Books on the Nightstand discussion

I can't wait for the 2013 Short Story Challenge!

I highly recommend the story "Odette Toulemonde" from Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt's collection The Most Beautiful Book in the World: Eight Novellas. It is about a woman who is star struck when she meets her favorite author -- probably something we all can relate to! The rest of the stories (despite the title of the collection I don't believe they are novellas) are wonderful as well.

Also .... Nathan Englander writes wonderful short stories and I think he would be an ideal author for Booktopia VT (hint hint)

i like short stories, but not in a big chunk. i think one a month is perfect. in fact, there is a publication that provides just that:

http://www.one-story.com/

this is a wonderful idea. you are sent one story every month from aspiring writers. all of the stories are interesting. it's also cool to be on the front end of a budding writer.

my suggestions for a read along would be Sonny's Blues by James Baldwin. i read this for the first time in american lit in college and was just blown away by the prose and the characters. it is available on pdf via the internet.

also, J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories has some great stories in it.

i also think Interpreter of Maladies / The Namesake is a wonderful collection.

and what of The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Writings? poe has some excellent stories.

I really like short stories. My problem is that all too often the more modern short stories don't live up to the name, i.e. they're too long and overstay their welcome. I'll try to come back with specific stories that can be found online, but for now "The Best American Mystery Stories of the Century" ed. by Tony Hillerman is a fantastic place to start for quality short stories. Virtually every story is sleek, plot-driven, and wholly satisfying. http://www.amazon.com/American-Myster....

For a more modern approach to short story telling, I'd recommend Maile Meloy. Her short story collection, "Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It" is a can't-miss collection. I'd also recommend "The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction (50 North American Stories Since 1970). It's a perfect review of quality short fiction from the last forty years, and will make a believer out of anyone.

Although this might not exactly fit with the goals of the project, I'd recommend a book of short interlocking stories for people who are not really into short stories but making an attempt. "Olive Kitteridge" is a very good example of this.

Finally, other short story authors I'd recommend are: M.R. James, Stuart Dybek, Daniel Orozco, George Saunders, and Joyce Carol Oates.

My vote(s) for a single story to discuss:
THE NECKLACE by Guy du Maupassant
THE LOTTERY by Shirley Jackson

Short Story Collection to discuss (and I'm not much of a sci-fi person:
THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES by Ray Bradbury

I love short stories by W. Somerset Maugham, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Daphne du Maurier. Saki is also good but an acquired taste.

Saw David Sedaris last week. At the end of his show he recommends another authors work. He suggested reading Bernard Cooper. He writes very short stories (1-2 pages) that, according to Sedaris, are impeccably written.

Ann, I think available on web is nice, but if you pick them out early enough library works for me. What about ending with a yet to be published short story? That would be fun!

Two words: Harlan. Ellison.

I just left a message and YIKES it is hard to talk for a minute into a recorder knowing that it might be broadcast for all to hear! You might have to delete my message, Ann & Michael.

Anyway, I do love short stories. And I seem to be put in the position to defend them in my book club. Have you met book people who say short stories are too...short? "No time for plot to develop". "Can't get attached to characters", etc. I've changed a few minds, but it still comes up as a point of contention (as much as one can get contentious over literary preferences with dear friends.)

I mentioned this in my phone message, but I'll write it here as well (since my message will be deleted ;)
Have any of you listened to the podcast "Selected Shorts" hosted by the wonderful Isaiah Sheffer? It's a wonderful way to enjoy short stories. Sadly, I just read in the paper today that Isaiah passed away this week. I'll be listening to him today...

I love the short story idea; I try to read at least one short story in between each novel. Many people have already made a lot of good suggestions. As for short stories that are free online, there are many - - but they are generally older. I hope you'll be able to mix it up and include some newer ones. You could choose a few from a specific anthology and then people might be willing to buy (and/or borrow from the library) one book that has a few of the selections in it.

some anthologies that are very good include:
(1) The Best American Short Stories - this one comes out every year and is edited by a different author each year
(2) The Gotham Writer's Workshop Fiction Gallery
(3) The Pen/O. Henry Prize Stories - also an annual edition

Also, some of the more modern short story writers I am particularly impressed with are:


Nathan Englander (What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank)
Edith Pearlman (Binocular Vision)
Junot Diaz (This is How You Lose Her)

I love the idea of a short story challenge although I've never been a huge fan of the short story. I try to read them every once in awhile and always feel like I'm missing something, although I can't really put my finger on what it is. Maybe it's that I've always been to literal (although I'm getting better with age) and can't see all of the nuances, especially in a short piece? I found a great podcast I've been listening to lately called The New Yorker Fiction podcast, where a current author chooses a short story from the New Yorker's archives and reads it on the podcast, and then the host and guest author discuss the story, why it was chosen, what they think it means, etc. I'm hoping this will help me appreciate the short story.

Jana wrote: "And I seem to be put in the position to defend them in my book club. Have you met book people who say short stories are too...short? "No time for plot to develop". "Can't get attached to characters", etc. I..."

