Reading and Discussion Club

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Geminii23

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2015
223
1,677
VA
As I embark on my journey to bring my own short stories to life in the form of my first anthology collection...a long-term project to be sure...I have begun devouring everything I can get my hands on. I am also writing a new trilogy of Sci-Fi screenplays with the hopes of turning them into a graphic novel at some point, so I am not just revisiting SK, but exploring authors that I remember from my youth such as Heinlein, Orwell, Asimov, Huxley, etc. I have also recently begun searching out interesting Short Story collections for inspiration. Elmore Leonard, Craig Johnson, Joyce Carol Oates, and Ursula Le Guin.

So I thought I would reach out to the forums here and see what recommendations people have for great short story collections. Not specifically horror, though that is top of my list since the short story collection I am working on writing is comprised of many story ideas in that genre.

Thanks!
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
Who would be interested in reviving this? I miss it — discussing stories is one of my very favorite things to do. That's why I have a blog dedicated to nothing but books (lol).

I'd be willing to lead discussion if no one else wants to, but I wanted to know if anyone else would be willing to start this thing up with me. :)
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
17,221
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United States
Who would be interested in reviving this? I miss it — discussing stories is one of my very favorite things to do. That's why I have a blog dedicated to nothing but books (lol).

I'd be willing to lead discussion if no one else wants to, but I wanted to know if anyone else would be willing to start this thing up with me. :)
Yes, I would. Maybe if you gathered a group of interested bookclubbers and then established a certain day and time it could get off the ground. Maybe selecting the first book would generate more interest. I've only conducted book discussions and writing groups in person so I'm not sure how successful this format would be, but I'm willing to commit to seeing what happens. I think it would be fun. Have other members maintained a discussion group in the past?
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
Yes, I would. Maybe if you gathered a group of interested bookclubbers and then established a certain day and time it could get off the ground. Maybe selecting the first book would generate more interest. I've only conducted book discussions and writing groups in person so I'm not sure how successful this format would be, but I'm willing to commit to seeing what happens. I think it would be fun. Have other members maintained a discussion group in the past?
Yup, we had a pretty big group there for a while! And on the old forums we even had clubs so it didn't have to be done in a thread in the main forum.
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
If the time fit Ill be interested. I support the idea of the short stories and the novella. The novels might be difficult due to varying reading speed
In the past, they designated how many chapters to read before next meet up. e.g., Read Chapters 1 - 5 for next discussion. Or, if you go short stories, read such and such for the next discussion.
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
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sweden
In the past, they designated how many chapters to read before next meet up. e.g., Read Chapters 1 - 5 for next discussion. Or, if you go short stories, read such and such for the next discussion.
It is so difficult to stop.reading...... .. and i think to discuss a long book properly i find it hard to separate different parts since they are depending upon eachother to be fully understood. It works with a novella, just, but I think I would find it strange to do so with a novel but it might be a matter of habit.
 

do1you9love?

Happy to be here!
Feb 18, 2012
9,284
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Virginia
It is so difficult to stop.reading...... .. and i think to discuss a long book properly i find it hard to separate different parts since they are depending upon eachother to be fully understood. It works with a novella, just, but I think I would find it strange to do so with a novel but it might be a matter of habit.
You are right! I think when we moved to novels was when it got difficult because for some of us it was a re-read AND we didn't stop at the specified point. Oops!:a24:
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
In just my observation of the discussion group, it fell on VampireL to sort of be the moderator and she would come up with discussion questions. Of course, others suggested questions also, but it's hard sometimes to think of some really good questions unless they just spontaneously happen through discussion.

I think participants should give a little opening sort of statement about their thoughts on the book/story -- and then I think more questions might just organically happen. Not just a , I liked it. Really a brief statement of something. The settings, the story, the characters, the mood.

Did any of that make sense?
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
In just my observation of the discussion group, it fell on VampireL to sort of be the moderator and she would come up with discussion questions. Of course, others suggested questions also, but it's hard sometimes to think of some really good questions unless they just spontaneously happen through discussion.

I think participants should give a little opening sort of statement about their thoughts on the book/story -- and then I think more questions might just organically happen. Not just a , I liked it. Really a brief statement of something. The settings, the story, the characters, the mood.

Did any of that make sense?
Makes total sense and I agree!!
 

Kurben

The Fool on the Hill
Apr 12, 2014
9,682
65,192
59
sweden
In just my observation of the discussion group, it fell on VampireL to sort of be the moderator and she would come up with discussion questions. Of course, others suggested questions also, but it's hard sometimes to think of some really good questions unless they just spontaneously happen through discussion.

I think participants should give a little opening sort of statement about their thoughts on the book/story -- and then I think more questions might just organically happen. Not just a , I liked it. Really a brief statement of something. The settings, the story, the characters, the mood.

Did any of that make sense?
Dont worry! You could not make more sense. Hmmmm thinking about what i just wrote, did it make any sense?