The Book Club Online is the oldest book club on the Internet, begun in 1996, open to everyone. We offer cordial discussions of one book a month, 24/7 and enjoy the company of readers from all over the world. Everyone is welcome.
Short Stories - Some SeniorLearn Favorites - JUNE 1 til mid JULY
(http://www.seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/shortstory/storyheading.jpg)
It is said that a good short story should include: * a strong theme, * a fascinating plot, * a fitting structure, * unforgettable characters, * a well-chosen setting, * an appealing style. Let's consider these elements as we discuss the following stories. Is it necessary to include them all in a successful story?
Notice that the titles are all links to the stories.
Discussion Schedule:
June 1 -June 9: *The Book of The Funny Smells--and Everything (1872) (http://shortstoriesreadonline.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-of-funny-smells-and-everything.html) by Eleanor H Abbott *The Necklace or The Diamond Necklace (1880) (http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/gdemaupassant/bl-gdemaup-diamond.htm)- by Guy de Maupassant
*A Pair of Silk Stockings (1896) (http://www.americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/a-pair-of-silk-stockings)by Kate Chopin
June 10- 14: *Babylon Revisited (1931) by F.Scott Fitzgerald (http://gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html)
June 15- 17: *First Confession (1939) by Frank O'Connor (https://www2.bc.edu/john-g-boylan/files/first-confession.pdf)
June 18-20: *A Good Man Is Hard to Find (1953) by Flannery O'Connor (http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html)
June 21-24: *The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (1973) by Ursula LeGuin (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/rprnts.omelas.pdf)
June 25-28: *The Half-skinned Steer (1997) by Annie Proulx (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/11/the-half-skinned-steer/306168/?single_page=true)
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The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula LeGuin (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/rprnts.omelas.pdf)
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin was born in 1929 in Berkeley, California and lives in Portland, Oregon. As of 2013, she has published twenty-one novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many honors and awards including Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud. Her story, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, is a philosophical parable that primarily focuses on the city of Omelas. It was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction and won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1974.
Topics for Consideration
June 21 - June 24
(http://www.seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/omelas/omelas.jpg) | Do you want to go straight to the ending and the title of the story, "The ones who walk away from Omelas?" What do you think about those who walk away? Why do they leave?
Does our knowing that a William James quote inspired the author to write the story, help us understand the story and the ending?
What are some analogies between Omelas and our world that you see in the story?
What are our choices for interpreting the story, especially the ending?
DL Contact: Marcie (marciei@aol.com ) |
The Book Club Online is the oldest book club on the Internet, begun in 1996, open to everyone. We offer cordial discussions of one book a month, 24/7 and enjoy the company of readers from all over the world. Everyone is welcome.
Short Stories - Some SeniorLearn Favorites - JUNE 1 til mid JULY
(http://www.seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/shortstory/storyheading.jpg)
It is said that a good short story should include: * a strong theme, * a fascinating plot, * a fitting structure, * unforgettable characters, * a well-chosen setting, * an appealing style. Let's consider these elements as we discuss the following stories. Is it necessary to include them all in a successful story?
Notice that the titles are all links to the stories.
Discussion Schedule:
June 1 -June 9: *The Book of The Funny Smells--and Everything (1872) (http://shortstoriesreadonline.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-of-funny-smells-and-everything.html) by Eleanor H Abbott *The Necklace or The Diamond Necklace (1880) (http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/gdemaupassant/bl-gdemaup-diamond.htm)- by Guy de Maupassant
*A Pair of Silk Stockings (1896) (http://www.americanliterature.com/author/kate-chopin/short-story/a-pair-of-silk-stockings)by Kate Chopin
June 10- 14: *Babylon Revisited (1931) by F.Scott Fitzgerald (http://gutenberg.net.au/fsf/BABYLON-REVISITED.html)
June 15- 17: *First Confession (1939) by Frank O'Connor (https://www2.bc.edu/john-g-boylan/files/first-confession.pdf)
June 18-20: *A Good Man Is Hard to Find (1953) by Flannery O'Connor (http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html)
June 21-24: *The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas (1973) by Ursula LeGuin (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/rprnts.omelas.pdf)
June 25-28: *The Half-skinned Steer (1997) by Annie Proulx (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1997/11/the-half-skinned-steer/306168/?single_page=true)
************************
The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas by Ursula LeGuin (http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/dunnweb/rprnts.omelas.pdf)
Ursula Kroeber Le Guin was born in 1929 in Berkeley, California and lives in Portland, Oregon. As of 2013, she has published twenty-one novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many honors and awards including Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud. Her story, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas, is a philosophical parable that primarily focuses on the city of Omelas. It was nominated for the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction and won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1974.
Topics for Consideration
June 21 - June 24
(http://www.seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/omelas/omelas.jpg) | Do you want to go straight to the ending and the title of the story, "The ones who walk away from Omelas?" What do you think about those who walk away? Why do they leave?
Does our knowing that a William James quote inspired the author to write the story, help us understand the story and the ending?
What are some analogies between Omelas and our world that you see in the story?
What are our choices for interpreting the story, especially the ending?
DL Contact: Marcie (marciei@aol.com )
Read the story. Had family reunion this week end & didn't have time to gather my thoughts. I'll read it again and get back to you. Sally |