I would fall into this category. I could do one a month (I guess I already do because I can't bear to skip the one in my Good Housekeeping magazine each month - wasting money if I don't read the whole dang magazine). But I will continue to vote against entire books for book club :)

Jen wrote: "I love the idea of a short story challenge although I've never been a huge fan of the short story.... great podcast I've been listening to lately called The New Yorker Fiction podcast, where a current author chooses a short story from the New Yorker's archives and reads it on the podcast, and then the host and guest author discuss the story, why it was chosen, what they think it means, etc. I'm hoping this will help me appreciate the short story..."

I agree with you on the New Yorker fiction podcast, Jen. It's very entertaining. And enlightening to hear them discuss it afterwards.

I love short stories. I am totally amazed at the talent it takes to write a story and pull at your heartstrings and emotions in so few words. I, too, love Selected Shorts (and am very sad to hear about Isaiah Sheffer) and The New Yorker podcasts.

Eric wrote: "Two words: Harlan. Ellison.

"

Yes! I have no mouth and I must scream!

Anne - What story were you talking about! I'm now so intrigued...

I loved Patricia A. McKillip's new collection, Wonders of the Invisible World.

also The Things They Carried. amazing writing.

I also loved THE NECKLACE by Guy de Maupassant.

SAKI's stories are really great and pretty out there. THE OPEN WINDOW is his most famous but there are many others, all probably in the public domain.

I also read BENITO CERENO by Melville in school and still get scared when I think about it. . . but BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER is also a classic. . . "I prefer not to" . . . ;)

Becky wrote: "BARTLEBY THE SCRIVENER is also a classic. . . "I prefer not to"..."

I think I knew I wanted to marry my husband when he used that line "I prefer not to". It was mutual Melville love.

I'm a huge fan of short stories :-)
you can find a lot of free collections (older stuff but lots of goodies) here www.gutenberg.org

My favourite collections are:

Last night I read Roald Dahl's "The Landlady". Just in case anyone else would like to experience it as well here's a pdf:
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sit...


And then there's a dramatized version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEz39M...

Creepy fun!

I think I knew I wanted to marry my husband when he used that line "I prefer not to". It was mutual Melville love."

Wow! That is an amazing story! How hilarious. . . that is the funniest thing I've heard in a while.

Edith Pearlman's Binocular Vision she's one of the finest short story writers alive today. Because of her and the New Yorker Fiction Podcasts I am hooked on short stories, this way I always have something to read! There are also the annual collections which reflect the editors taste. They've had Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, Richard Russo and many more. Then again Neil Gaiman & Al Sarrantonio got everyone from Joe Hill to Jodi Picoult and Roddy Doyle to Jeffrey Deaver to contribute to this fine collection of "magical" stories. Go for it ANN!

If you're a fan of short stories, can I recommend you read a collection by Jill McCorkle, some consider the modern queen of the American short story.

Huge fan of short stories! I am particularly smitten with Aimee Bender and Judy Budnitz. They are masters of the short form and add a wonderful magical realism quality. For something more Southern, I adore Bailey White for cute, short pieces about quirky Southern life. There are a few collections that bring together some of the best new flash fiction as well.

I've just been listening to The Readers and they reminded me of Roald Dahl's short stories for adults. They are fantastic if you like your stories on the creepy side.

I've just been listening to The Readers and they reminded me of Roald Dahl's short stories for adults. They are fantastic if you like your stories on the creepy side.

Here are some of my favourites, introduced to me on the New Yorker's Fiction podcast:

The Swimmer by John Cheever http://shortstoryclassics.50megs.com/...

Paper Lantern by Stuart Dybek
http://www.jrobertlennon.com/storage/...

Concerning the Bodyguard by Donald Barthelme

Mr. Parker by Laurie Colwin
http://lingualeo.ru/jungle/115324#/pa...

Also anything from
Raspberry Vinegary by Joan Fern Shaw
and
Man Descending by Guy Vanderhaeghe

Great idea, Ann!

Wow! Thanks everyone for all the short story suggestions, great reading and new discoveries. I have decided my personal reading challenge for 2013 will be reading a book of short stories each month (12). Thanks Ann for sparking the flame.
Two of my favorite short stories:
On The Divide - Willa Cather
The Minister"s Black Veil - Nathanial Hawthorne

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/04/13...
5 free short stories :-)

I'm reading my way around the world this year, and I came across a great collection of short stories in Best European Fiction 2013. I read & reviewed the first three on my blog. Can't wait to discover more wonderful international short stories!

Ann, did you listen to this weeks NY Times book review podcast about short stories?? You are so ahead of the curve!

Last week I went to hear Ron Rash read from his latest collection of short stories, "Nothing Gold Can Stay." He read a story about an octogenarian vet going out in the middle of the night to deliver a calf. Beautiful ... and he captures the cadence of Appalachia.
Some of his remarks were interesting. A short story is succinct, concise, and not a sentence out of place. (Whew! That sounds like a tall order.) Rash also said that all a character was and will be is distilled into that one moment captured in the story.
And this I really liked--in the final draft he listens for the way the vowels and consonants rub up against each other.
If he comes to your indie bookstore, Rash is well worth hearing and reading.

A great collection of short stories is "The People Of Privilage Hill" by Jane Gardam, especially the second "Pangbourne" the last line is heartbreakingly beautiful.
If you google "Pangbourne" you can listen to Dame Judi Dench read it.