Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 745803 times)

PatH · « **Reply #4560 on:** March 09, 2013, 09:45:16 PM »

This is the place to talk about the works of fiction you are reading, whether they are new or old, and share your own opinions and reviews with interested readers.

Every week the new bestseller lists come out brimming with enticing looking books and rave reviews. How to choose?

Discussion Leader: Judy Laird

PatH · « **Reply #4561 on:** March 09, 2013, 10:04:31 PM »

Shirley Jackson had her light side too. The Night We All Had Grippe is hilarious. If you haven't read it, try it here:

http://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2011/05/night-we-all-had-grippe.html

It starts out like a logic puzzle (which it is in a way) but it's very funny and quite short.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4562 on:** March 10, 2013, 04:38:36 AM »

I have the same problems as most of you with short stories.

The ones I have read have inevitably been depressing, there never seems to be a proper ending, and I can hardly remember any of them.

My Open University writing course was mad keen on them, presumably because the tutors didn't want to have to mark anything longer. I also recall attending a writing group in Canada years ago at which we were all required to write one of the wretched things - the one that the tutor liked best (and the tutor was, for once, a really lovely lady and published author) was read out, and I did try to like it, but it just seemed to fizzle out - it was about someone having a miscarriage (we were all at the baby-having stage then) and yes, it was depressing!

The only short story I have very much enjoyed is by Georgina Hammick, and even then I've forgotten its title. It's a conversation between an elderly woman and her son, and it's all about what she calls things, like rooms (is it a 'drawing room' or a 'lounge'?) her cleaning lady (ie you call the cleaner "mrs Todd" , never by her first name even though you've known her 15 years) - I suppose it's partly all about British class attitudes, but I thought it was very cleverly done. Found it now, it's called The Dying Room:

http://chrismart.luporz.com/Materials/UOD/LEVEL_6/Creative%20Practice%203/LA/readings/18.%20The%20Dying%20Room.html

Other than that one, I don't think I'd bother. Even the Persephone (a publisher whose reprints I usually gobble up with joy) reprint of a collection called The Casino by Margaret Bonham left me cold.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #4563 on:** March 10, 2013, 06:23:45 AM »

I like mystery short stories and tend to keep one book of them in the car. Sometimes I have to wait for things and that is a good solution.. But the Kitteridge was just depressing types, all connected by her of course..

pedln · « **Reply #4564 on:** March 10, 2013, 11:28:41 AM »

I'm enjoying this discussion of short stories, and like you, MaryPage, while I might want to read one or two by an author, I don't want to read continuously a whole book of short stories by one author. Olive Kitteridge is a good example. I didn't finish the book either. Short story collections make good "car books" for those times when you're stuck waiting someplace. I have an Alice Munro collection there right now.

But some stories are memorable, like the ones you all have mentioned here -- Gift of the Magi, The Lottery, etc.

One of my favorites is "The First Confession" by Flannery O'Connor, about a little boy who is petrified of making his first confession. Another one is "The Day of the Last Rock Fight" by Joseph Whitehall, teenage angst, but also a bit of mystery.

There's one I'd like to re-read because I don't remember the ending. Read it years ago in a collective anthology. What happens is that a motorcycle gang takes over a hotel. Does that ring a bell for anyone?

marcie · « **Reply #4565 on:** March 10, 2013, 04:54:13 PM »

Pedln, I too am enjoying the discussion of short stories. I don't know what the motorcycle gang story is. Could it be "The Cyclists' Raid" by Frank Rooney? The film, "The Wild One," with Marlon Brando was based on the story.

I've always been attracted to Flannery O'Connor stories. I believe that "The First Confession" is written by Frank O'Connor. Easy to type Flannery instead of Frank, especially since both have written numerous short stories and share a Catholic background.

