends lore and life lessons, which results in a powerful mixture. It discusses issues that aren't incredibly common in other poetry books, such as depression, abuse, and anorexia. It is not just about rhyming words, but also about the message that the author wants to give to her readers.

#5: "Tenth of December: Stories" by George Saunders. Saunders created a stunning work of literature with the stories inside this book. Each one provides a new reading experience. His funny stories and writings about various topics like class issues, medications, and business speak are worth diving into.

His funny stories and writings about various topics like class issues, medications, and business speak are worth diving into.

#6: "Chasers of the Light: Poems from the Typewriter Series" by Tyler Knott Gregson. The goal of this collection is to have readers get lost and travel back to the past with typewritten verses that will make you feel warm inside. Tyler's poems are simple but are full of emotions.

#7: "The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God and Other Stories" by Etgar Keret. If you can handle short stories that are slightly out of the ordinary, then this prose collection by Etgar Keret might be your next read. The author writes humorous and dark short stories that adventurous readers will enjoy. It has plots that are full of twists and turns. You will find flawed characters that will make you see the uniqueness of Keret's narrations.

#8: "No Matter the Wreckage" by Sarah Kay. One of the most famous spoken word poets of her generation, Kay is known for poems that will change your perspective on life. "No Matter the Wreckage" is her second published poetry book. It includes poems about love, family, and even romance between inanimate objects.

One of the most famous spoken word poets of her generation, Kay is known for poems that will change your perspective on life.

#9: "Word Puppets" by Mary Robinette Kowal. Weird plot lines are fun to read because they take you to a new universe. That is what readers will find in this book. The author explores various genres like fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and humor, so the reader will never get bored.

#10: "Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver" is a compilation of the greatest works of Mary Oliver, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet from Ohio. She personally selected all of the poems inside the book, so it serves as a testament to the message that she wants to impart to her audience. It includes poems that she wrote back when she started publishing in 1963, all the way up to 2015.

#11: "The Devil and the Deep: Horror Stories of the Sea" by Ellen Datlow. Ellen and various award-winning writers such as Stephen Graham and Christopher Golden explore the common human fear of the deep sea.

Ellen and various award-winning writers such as Stephen Graham and Christopher Golden explore the common human fear of the deep sea.

Backed up by her experience as an editor of short fiction compilations, Datlow was able to create a collection that will make readers feel the fear the characters are feeling, without having to go out into the deep seas.

#12: "From Dark Places" by Emma Newman. This is Emma Newman's first-ever anthology of stories, and it opens everyone up to a universe where the darkest sides of humans exist alongside the darkest beings on Earth. Even though this is her first attempt at a collection, she manages to drag her readers into the world she created and immerse them in her dark stories.

#13: "Pessimism for Beginners" by Sophie Hannah. Sophie utilizes observational humor in her works, injecting whatever she writes about with witty remarks. As a result, her poems are able to help readers view life in a lighthearted way, making it a very good read for those dealing with sadness and heartache.

Sophie utilizes observational humor in her works, injecting whatever she writes about with witty remarks.

#14: "Pump Six and Other Stories." Paolo Bacigalupi's best short works are featured in this book. They are science fiction stories that serve to introduce readers into the universes that Paolo has created since he started writing.

Social commentaries and political issues are presented in his award-winning fictional tales, making readers view them in an entirely different and very engaging light. Some of the stories inside the anthology such as "Yellow Card Man" and "The Calorie Man" have been nominated for various awards, making the book a collection that science fiction buffs should seek out.