Short Story SubClub anyone?

[King Mob]

I was wondering if anyone else would like to make a subgroup in the Forum Book Club for the reading and discussion of short stories, maybe one every two weeks or even monthly, with the same proceedings of the Book Club. Maybe this will attract other members who wish to join but don't always have the time to read the book of the month. I don't know, just thinking aloud.

Comments and thoughts are most welcome.

[spookymulder93]

I have a couple of Short Story collections so I'd be up for it.

Everything that Rises Must Converge

[Drkshadow03]

I'd be interested in joining. Are we going to do a single short story? Or a whole collection by a single author or an anthology containing multiple authors? Are we going to stick to "classics" or will we venture off into genre fiction like themed Sci-fi anthologies?

[DonovanTalbot]

A great idea, I'd be interested! :D

[MaineTim]

Sounds like fun! Off hand, I'd guess starting at twice a month would be fine, depending on how "short" the stories turn out to be, and then adjust up or down if needed, as folks get a feel for how it's working. Keep two or three stories planned ahead so folks have time to acquire them. My own preference would be for one or two stories by a range of authors, rather than a collection of one author at a time, but either way the relatively short commitment to each work is definitely appealing, given the amount of stuff I already have piled up to read. :brickwall

[spookymulder93]

How about we start with The Metamorphosis by Kafka?

That's a pretty well known one and so people shouldn't have a hard time getting the story and it would be good for a test run to see how it works out.

[Pensive]

I am all for it too!
I was pretty determined to go with the Forum Book Club this month but due to a really busy routine couldn't visit litnet let alone read a book and discuss it! I feel a bit embarrassed about it but I sure think a Short Story Club would be of big use! :)

[King Mob]

Excellent! This could really turn into something good!

OK, I'm for reading short stories of all kinds and genres. What we could do, improvising as we are, is imitate the Book Club proceedings.
I think we should read one story every two weeks and see how it turns out, starting in August if we can.
We start the discussion of the first story on the 1st and for the second one on the 16th.

We make ten nominations (The Metamorphosis by Kafka is the first one, a sort of "long" short story).
We vote (I don't really know how to put a poll, but we'll figure).
And the two most voted are the ones we'll read, the first one the first fortnight, the second the second.

Now, as regards how to get the stories, there's always the ebook... i feel a little illegal saying this. But since it's just one story...

For my part I hereby nominate Me and Miss Mandible by Donald Barthelme.

[stlukesguild]

Me and Miss Mandible!!! I absolutely love that twisted little story! I'd like to suggest Tomaso Landolfi's Gogol's Wife... but I doubt many people have access to the story and I don't see it on line... so instead I'll nominate Nathaniel Hawthorne's Rappaccini's Daughter.

[antiprefix]

Sounds like a splendid idea. I recommend the short stories within The Boat by Nam Le. I also recommend Guy De Maupassant's stories; they are fantastic.

[OrphanPip]

Hmm, OK how about "The Other Side of the Hedge" by E.M. Forster. I have this in print but a google search found it pretty easily online too.

Edit: Also, I think O'Connor's "Everything that Rises Must Converge" was the first nomination. I think I have that one hanging around somewhere too.

[The Comedian]

This is a great idea, and I'll be a happy participant as well. And I do think that reading a single story at a time is a good idea and that having access to these stories in some electronic format: ebook, free online (past copyright), etc. . .will make for much easier access to the stories and, as a consequence, greater participation.

[King Mob]

Ok then, here are the nominations so far:

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (spookymulder93 nominated this one after Everything That Rises Must Converge, we'll go with this one then, unless he wants to change it for the first one)

2. Me and Miss Mandible by Donald Barthelme

3. The Other Side of the Hedge by E.M. Forster

4. Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Also antiprefix recommended stories in general (Maupassant and Nam Le), if he sticks with only one we'll add it.

Do you think it's ok to put 10 nominations? maybe less will be more productive since we aren't many yet. Maybe 6? And we'll vote from them.

[Scheherazade]

All right, I'll play too.

Would like to nominate "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" by J. D. Salinger. Read this some time ago but have never discussed it with anyone. I am sure it'd make interesting group reading.

[Sapphire]

I'm game :hurray:

How about a bit of horror? I'm interested in anything by Poe, so maybe somebody who has actually read a short story by Poe could recommend one? :blush:

Maybe (later) we could pick some from this list: Your favourite short Stories (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54445). It might also be a possibility to ask the person who posted a favourite there for a little introduction - that way it might be easier to pick than just on title :).
Just an idea.

[spookymulder93]

Ok then, here are the nominations so far:

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (spookymulder93 nominated this one after Everything That Rises Must Converge, we'll go with this one then, unless he wants to change it for the first one)


I'll stick with The Metamorphosis because I plan on reading it today. lol.