I don't think that I've read "The Day of the Last Rock Fight" by Joseph Whitehill. Somehow the title reminds me of the short story, "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury, which has a "surprise" ending.

pedln · « **Reply #4566 on:** March 10, 2013, 05:40:08 PM »

Marcie, thank you. You are so right. Frank O'Connor, not Flannery. And I should have caught that as I have his collection of short stories sitting on my bookshelf. Years ago one of my neighbors, a professor of English at our local U, and a great story teller to boot, entertained us at dinner with Frank's story.

Frank Rooney's "The Cyclists' Raid" may be the story I'm thinking of, but I can't find access to the whole story on line. It was published in Harpers Magazine in 1951. Supposedly it is based on or coame about because of some extreme motorcycle activities in Hollister, CA.

The link below was listed today in my weekly Sunday Books email from the Seattle Times.

Cellphone Fiction

marcie · « **Reply #4567 on:** March 10, 2013, 10:51:55 PM »

That's an interesting article, pedln, and timely to our discussion!

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4568 on:** March 11, 2013, 12:40:25 AM »

The short story authors I have read and enjoyed - among many are John Grisham, Robert Penn Warren, Carson McCullers, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Truman Capote, Alice Walker, Somerset Maughan, Kipling, Conrad, Dahl, Wodehouse, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Maupassant, Washington Irving, Alexander McCall Smith, Anthony Trollope - and I could go on and on but nowhere near this list would I put Olive Kitteridge.

Steph · « **Reply #4569 on:** March 11, 2013, 06:21:36 AM »

Bobbi Mason , who is a southern writer does short stories , but they are mostly about the same woman at various stages of her life. I have read at least two collections and for some reason liked them.. I also have a book just now, that is Studies of Sherlock, that are takeoffs on the Sherlock canon. Have not read it, but saw it the other day.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4570 on:** March 11, 2013, 07:59:03 AM »

I haven't read many short stories in a long time. Most of them have been the likes of Ray Bradbury, Arther C. Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Mark Twain. The last shorties I read were one by H. Piper Beam's, and one of C. K. Chesterton.

An Occurance at Owl Creek is on my TBR list ever since I discovered inspired on of the Twilight Zone episodes. Looking it up, I've discovered it had inspired several movies and other TV episodes as well.

I ran across this website which lists tons of short stories. It even does a "Short Story of the Day".
http://www.americanliterature.com/short-stories

MaryPage · « **Reply #4571 on:** March 11, 2013, 09:20:21 AM »

Do not care how good the writing, if a story causes me greatly disturbed emotions these days, just flat out do not like it. For that reason, am sorry I read An Occurance At Owl Creek. Am so very old and so very tired of the violence man does to man and of all of the billions and billions with lives full of heartache and heartbreak.
Now, if someone could please write down how all of this could be fixed and mankind could live happy, smiling, rewarding lifetimes, THAT happily ever after short story I would read.
No more downers! I'll pick out the uppers (all the licorice jelly beans, please!) and y'all can have the rest.

marjifay · « **Reply #4572 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:17:54 AM »

I'll have to re-read Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. It's been such a long time since I read it that I don't remember it. I like his Devil's Dictionary.

Marj

PatH · « **Reply #4573 on:** March 11, 2013, 10:44:16 AM »

Bierce's stories tend to be somewhat morbid, though. Not something to read when you need cheering.

MaryPage, I'll gladly give you all my licorice jelly beans if you give me your tangerine ones.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4574 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:07:34 AM »

PAT, I have a pound of jelly beans from a five and ten cents store from 1941. No tangerines. I mean, you are welcome to them, but there aren't any IN here!
Memories!
I live with them these days.

maryz · « **Reply #4575 on:** March 11, 2013, 11:16:13 AM »

MaryPage is going to have to share her licorice jelly beans with me! Did you know that at Halloween you can get a bag of all black jelly beans?!?!?!

pedln · « **Reply #4576 on:** March 11, 2013, 12:19:56 PM »

Thanks, Frybabe, for that link. A reminder that there are good short stories out there.

