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!

[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.

[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

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?

Maybe (later) we could pick some from this list: Your favourite short Stories. 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.