Like Sherry, i'm a Melville fan. I wish his shorter works were as well known as his longest tome, Moby-Dick. His short story, "Bartleby, the Scrivener" http://www.bartleby.com/129/
is one of the best for group discussion, even though it's a tad long.

And Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a thought provoking classic. It continues to be a favorite of mine, again partly because it is excellent fodder for chats.

deborah

Proulx wrote the short story. It originally appeared in The New Yorker magazine. You will find it in her collection of short stories titled: Close Range: Wyoming stories.

She wrote the screenplay with Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana.

Isn't she the same lady who co-wrote Brokeback Mountain -- I believe with Larry McMurtry?

Donna in Southern Maryland

I enjoyed The Shipping News, too, Sherry. I thought the main character was different which made the story interesting. I also liked that the story was set in Newfoundland. Her writing draws me into the story right away.

I also enjoyed That Old Ace in the Hole.

I have her Postcards and Close Range on my TBR stacks.

.... ........

August is a good month for literary types! I'm one of those odd ducks who really enjoys Melville,and I like Annie Proulx as well.

While I enjoyed The Shipping News most - it was one of the first I discussed online with other readers - I also like Accordion Crimes and her more recent short stories.

Accordion Crimes

Kind of makes you doubt astrology to see Danielle Steel, Annie Proulx, Tennyson, Clinton, and Charles Bukowski all born in the same month.

Jan O'Cat

Here are a few authors who were born in August.
Are any of your favorites here?

- Herman Melville (1819 - 1891)

- James Baldwin (1924 - 1987)

- Leon Uris (1924 - 2003)

- Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

- Alex Haley (1921 - 1992)

- Jonathan Franzen (1959 - )

- Annie Proulx (1935 - )

- Robertson Davies (1913 - 1995)

- Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)

- Mary Shelley (1797 - 1851)

- President Bill Clinton 1946-
- President Benjamin Harris 1833-1901
- President Herbert Hoover 1874-1964

-Danielle Steel 1947

-Charles Bukowski 1920-1994