Marcie, I've never read Bradbury's All Summer in a Day, but many years ago I saw the film version and loved it. It's now available on U-Tube (see link below), but for those of us who need captions, it's the usual U-Tube gibberish.

Text -- All Summer in a Day

U-Tube -- All Summer in a Day

MaryPage · « **Reply #4577 on:** March 11, 2013, 02:04:48 PM »

I used to love Bradbury, but for some reason have lost all interest in Fantasy in my old age. Not the teeniest bit of interest in that direction.

JoanK · « **Reply #4578 on:** March 11, 2013, 05:02:20 PM »

Short stories are a good introduction to writers whose long works seem too daunting. Tolstoy, Thomas Mann, Henry James, James Joyce all wrote great short stories.

I was only half kidding about Proust and short stories. The first hundred pages of "Remembrance of Things Past" are great. if only he'd stopped there (if only I'd stopped there!!!)

Frybabe · « **Reply #4579 on:** March 11, 2013, 05:53:03 PM »

Didn't we have a short story discussion group a while back? I kind of remember we started out with The Ransom of Red Chief.

When I was high school age, or there abouts, I was into reading essays rather than short stories.

JoanP · « **Reply #4580 on:** March 12, 2013, 04:55:31 AM »

I dropped by with this news this morning, none of these are short stories...

We have a THREE-WAY TIE For April Bookclub Discussion

Run-Off Vote HERE (link to vote)

(NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE TITLES ARE LINKED TO REVIEWS)

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque

The Monk by Matthew Lewis

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

Steph · « **Reply #4581 on:** March 12, 2013, 06:24:18 AM »

Why oh why does Daylight savings time make me soooo tired. I go to bed tired,I wake up tired. I nap... I drag around..Boo.

Frybabe · « **Reply #4582 on:** March 12, 2013, 07:38:27 AM »

It's got me out of whack too, Steph, especially my stomach. At least the cats are letting me sleep a little longer. They haven't figured it out yet

I'm going to have to take a little time deciding. Very tough choices this time.

Steph · « **Reply #4583 on:** March 13, 2013, 06:11:01 AM »

Oh ginny,, a book to make you laugh and a novel to boot.. An oldie, that maybe you have not read. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.. I guarantee many laughs and smiles of joy.

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #4584 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:24:01 AM »

Oh I second that Steph - it's one of my very favourite books.

Rosemary

Steph · « **Reply #4585 on:** March 14, 2013, 06:11:10 AM »

As I grow older, I retreat sometimes to rereading books that I have always loved. It cheers me up and is reliable..Silly but there it is.
I was cut off from the world yesterday. My cable,computer hookup and house phone all went out.. Out side lines and since I live in a townhouse with six units. All of us got cut off.

ginny · « **Reply #4586 on:** March 14, 2013, 08:46:11 AM »

Stephanie, I think you're thinking of Barbara, but that looks so good I ordered it, too. Love the cover alone.

Oh and Summer's Lease by John Mortimer has finally come, it looks wonderful. I get the best recommendations here!

Steph · « **Reply #4587 on:** March 15, 2013, 06:29:13 AM »

Who ever wanted laughter and joy should read the book.. Cassandra is a favorite character of mine. The book was too short and I would have loved to go on and on with that family. Funny how sometimes the characters in a much loved book were so much fun and you never got to know more of them.
An old favorite of mine is The Cheerleader by Ruth Doan Macdougal.. Her Snowy was me when in school and it really struck a few nerves.. The book has been a coming of age story for many females. She finally broke down and wrote the rest of the story. Two more books on Snowy ( I have read one and the other is on a rare book list and not reprinted) and then wrote a book each on Snowys best friends. At the end you know the whole story of the three girls..

JeanneP · « **Reply #4588 on:** March 15, 2013, 04:01:40 PM »

Steph. Is Cassandra the name of the book. Who wrote it? I can't find it anywhere.

