Book Sprouts

Marisel - Tarnita
Creative Commons License 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!

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16 Comment(s)

  1. 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!

    Julie P. | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  2. Thanks, Julie! I think it could be fun!!

    Kristen | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  3. Sounds fun! I’m not sure if I’d have the time, but I’d love to try it.

    Heather | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  4. Wonderful!! Thanks, Heather! And no pressure…

    Kristen | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  5. I would love to start reading short stories again and discuss the beauty (or not so) of short fiction. I would be interested.

    Ann B. | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  6. Thank you, Ann!

    Kristen | Jun 10, 2008 | Reply

  7. Ok Kristen you twisted my arm - I’ve never really read short stories so this would stretch my comfort zone

    Mrs S | Blue Archipelago | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

  8. Oh good!! Now I will really want to find a particularly winning short story for our first discussion… :)

    Kristen | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

  9. I’m in.

    Anna | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

  10. Sounds interesting!

    lisamm | Jun 11, 2008 | Reply

  11. 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!! :)

    Kristen | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

  12. As I said on the BTT post, please count me in!

    gautami tripathy | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

  13. 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.

    Alix | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply

  14. Please count me in. Sounds like fun.

    C.B.JAmes | Jun 13, 2008 | Reply

  15. I’d like to join!

    Sally | Jun 16, 2008 | Reply

  16. Welcome, C.B.J. and Sally!! Thank you! :)

    Kristen | Jun 16, 2008 | Reply

2 Trackback(s)

  1. Jun 12, 2008: from BTT: Short Story Book Club! | BOOK CLUB CLASSICS!
  2. Jun 29, 2008: from Best Posts: June 2008 | BOOK CLUB CLASSICS!

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