How to build a month-long reading route through postcolonial short fiction

I like reading routes—small, deliberate itineraries you can follow that bring you to unexpected places. A month-long reading route through postcolonial short fiction is one of my favourite ways to travel without leaving home: it’s compact, varied, and full of moments that prompt you to pause and think. Below I’ll share a reading plan, why I chose each stop, pacing suggestions, pairing ideas (music, essays, snacks—because why not?), and prompts for reflection. This is meant to be flexible: treat it as a map, not a chain. Read in order, skip ahead, or linger where you want.

Why short fiction?

Short stories are especially fertile for postcolonial work. They can hold a single rupture, a memory, an uncanny everyday moment—perfect for exploring displacement, language, and layered histories. You can finish a story over a cup of tea, then carry its mood with you into the rest of your day. For a month, that immediacy helps build momentum while offering enough variation so the themes don’t become repetitive.

How I structured the month

I recommend reading five to six short stories a week. That rhythm keeps things manageable and allows time for reflection. Each week has a loose theme—origins, urban afterlives, language and voice, gender and family, and diasporic return. I’ve chosen writers from different geographies and eras, with a mix of canonical names and voices that often fly under the radar.

Week-by-week route (suggested readings)

Below is a simple weekly plan. If a particular story collection isn’t easily available in your area, many of these stories appear in anthologies or can be found online; I’ll note editions where helpful.

Note: the list above is intentionally eclectic. Postcolonial short fiction resists tidy boundaries; some writers are diasporic, others write from post-independence contexts, and many intersect with speculative traditions. Look for the connective tissue—how histories, language, and power shape intimate moments.

Pacing and reading tips

Read one story a day or set aside two days per story if you want slow, deep reading. Keep a small notebook or digital note where you record one line you can’t forget, one question, and one image. That’s enough to scaffold conversation with friends or to return to later.

When a story unsettles you, don’t rush on. Reread the opening paragraph. Pay attention to what’s left unsaid—silence is often where postcolonial narratives do heavy lifting.

Pairings to deepen the route

Pair each week with short non-fiction pieces or audio:

• Week 1: Pair with essays on colonial encounter—Edward Said’s “Orientalism” excerpts or short pieces by Laila Lalami.
• Week 2: Pair with city soundscapes—create a playlist with Afrobeats, South Asian film scores, or calypso to evoke the urban atmospheres.
• Week 3: Pair with interviews or craft-focused essays by the writers—many authors discuss voice and language in accessible interviews.
• Week 4: Pair with oral histories or recorded family stories (podcasts like The Moth sometimes feature diasporic narratives).

How to choose editions and translations

Short fiction can be scattered across collections and anthologies. I favour editions that include author notes or helpful chronology. For non-English writers, look for translators acknowledged for sensitivity to voice—examples include Deborah Smith (Korean), Humphrey Davies (Arabic), and Jhumpa Lahiri’s translations of Italian. If possible, read translations alongside any available author interviews where the writer discusses choices of language.

Discussion prompts to keep you reading thoughtfully

These are quick questions you can use alone or in a reading group:

• How does the story frame historical rupture? Is it explicit or folded into everyday life?
• What role does language play—especially when characters code-switch or invent words?
• Where does nostalgia appear? Is it restorative, destructive, or complicated?
• Which sensory details stick with you, and what might they reveal about belonging or estrangement?
• Does the story end with an answer, a question, or an image? How does that shape your interpretation?

Practical notes for readers

If you’re building a shared list for a book group, use platforms like Goodreads or a simple Google Doc to track which editions participants have. Libraries and inter-library loans are often the easiest way to assemble eclectic collections. Also: local independent bookshops (I’ve found mine through small presses like Peepal Tree or Jacaranda) sometimes curate themed bundles—ask!

Finally, let the route be porous. Add a poetry pamphlet mid-week if a line echoes a story. Swap a story for a longer novella if you’re captivated by a particular writer. The aim is curiosity, not completion. If you want, I can put together a printable one-page schedule or a longer table with edition details and links to buy or borrow specific titles—tell me which you'd prefer and I’ll make it.