I love them too . . . but I'm of two minds on this. I mean, the discussion may be hard to carry, since it may become confusing as to which story someone's commenting on. Then again, the Choosing Literata/us (hereafter CL) could write a post for each story -- but again, that might become unwieldy. Perhaps pick 2 or 3 in that instance.
But on the other hand, shorter fictions like "Bartleby" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" really ought not be excluded. Mostly because they rank among my favorites, and I can't cut out my darlings.
I really don't see any problems with reading short story collections. Some are pretty short, and could be commented on as a thematic whole. Some are long, and more varied, but still--the commenter just says what story/ies (s)he's placing under discussion, and we roll from there. If it's a big story collection, people might not have read all of them--but that doesn't mean we can't have a discussion. I say let a person pick a story collection, and let people read them as they may, and let the discussion go as it will.
If we're afraid of things getting too unwielding and confusing, we create one rule--no anthologies. A collection of short stories or essays by a single author is okay--like, say, Ford's Rock Springs or Wallace's Consider the Lobster. An anthology isn't, so The Granta Book of the American Short Story is out.
I was the person who asked the question, and I was thinking of something like Aimee Bender's Willful Creatures collection. I've taught some of the stories before, and I think looking at the stories in which people are most interested or even looking at the collection or at her writing style as a whole might make things interesting. If you're not familiar with her, her story "The Rememberer" can be read here: http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0798/bender/excerpt.html
It's from her earlier collection, but it gives you an idea of what to expect. Though her first novel is pretty interesting, and I haven't had a chance to read her latest novel, and my pick is more than a year away, so my commitment level is low right now.
I think yes, short fiction collections are "...acceptable" and then some! :)
ReplyDeleteI love them too . . . but I'm of two minds on this. I mean, the discussion may be hard to carry, since it may become confusing as to which story someone's commenting on. Then again, the Choosing Literata/us (hereafter CL) could write a post for each story -- but again, that might become unwieldy. Perhaps pick 2 or 3 in that instance.
ReplyDeleteBut on the other hand, shorter fictions like "Bartleby" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" really ought not be excluded. Mostly because they rank among my favorites, and I can't cut out my darlings.
I really don't see any problems with reading short story collections. Some are pretty short, and could be commented on as a thematic whole. Some are long, and more varied, but still--the commenter just says what story/ies (s)he's placing under discussion, and we roll from there. If it's a big story collection, people might not have read all of them--but that doesn't mean we can't have a discussion. I say let a person pick a story collection, and let people read them as they may, and let the discussion go as it will.
ReplyDeleteIf we're afraid of things getting too unwielding and confusing, we create one rule--no anthologies. A collection of short stories or essays by a single author is okay--like, say, Ford's Rock Springs or Wallace's Consider the Lobster. An anthology isn't, so The Granta Book of the American Short Story is out.
I was the person who asked the question, and I was thinking of something like Aimee Bender's Willful Creatures collection. I've taught some of the stories before, and I think looking at the stories in which people are most interested or even looking at the collection or at her writing style as a whole might make things interesting. If you're not familiar with her, her story "The Rememberer" can be read here: http://www.randomhouse.com/boldtype/0798/bender/excerpt.html
ReplyDeleteIt's from her earlier collection, but it gives you an idea of what to expect. Though her first novel is pretty interesting, and I haven't had a chance to read her latest novel, and my pick is more than a year away, so my commitment level is low right now.