NationStates Jolt Archive


The NSG short story reading club.

The Parkus Empire
29-01-2008, 20:44
Recommend a short story to the group here, then after someone reads it, it is open for discussion. If the talk would ruin the story for others, spoiler tags should be used.

Rules:

The story should be good, if possible. :p

The story can be no longer that 25 pages, and hopefully shorter than that.

You must provide a link where the club can read the story.





My story: http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/Cather/Pauls-Case.htm

Any input on it?
[NS]Click Stand
29-01-2008, 20:50
One of my favorite short stories by Barthelme:
http://www.npr.org/programs/death/readings/stories/bart.html
The Parkus Empire
29-01-2008, 21:54
Click Stand;13408439']One of my favorite short stories by Barthelme:
http://www.npr.org/programs/death/readings/stories/bart.html

Slightly humorous, with a little meaning, but it seemed like it was just an exescript.
Myrmidonisia
29-01-2008, 21:57
I love O Henry. Even though it's a standard, The Gift of the Magi (http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html) is one of my favorites.
The Parkus Empire
29-01-2008, 22:04
I love O Henry. Even though it's a standard, The Gift of the Magi (http://www.auburn.edu/~vestmon/Gift_of_the_Magi.html) is one of my favorites.

Oh, I remember that well. Beautiful story.
Unlucky_and_unbiddable
29-01-2008, 22:10
My story: http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/Cather/Pauls-Case.htm

I like how the title implies a mental institution-y clinical examination of the case. The three paragraphs where pretty but the rest is boring. I know that it is probably the point of the story but he is not interesting, not creative or artistic just pointless with no real worth and I was not interested in reading that much about him. I didn't sympathise or care about him at all, I guess is where this story falls short.
The Parkus Empire
29-01-2008, 22:18
I like how the title implies a mental institution-y clinical examination of the case. The three paragraphs where pretty but the rest is boring. I know that it is probably the point of the story but he is not interesting, not creative or artistic just pointless with no real worth and I was not interested in reading that much about him. I didn't sympathise or care about him at all, I guess is where this story falls short.

I did not sympathize or care about him at either. But I could identify with him. What makes him interesting is that he is sort of a jackass, he hates school, but he has a remarkable feeling for things uplifted.His screws-off at school, but he gets flowers for his room. He is a wonderfully non-stereo-typical character.

I sent the story to my mum, but she thought he was drug addict.
IL Ruffino
29-01-2008, 22:36
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/OccOwl.shtml

It's one of 3 stories I enjoyed reading for school last year.
The Parkus Empire
29-01-2008, 22:50
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/OccOwl.shtml

It's one of 3 stories I enjoyed reading for school last year.

Remarkable! That was actually my second choice for a short story pick. A great portrait of life.

More on Paul's Case: I think the ending was the greatest thing about the story. Such an unusual suicide. It did not really involve much emotion. It was almost like a logical decision. Because, although he had an uplifted spirit, Paul's intellect was not very great. He could never make the money he needed to fund his enjoyment of the arts.
Another point of the story that was important to me was how Paul appeared so different on the outside than he really was.
New Limacon
29-01-2008, 23:56
Here's my link:
http://jubal.westnet.com/hyperdiscordia/library_of_babel.html.
Click Stand;13408439']One of my favorite short stories by Barthelme:
http://www.npr.org/programs/death/readings/stories/bart.html

I'm going to have to read this a few times. The first page is hilarious, but I don't really understand the ending and I'm not sure if its my fault or the writer's.
Unlucky_and_unbiddable
30-01-2008, 03:19
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/OccOwl.shtml

It's one of 3 stories I enjoyed reading for school last year.
:fluffle:
Oooohhh, that one. Read it before and loved it. It's one of those ones you read and don't forget. I honestly can't think of any part of it that I would change. It's best feature, in my opinion is the way the author controls how you read it. I mean, I know sentence length and structure are frequently used to control the way in which you read but it is rare to see a short story that completely controls what you read, what you absorb and catch onto all the way through.

Oh and suppose I should recomend a short story, too. http://litsum.com/destructors/ The Destructors by Graham Greene, I know it's really well known but it is my favourite all-time short story. I don't even know why,
VietnamSounds
30-01-2008, 05:08
This one isn't exactly short but it's nice. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/201

Arthur C. Clark has left an impression on me but his stuff isn't free.

I will read one of these other stories if I get bored.
The Parkus Empire
30-01-2008, 17:17
Here's my link:
http://jubal.westnet.com/hyperdiscordia/library_of_babel.html.


Interesting. It is something like Hermann Hesse's writing in my opinion.
Conserative Morality
30-01-2008, 22:13
http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/features/ttravel.htm
And it's made by Yahtzee so you know it's good!:D
Faxanavia
30-01-2008, 22:17
Yeah, I know I'm reposting this (http://www.multivax.com/last_question.html) from its own thread, but its such an excellent story...