[King Mob]

Nominations:

1. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

2. Me and Miss Mandible by Donald Barthelme

3. The Other Side of the Hedge by E.M. Forster

4. Rappaccini's Daughter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

5. A Perfect Day for Bananafish by J. D. Salinger


Ok, three more nominations and we vote until the 31st, agree?

[OrphanPip]

I nominated "The Other Side of the Hedge" by Forster back a few post.

Edit: nvm I see that you've added it. I'm apparently blind ;)

edit2: On topic, ya that seems like a fine system.

[NeiljFraser]

Nice idea. How about some James Joyce - "The Dead", for example

[Virgil]

This is a great idea. Actually I think I might have suggested it somewhere a couple of years ago. I'm in! How about I nominate Gogol's "The Overcoat."

[Veho]

I nominate Gigi by Colette.

[King Mob]

We've got the eight nominees! Start voting! Spread the word!

Remember, we'll read the two most voted, one for each half of the month.

[Veho]

Not many votes yet...
I think everybody should vote for 'Gigi'. :D

[Virgil]

Ok, I went with Bananafish too. It's actually a good summer story, except for ...

[aliengirl]

Wonderful idea! I've voted for Bananafish by Salinger. I've read Catcher in the Rye and I'd like to read Salinger's short story.

[LMK]

I'm interested. I voted for The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, but will read what is decided upon. In time, of course we can read them all.

Is there a deadline for voting, reading, beginning discussion?

[OrphanPip]

I'm interested. I voted for The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, but will read what is decided upon. In time, of course we can read them all.

Is there a deadline for voting, reading, beginning discussion?

I think it was set for August 1st. You'd then have up to August 16th, to read and comment on the story. Then the second highest vote getter would be discussed until the end of the month.

[King Mob]

Only two more days to go...

[Dark Muse]

Too bad I did not see this thread earlier, but it sounds really cool. That is a tough choice I am torn between A Perfect Day For Bannafish, one of my favorite stories, or reading something I haven't read yet.

[King Mob]

The poll is now closed, though I don't know how to close it. Next time I think I'll put that timer thing.

We'll read A Perfect Day for Bananafish on the first fortnight, and The Metamorphosis on the second one. I just started another thread for Banana.

[LMK]

I know we still have a few days left for discussion on Bananafish, which has been great, in my opinion.

However, I have a question, the next up is Metamorphosis. Are we all going to read the same translation? Wouldn't that be easier for discussion purposes? If so, which one?

[Virgil]

I know we still have a few days left for discussion on Bananafish, which has been great, in my opinion.

However, I have a question, the next up is Metamorphosis. Are we all going to read the same translation? Wouldn't that be easier for discussion purposes? If so, which one?

I think it's best we all read what's readily available to us. I have a copy of the story somewhere. Hopefully I'll find it, but I can't see buying another one from a different translator.

[Dark Muse]

I think it's best we all read what's readily available to us. I have a copy of the story somewhere. Hopefully I'll find it, but I can't see buying another one from a different translator.

Yes I agree (uh oh is that a sign of Aramgeddon? :biggrin5: ) I do not think that having different translations will really be a problem in the discussion of the story, and I already have a copy of it in a colletion of stories I have, so I am not going to go out of the way to find another version of the story.

[LMK]

There is one on-line translated by Edwin and Willa Muir; revised by Arthur S. Wensinger (see link below), but if you don't think it's an issue then we'll just read what's handy. I guess the Kafka thread made me wonder if we are going to be reading the author's work or the interpretation of the translator.

http://www.kafka-franz.com/metamorphosis.htm

[Rores28]

Should we start making nominations for next month?

[LMK]

I think that's a good idea. Since we are almost finished with Banana Fish and will move to Metamorphosis on the 15th, perhaps we should look at something for next month?

Rores28, do you have a nomination?

Do we need to start a new thread to have a poll, or just count the votes in the thread?

Any opinions?

[OrphanPip]

Gah, it took me like a half hour to dig up my copy of Kafka's short stories, it was tucked in between a text on human physiology and a work book of introductory German, how it got there is a mystery to me.

Anyway, it would be a good idea to start the thread for the next month soon.

I read the Salinger story, but I didn't really have much to say about it, makes me feel like a lazy contributor :(

[Scheherazade]

Shouldn't we have another thread for the next set of nominations? We won't be able to post another poll in this thread.

[King Mob]

Shouldn't we have another thread for the next set of nominations? We won't be able to post another poll in this thread.

Yes yes. I wasn't sure when to start it, but today seems A Perfect Day for Nominations and Poll Fish!!