BarbStAubrey · « **Reply #4589 on:** March 15, 2013, 04:19:59 PM »

Whoops had the wrong discussion but I think I found them - I have been moaning and groaning about wanting to read books that are more than just cheerful but give you at least a outloud chuckle if not an eruption of a belly laugh that is hard to stop.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette: A Novel - by Maria Semple

Mrs Queen Takes the Train: A Novel - by William Kuhn

Angelmaker - by Nick Harkaway

The Twelve Chairs (Northwestern World Classic) - by Ilya Ilf

Conference at Cold Comfort Farm (Vintage Classics) - by Stella Gibbons

Spiritual Quest of Francis Wagstaffe - by Toby Forward and David Johnson

Freshwater: A Comedy - by Virginia Woolf

The 50 Funniest American Writers: An Anthology of Humor from Mark Twain to The Onion - by Andy Borowitz

Of course there is Wodehouse and more of Stella Gibbons but I read them all - even did Mark Twain - just needed a few belly laughs that seem to come out of improbable situations included in a novel.

MaryPage · « **Reply #4590 on:** March 15, 2013, 08:36:07 PM »

Suds In Your Eye by Mary Lasswell was one of the funniest books I ever read in my life. And I, too, read and roared over every Wodehouse.

Steph · « **Reply #4591 on:** March 16, 2013, 05:54:35 AM »

No, Cassandra is the heroine of I Capture the Castle.. by Dodie Smith.. an old tried and true favorite to be uplifting and funny.. Laugh out loud.. Janet Evanovich.. mostly the original Plums.

JoanK · « **Reply #4592 on:** March 16, 2013, 05:36:40 PM »

Virginia Woolf wrote a funny book? Wow!

PatH · « **Reply #4593 on:** March 16, 2013, 07:11:45 PM »

Quote from: JoanK on March 16, 2013, 05:36:40 PM

Virginia Woolf wrote a funny book? Wow!

Actually, Orlando has funny bits in it too, but you wouldn't read it just for the laughs.

Steph · « **Reply #4594 on:** March 17, 2013, 06:03:43 AM »

I have read her, but cannot really imagine her as funny.. Weird,, yes, sad,, always, but funny. Hmmm.
As always when I move, I look at the books and honestly truly try to weed them down, but truth is.. I never seem to get that far.

JudeS · « **Reply #4595 on:** March 21, 2013, 07:39:02 PM »

If you're looking for a light and airy book the new Alexander Mcall Smith's continuation of the adventures of Mma Ramotswe, "The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection" is a hoot and a half.
Also very humorous, but sometimes a bit sad , Nor a Ephron's last book: "I Worry About My Neck".

A good collection of short stories is by Annie Proulx: "Close Range".The movie Brokeback Mountain arose out of one of those stories.

Thanks so much for the list of humorous books. I'm always looking for one but seldom finding them.

Steph · « **Reply #4596 on:** March 22, 2013, 05:27:58 AM »

I loved Nora's last book.. I worry about my neck.. although my neck is the least of my worries.. Still it was funny and true all at once.
Just finished "Her last Death" bu Susanna Sonnenberg. What a strange memoir.. Brutal in the telling.. makes you wonder how it could possibly be true.. Oh well. Not the kind of life, I would want at all.

marjifay · « **Reply #4597 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:36:59 AM »

I agree, Jude, about Annie Proulx's short stories. I didn't care to see the movie Brokeback Mountain, but really enjoyed the story by her from which the movie was made.

Marj

MaryPage · « **Reply #4598 on:** March 22, 2013, 10:50:10 AM »

I thought the movie Brokeback Mountain extremely well done.

PatH · « **Reply #4599 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:15:00 PM »

I did too. It was worth seeing.

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Author Topic: Fiction ~ Old ~ New ~ Best Sellers #2 (Read 745803 times)