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Evening in Paradise


"Berlin's new book is a marvel, filled with deeply touching stories about lives ...
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Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

Created: 11/04/19

Replies: 16

Posted Nov. 04, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
peggyt

Join Date: 08/10/17

Posts: 215

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I read short stories fairly frequently but mostly I prefer a short story book with a theme tackled by differnt authors.


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorinned

Join Date: 10/13/14

Posts: 176

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I don't ordinarily care for short stories, but prefer to read novels. I enjoyed reading these short stories, however, and might be interested in pursuing more of this type of reading.


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do read short stories and enjoy them. I often seek out short stories by particular authors whom I like. One of my friends uses the derogatory definition of "bathroom reading." I disagree with her on this one although we often like the same books. Writing the short story is definitely an art. Without the expansiveness of the novel, the author must, much like a poet, pack meaning and details into the story. At the same time, the author must balance the details so that readers have enough but not an overwhelming amount of detail. Short stories give readers brief encounters that are still fulfilling.


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do not regularly read short stories because I have found many collections to be disappointing. I was extremely pleasantly surprised to love Lucia Berlin's stories.


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
elyseg

Join Date: 11/13/17

Posts: 29

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

Yes, I read them often. I like that they are compact, words carefully chosen. I especially enjoy character studies - such as the stories of Alice Munro.


Posted Nov. 30, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do not regularly read short stories. I prefer novels so that I can really get to know and like or dislike the characters.


Posted Dec. 01, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janeb

Join Date: 10/09/18

Posts: 49

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do read short stories more often than novels. Partly it is because they fit the time that is available but also I admire the skill required to depict the world in a drop of water.


Posted Dec. 02, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I admire short story writers because I think it takes a LOT of skill to pull off the genre successfully, I'm not really a fan. I tend to like longer, more connected stories and find short stories frustrating. It's hard enough leaving a character you love after several hours, but it's challenging to form an attachment to a character over the space of a few minutes, and if one does, there's always this "what happens next???" feeling.


Posted Dec. 02, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cathyoc

Join Date: 04/26/17

Posts: 247

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I haven’t read short stories in quite awhile. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this short story collection.


Posted Dec. 03, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianeh

Join Date: 08/01/16

Posts: 70

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do not read short stories very often. Having read Berlin's I have come to appreciate this art form. It requires a lot of talent to tell a story completely in so few pages. I still prefer novels in which I become immersed in the characters and thje plot


Posted Dec. 03, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
teacher reader

Join Date: 02/14/18

Posts: 64

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I used to enjoy teaching short stories like those of Kate Chopin, O Henry, etc., but I have never chosen to read them on my own. Like kimk, I often find them frustrating and less satisfying than a novel. I do appreciate the skill that is involved in writing a good one.


Posted Dec. 07, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lole

Join Date: 11/30/19

Posts: 25

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I have read and really enjoyed only a few collections: Redeployment by Phil Klay, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher by Hillary Mantell, Stone Mattress by Margaret Atwood andBerlin's A Manual for Cleaning Women. I sometimes read a story or two from other books and give up, because the writing does not resonate with me.


Posted Dec. 09, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
xandrabk

Join Date: 04/16/19

Posts: 44

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do not regularly read short stories but the ones that I have read where ones that consisted of several authors. I enjoy several authors writing on the same topic, which brings about a bit of a competition of who wrote the best story.


Posted Dec. 23, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scgirl

Join Date: 06/05/18

Posts: 245

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

No, I don't read short stories in general. I am not a fan of the genre unless the book of short stories (where the plot is completed in the story) interweave into a conclusion at the end.


Posted Dec. 26, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jennie r

Join Date: 08/06/17

Posts: 56

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

I do enjoy reading short stories, particularly when I have a very busy week (or month) without much time for reading as I can usually complete one without losing the thread of the story. Same goes for when I’m traveling.


Posted Jan. 02, 2020 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janicea

Join Date: 04/20/17

Posts: 32

RE: Do you regularly read short stories, and if so, what in particular do you like about the genre?

No, I do not regularly read short stories. I found most short stories did not thoroughly develop the characters for me to understand their role, background, or relationship to the story. If this was accomplished, then the story was lacking in some way, generally by providing an incomplete ending. This book showed how the short story should be written.


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