photo credit: bortescristian
For the past week I’ve been wondering if Book Club Classics readers might be interested in starting a short story book club — reading only stories that could be found online (i.e. — free and easily accessible… and short 
). The New Yorker publishes short stories online, as does The Paris Review, as well as many other sites, and I thought a short story book club might be, well, fun! Now that I’ve left the traditional classroom, I kind of miss short stories… and it appears that my current book club is taking a summer hiatus…
As luck would have it, this weekend I received a request to review a new site — Book Sprouts – that facilitates online book clubs!
I played around a bit with the site and found it to be very manageable and user-friendly. Basically, Book Club Classics would have its own “forum” for members to chat about their impressions of the latest story.
So, here’s what I’m thinking — each month we choose a story that is easily accessible online (free). I’ll publicize the link on Book Club Classics on the first of the month, then post a question or two in the Book Sprouts forum — members can then respond at their leisure!
In other words, no “due date” (beyond the end of the month) — just a laid-back, free-for-all, drop in when you have a minute sort of deal. And I really mean it about “laid back.” I know how much most of have to read already, not to mention the demands of our actual lives, so there would be no pressure to participate every month — feel free to drop by when you have a minute, but no guilt if you don’t have the time that month.
If you think you might be interested, simply leave me a comment!
I’m interested — it sounds fun! Right now, I have overcommitted myself (big-time), but by August I should be good to go. I am interested in reading with you right away, but I might not be able to comment that much until I finish some of my other reading commitments!
Thanks, Julie! I think it could be fun!!
Sounds fun! I’m not sure if I’d have the time, but I’d love to try it.
Wonderful!! Thanks, Heather! And no pressure…
I would love to start reading short stories again and discuss the beauty (or not so) of short fiction. I would be interested.
Thank you, Ann!
Ok Kristen you twisted my arm – I’ve never really read short stories so this would stretch my comfort zone
Oh good!! Now I will really want to find a particularly winning short story for our first discussion…
I’m in.
Sounds interesting!
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Thanks everyone!! I think this will be fun! Here is the link to the first story:
http://neptune.esc.k12.in.us/socratic/resources/SayYes.html
I’ll post a couple of questions on July 1st and we start discussing!!
Oh — I think I’ll just keep the book club on this site rather than on Book Sprouts. This way, others can join in easier…
Thanks, again!!
As I said on the BTT post, please count me in!
Sounds like a great idea, I’m in. I’ve been wanting to read more short stories after finishing How to breathe underwater by Julie Orringer.
Please count me in. Sounds like fun.
I’d like to join!
Welcome, C.B.J. and Sally!! Thank you!
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