“For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”

Thus, the anecdote goes, began-and ended-the (über)short story by Ernest Hemingway, the fascinating result of a $10 bet. This was the principal motivation behind Smith Magazine‘s call for memoirs in six words; eventually, the best entries were published in the bestseller, “Not Quite What I Was Planning.” In anticipation of Valentine’s Day, there’s a new collection of treasures published in “Six Word Memoirs of Love and Heartbreak by Writers Famous and Obscure.”

Here’s a taste from the LA Times blog:

It hurts even worse in French.–Derek Pollard
I loved the idea of you. — Audrey Adu-Appiah
Tomorrow, maybe, I’ll sell the ring. — Matt Tanner
Inevitably, his obituary didn’t mention me. — R. Sue Dodea
I thought we had more time. — Joe Hill
Wonder-filled, and never a dull torment. — Diane Ackerman
He is married. I am not. — Hope Truhart
We’ll break up before this prints. — Porochista Khakpour
What once were two, are one. — George Saunders

Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak from SMITHmag on Vimeo.

More excerpts from the Reader’s Digest:

In hindsight, I’d still choose you. — Natana Gill
Love: eight pounds and six ounces.– Kenny Clark
Marriage, children, empty nest: Now what?– Oliver House
I’m your one that got away.– Mary Elizabeth Williams
He e-mailed again, and I deleted.– Molly Antopol
May I have the last dance?– Robert Hass
He told me he was single.– Esther Newberg
Moved in. No ring. Moved out.– Melissa Lafsky
Portland, she decided; I, the Bronx.– Dominic Preziosi
I searched him on Google. Nothing.– Cybele O’Brien

My own personal contribution (and I bet $10 it’s in the book somewhere): It was never meant to be.

Yours?

Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan.

Tags: book review, French, Google, heartbreak, Hemingway, LA Times, love, Reader's Digest