Anyone interested in jumping in on a book club here? I'd love to have one going, do discussions online and so on.
It pertains to another discussion, so I thought we could read some titles that might help us as writers. That seems to be the goal of most who use the community here, yeah? And reading of denser texts is always a lot better when you have people who will talk about them with you.
Because November has already started, I'm going to declare it the month of Palm-of-the-Hand Stories by Yasunari Kawabata. This book has very, very short stories, and it's a book that Amy Hempel has taught her MFA students in the past.
The best part is, you can read complete stories in a couple minutes, meaning we can talk about them here without everyone needing to read the entire book.
Before the end of the month, we'll vote on a December title.
Let's do this.
I've heard of it, would like to read it. If I come up with a copy, I'll check in here.
Okay Snow. Let's do it. I don't have the book, but I'll find it or some of its stories and get on board. I am finding, the more intense my own writing efforts, the more I want to yak about it, so it would be right down my alley. Thanks.
Wasn't there already a book club back when your name was Pete?
Yes there did used to be s book club. Pete decided to give it a break after such poor responses to certain months, which was a shame because when it hit right it had some fantastic discussions. I haven't seen Pete on here since tho :(
i have not heard about it but t will be interesting to read
Interested. #following and all that jazz.
I don't think I'm the same Pete. I used to be on the old, OLD forums at chuckpalahniuk.net, but as tomstrong83. But I have a terrible memory, so it's possible.
Why don't we start with "A Sunny Place." Because it's the first story in the volume...and because someone might have found a PDF.
Thoughts?
Yasunari Kawabata wrote this? Thanks for the PDF. This is good. A story about a habit of staring at people. What a luxury to stare endlessly at someone's face. Of course, in my observance, children are allowed to stare to a certain age. In fact it seems advisable to stare as a child, pay attention to what is going on, in order to adjust to the changing temperaments of adults. But to be an adult staring at another adult. That is a different matter. Especially a man at a woman. The writing is good, I could feel her physical sesations of being stared at. This is high tinkered delicate language, and I like it. Thanks Snow. It's pretty sexy too.
I'll read it again and maybe talk some more if others respond. I was a little robotic today, but I made it through the motions for the most part, and this was a moment of imagery that stuck out. I love him looking at the blind face.
"...the effort she had to make to allow herself to be seen."....Brilliant.
Of course, in my observance, children are allowed to stare to a certain age...But to be an adult staring at another adult. That is a different matter.
So true! You'll be stared at by a kid from time to time, and it's no biggie, but if an adult did the same thing...
I think that's part of what I like about this story. Lots of writers would shy away from writing it because they would be worried about sounding "creepy." At least, that's my theory on it.
A man that stares unresevedly really is an extraordinary thing. I am trying to remember the story now, it's been days and so many words in between, but there is nothing at all creepy about this story to me. I'd have to read it again to be able to talk about it any further. I thought you'd have a few more people interested in talking.
I'm found it interesting but have three books already going and no Kindle or laptop. Thus I'd be stuck ordering a paperback. Money being tight, not a good time for yet another AMZN purchase.
