tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post8471894053547157714..comments2024-03-29T00:34:36.786-05:00Comments on Book Chase: Short Story Monday - NicholasSam http://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-89073305871651702052008-01-14T18:13:00.000-06:002008-01-14T18:13:00.000-06:00Thanks for the recommendations, LD/Brownie...much ...Thanks for the recommendations, LD/Brownie...much appreciated. I've read none of their short work, so I'll make an effort to do that.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-5072426519347998292008-01-13T22:47:00.000-06:002008-01-13T22:47:00.000-06:00Hi Sam, I actually like short stories a great deal...Hi Sam, I actually like short stories a great deal. I recommend something by Alice Munro, Kurt Vonnegut or George Saunders -- they are three of my favorites.Library Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13560661276385382375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-38408025554884558632008-01-10T18:41:00.000-06:002008-01-10T18:41:00.000-06:00Hello, Matt. Thanks for dropping by the blog. I'...Hello, Matt. Thanks for dropping by the blog. I'm making a sincere effort to acclimate myself to the world of the short story and I think I'm making progress. I appreciate the art involved and have always thought that writing a good short story would be more difficult than writing a good novel because of the limited space allowed in which to work. As I read more and more stories, I am often Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-82903157730730195162008-01-10T18:37:00.000-06:002008-01-10T18:37:00.000-06:00Hi, Elizabeth. I'm really happy to hear that you ...Hi, Elizabeth. I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed "Consolation." Thanks for letting me know...here's hoping that your husband enjoys it as much as we did.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-20702855801972347342008-01-10T18:36:00.000-06:002008-01-10T18:36:00.000-06:00I'm finding that you're right, John...the more I r...I'm finding that you're right, John...the more I read short stories the more I enjoy them. I think it is getting me used to the idea that they are more like snapshots than anything else and I've learned to appreciate that they don't have time to develop long, complicated plots. I enjoy the character development and the moods invoked in the short number of pages the author allows himself.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-1537355054167231772008-01-10T13:02:00.000-06:002008-01-10T13:02:00.000-06:00Dear SamAs i wait your final review of Down to a S...Dear Sam<BR/>As i wait your final review of Down to a Sunless Sea, I am intrigued by the comments: --1) i learned how to write with short stories, a world is incisively created within 2500 words; 2) Hemingway will be remembered not for his novels but for his short stories;3) Kafka's Metamorphoses is as rich as any 200 page novel;4)one fop recently wrote back that he would not review my book matt freesehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031473398287734348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-88104181945940377632008-01-10T05:59:00.000-06:002008-01-10T05:59:00.000-06:00Carrie, I'm sort of that way, too...I want all the...Carrie, I'm sort of that way, too...I want all the meat from the bone and short stories sometimes frustrate me by ending just when I get into the rhythm of the story.<BR/><BR/>Your theory on schooling is interesting...have to think about that one.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-10355392496678870982008-01-10T05:57:00.000-06:002008-01-10T05:57:00.000-06:00Herschelian, that's a great point. Short stories ...Herschelian, that's a great point. Short stories are perfect commute-reading and that might partially explain why I don't often get around to reading them...driving to work, I lose the advantage of being able to lose myself in reading while using public transportation. I did a lot of reading on London's metro system, but since returning to the States that's some reading time I no longer have.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-71829729282732358152008-01-10T05:55:00.000-06:002008-01-10T05:55:00.000-06:00Susan, you may be on to something with your "perso...Susan, you may be on to something with your "personality theory." I know that in my case my tendency not to read short stories fits into a definite pattern that might be called "personality." I do wonder how many people really love short stories or if they are secondary reading for people more times than not.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-73444840555100614712008-01-10T05:53:00.000-06:002008-01-10T05:53:00.000-06:00Eva, the collection is set in the U.S. It's diffe...Eva, the collection is set in the U.S. It's different in lots of ways from the short stories I usually read. I've finished it now and I need to pull my thoughts together for a coherent review if I can.Sam https://www.blogger.com/profile/17448913705757509608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-840848511055585832008-01-09T13:59:00.000-06:002008-01-09T13:59:00.000-06:00Off topic but I wanted to let you know that I've j...Off topic but I wanted to let you know that I've just finished Consolation, you reviewed it earlier http://bookchase.blogspot.com/2007/10/consolation.html and I really enjoyed it and am now passing it along to my husband.<BR/>It had an added bonus living just down the road from Toronto.ELIZABETHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15508304939265970143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-39635805503034809992008-01-09T11:05:00.000-06:002008-01-09T11:05:00.000-06:00I'm a fan of the short story, but I don't think I ...I'm a fan of the short story, but I don't think I could say I prefer it over the novel. They're probably on equal footing with me. Though, like poetry, I think the more people try them, they more they'll end up enjoying the form.John Mutfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730205221787092204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-20177780538724019642008-01-08T14:58:00.000-06:002008-01-08T14:58:00.000-06:00I always thought it was because I am so nosy - I w...I always thought it was because I am so nosy - I want to know how it all turns out and short stories are just too - short. <BR/><BR/>It appears that Nicholas is exactly right. School is a waste of time for him. "Reading Matters" made the case that the bar keeps being raised when it comes to edumacation. (sorry! he's contagious.) Where do we stop wasting resources on students who don't want to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-25786696179828847562008-01-08T13:53:00.000-06:002008-01-08T13:53:00.000-06:00I'm much like you, and like Susan, short stories a...I'm much like you, and like Susan, short stories are not my thing, but...as a teenager I loved reading Saki's stories, and now I do have a go at reading them from time to time. Some years ago I read Helen Simpson's first collection 'Four Bare Legs in a Bed' and enjoyed the stories so much I have bought her three following books of stories, the latest of which is 'Constitutional'. All very well herschelianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414522582684680371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-57983579268469256852008-01-08T13:20:00.000-06:002008-01-08T13:20:00.000-06:00I'm with you on the short stories. I have to forc...I'm with you on the short stories. I have to force myself to read them. For some reason, I prefer novels, and long ones at that.<BR/><BR/>I think this preference has to do with personality. For instance, I prefer hanging out with old friends instead of finding new ones. I'm all about commitment - I hate fast friendships and casual relationships. I think this is why I prefer delving into a Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05344704891037668456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38656633.post-17531634537539495452008-01-08T08:28:00.000-06:002008-01-08T08:28:00.000-06:00That sounds like a very interesting story! Is the...That sounds like a very interesting story! Is the collection set in the US, or Britain?Evahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06703372903532502944noreply@blogger.com