Posted by susandanziger (admin)
Mar 2, 2009 7:41 am

Replies (21)

Posted by

• Maybe nonfiction would be cool this time -- Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience?" Alternatively, I'd be interested in reading one of the classic Holmes stories.

  Mar 2, 2009 8:36 am
  by Dinosaur

• My favorite short story of all time is "On Seeing The 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning" by Murakami.
  
  Another favorite is Salinger's "For Esme With Love and Splendor."

  Mar 2, 2009 9:31 am
  by tristiseye

• There are lots of short stories that look good but I guess it depends on how long it can be. The site considers Joyce's Dubliners a short story at 84 installments but I am not sure how many people would read it.
  
  So what about Edgar Allan Poe's Murder at the Rue Morgue? (for some classic horror)
  
  Alternatively, is there a way to split out one of P. G. Wodehouse's short stories from The Man With Two Left Feet?
  
  Otherwise, for people who have not read any of the stories, any of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories are interesting.

  Mar 2, 2009 1:17 pm
  by cresswga

• cresswga, Maybe pick one from Dubliners? The Dead, the last story in Dubliners (really a novella) is lovely -- it's 20 parts. (I am just reading Dubliners on Daily Lit now, but I'd gladly read a bit again along with everyone else). And there's plenty to discuss with Joyce.

  Mar 2, 2009 5:36 pm
  by Dinosaur

• I vote for a Cheever (The Swimmer) or my old pal Edith (New Year's Day). Additional ideas include Melville, and O'Connor's A Good Man is Hard to Find.

  Mar 2, 2009 6:11 pm
  by EDITHJWHARTON

• I would suggest anything by Anna Quindlen. Perhaps, A Short Guide to a Happy Life.

  Mar 3, 2009 7:52 am
  by moengey

• Dinosaur: I was thinking of Joyce because I know I want to read some his stories soon. Do you have any recommendations?
  
  Is the Dubliners a good place to start or should I dive right in to Ulysses?

  Mar 3, 2009 9:16 am
  by cresswga

• Great ideas, everyone. Thanks!
  
  @cresswga: Yes, we can pull out any of the short stories from the various classic short story collections on the site. So they're all fair game.
  
  Keep them coming, folks!

  Mar 3, 2009 12:59 pm
  by MaggieH (admin)

• "Brokeback Mountain" is a "long" short story and absolutely wonderful. Also, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Poe is an oldie but a goodie.

  Mar 3, 2009 3:37 pm
  by Lectrice

• Lectrice: I would actually be happy with any Poe. It is a long time since I read his short stories and I could happily read them again.

  Mar 4, 2009 10:04 am
  by cresswga

• cresswga: Dubliners is the only Joyce I've been able to handle so far. It's far more accessible than his other work. I still feel that some of the stories in Dubliners go over my head, but I particularly like "Araby," "Eveline," "Counterparts" (though it hurts to read it), and "The Dead."

  Mar 4, 2009 2:32 pm
  by Dinosaur

• Thanks Dinosaur. You have talked me into it. I shall check it out as my next book. It will make a nice change from Burroughs.

  Mar 4, 2009 2:50 pm
  by cresswga

• I found The Camel's Back by Fitzgerald a humorous and fun short story. It's already available on DailyLit, as well. I'm not much of a short story reader, although since I've only read one thing of Poe's I'd be pleased to collectively read another one of his short stories.

  Mar 7, 2009 7:27 pm
  by books

• Thinking about what cresswga said, Poe would be really neat. Havn't read anything from him.

  Mar 8, 2009 2:22 pm
  by caminodiablo

• How about some CS Lewis? I really want to read some of his books, well maybe the less complicated ones, but I think that some of those novels would be a brilliant read. There are also the 'His Dark Materials' books by Philip Pullman, and maybe some Earthsea by Ursula LeGuin?

  Mar 8, 2009 9:14 pm
  by Ancfro

• What about The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe? I really like the idea of Poe or even a Holmes story.

  Mar 9, 2009 10:48 am
  by terpsgirl02

• The short story entitled "Invitations" by Carol Shields is an exquisite portrait of a day in the life of an individual. It is a good read!

  Mar 9, 2009 3:53 pm
  by PMCGOLDRICK

• I just thought of something else - how about something short by Shakespeare? I really need to read something of his. *cough*

  Mar 9, 2009 7:25 pm
  by terpsgirl02

• Anything by William Trevor, who is the master of the short story. He is a truly prolific writer with a deep compassion for humanity and the sadness of life.

  Mar 15, 2009 10:41 am
  by NancyEPerry

• It's Spring, my friends!! I would suggest reading (or re-reading) Secret Garden!! I just finished it for the first time, and I immediately want to frolic, plant, and be reborn!! We all have the power, and Nature does it, well, naturally!! It should be required reading every February!!

  Mar 16, 2009 5:02 pm
  by scdebbiet

• Thanks again to everyone who suggested books. We wanted you to be the first to know that we've chosen the next Big Read, and the winner is...Edgar Allan Poe! We couldn't decide *which* of Poe's great works to choose first--so we chose more than one! It's a Big Read of "3 Short Reads by Edgar Allan Poe." We hope you'll all join in!

  Mar 18, 2009 10:09 am
  by MaggieH (admin)