Sunday Conversation Topic 1/14

[Jason]

Novellas and short stories: How do you feel about novellas (a very short book) and short stories separately?

Since E-book are becoming more and more popular, I've noticed a rise in novellas and short stories. Until recently, I have been ignorant to the idea of novellas, and though I have enjoyed some short stories, I am not an avid short story reader.

Here are some stories that actually are novellas.
Animal Farm (George Orwell)
A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens)
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson)
The Turn of the Screw (Henry James)
The Time Machine (H.G. Wells)

Recently, Fredick Backman and Gillian Flynn have written novellas, John Grisham as published E short stories as teasers to his novels as well as a collection of short stories. Tom Hanks has even gotten into the Short Story market.

Do you like this trend? Do you see yourself reading more novellas and short stories? Do you like a quicker story, less subplots or do you feel short changed by a less in-depth piece of work or are you happy that the author has published an idea that might not have enough to become a full novel and you might never have read? That is why John Grisham wrote his collection of short stories. He had many ideas that never developed into full stories.

Should short stories or novellas be more of an amateur endeavor, or do you appreciate the professionals entering this market such as big name actors entering television?

As always, I look forward to all the ideas.

[LibraryCin]

I am often not a fan of short stories. I feel like just when I'm getting interested in the story/plot/characters, whatever, then it ends!

However, occasionally I find some that stand out (I recently read and reviewed Joe Hill's 20th Century Ghosts and gave it 4 stars).

Novellas are a bit longer, so I'm probably a bit better with those, though I don't read many.

[annapi]

I love them all - a good story is a good story. Some are too long, and some are too short, and some are just right. :)

[Sue]

I didn't used to enjoy short stories. I didn't feel the there was enough time to get to know the characters or for an intricate plot to develop. Recently, though, I read a book of Agatha Christie short stories and enjoyed them.

I think they are handy when I'm short of time, or when I don't feel up to remembering a complicated plot line, or perhaps as a refresher in-between bigger books.

I wonder if books generally are getting longer? I've been reading a lot of books recently that were published in the first half of the 20th century. They seem quite brief in comparison to the more modern ones.

[[deleted user]]

I have mixed feelings about them, as sometimes they do not have very good character or plot development. However, I am trying to tackle a contemporary short story anthology this year, just to bring some diversity to the authors I read.

[Jason]

Annapi, I'm with you. No matter the length, if it's good then I'm good. Shirley Jackson is one of my favorite authors. She's the master of short stories.

Sue, based on wikipedia, it was not until late 18th and early 19th century that novellas became a literary genre with "rules" so novellas became very popular. Recently, that popularity is increasing again, so you can say that early 19th century literature had more short books than before the ebook craze.

Lisa A. That sound fun. I am looking forward to reading Tom Hanks short stories.

[[deleted user]]

Jason wrote: "Lisa A. That sound fun. I am looking forward to reading Tom Hanks short stories. ..."

I placed a hold on the audio version, as it might be even better with Hanks narrating?! Hope you enjoy reading it!

Also, if anyone is interested, the anthology is One World: A global anthology of short stories. Definitely an eclectic mix of authors, including recognizable names like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jhumpa Lahiri.

[martin eden]

I love short stories and novellas. It's straight to the point, a slice of life, or sometimes an unexpected twist at the end. I love that.
I don't think it's an amateur thing or a trend or professionals entering this field. Great writers were specialised in novellas or short stories and are known for them like Roald Dahl, Stephen Crane, Jack London, Raymond Carver, Grace Pailey, and so on. It's a style, a choice.
However, there are not a lot of French short story writers.

[Jason]

Lisa A. Thank you. adding to TBR

[Amy]

Funny, because I was never a lover of shorter works and short stories, but I read three last year. And I think two of them with the ones you mentioned. Gillian Flynn’s for a monthly tag, and Frederick Backman’s Deal of A Lifetime for Fall Flurries. I also read Brokeback mountain, which was incredible and so worth my time, even if my time was just an hour. So while it’s not usually been my thing, I loved many of the stories for the short stories tag December 2016. I like how this group broadens and exposes us. It’s becoming a thing I enjoy.

[Karin]

Sometimes I like novellas, and certainly like them better than shorts stories. I enjoyed short stories growing up and into my twenties, but tend to prefer longer fiction now (at least novel length most of the time).

[JoLene]

I’m in the same mindset as Karin.. when in school, I liked short stories, but for some reason I don’t enjoy them as much. I almost always feel like they end abruptly.

I do try them from time to time. I did enjoy The Tsar of Love and Techno, but I think that was because I love Marra’s writing and also because they were somewhat connected.

[KateNZ]

I really have to make myself read short stories but as long as the subject matter fits the format, I can enjoy them. Neil Gaiman's short stories are fabulous.

[Amy]

Karin reminded me that I had read Paris for One last year, both a novella and short stories. That makes my novella experience four in a year. I just think it’s good to be expanding in the way this group invites. I also read Space Opera (yuck!) which I never would have.

[[deleted user]]

KateNZ wrote: "I really have to make myself read short stories but as long as the subject matter fits the format, I can enjoy them. Neil Gaiman's short stories are fabulous."

Thanks for mentioning Neil Gaiman, as that is another author I would like to try.

[Anita]

I'm definitely a fan of short stories, but I feel like it has been only more recently that I've found them so appealing. It's hard to create a really good one, and I have tremendous admiration for writers who can execute them. I find they often make me think more than a novel does.

The novella is probably my least favorite length. Too short for the level of character development I prefer and too long to really pack a punch like a well done short story. That being said, I feel like there's probably some great works out there that I just haven't read.

[Joi]

I think short stories are growing on me. I used to really dislike them, but recently I've read some more that I've really liked (Nine Stories). There are quite a few that I haven't enjoyed though like One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories, and I didn't love Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days.

I havne't read too many novella's. I generally avoid them because I'm afraid reading too many will drop my page count average, haha. I did really enjoy Gillian Flynn's The Grownup.

I feel like weaving short stories together, and connecting short stories with a common thread or theme is really trendy right now. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie comes to mind. I haven't read The Tsar of Love and Techno but I think it is like this as well.

[JoLene]

Joi wrote: "I feel like weaving short stories together, and connecting short stories with a common thread or theme is really trendy right now."

Add Homegoing to that list as well. I enjoy these types better than just a collection of short stories.

[Amy]

I actually really enjoyed the other Christmas stories book, (fall flurries 2016) - 12 days of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me. For someone who was not necessarily into Christmas or short stories - I actually loved it. Similar title to the one Joi read, but not the same.

[[deleted user]]

Amy and Joi- Since you all are mentioning holiday stories, I am adding them to my 2018 Fall Flurries PBT shelf. Yes, I already have one to gather reading ideas. Something must be wrong with me!

I think I like the idea of the holiday season more, when we are not in the midst of actually celebrating it. Maybe my Fall Flurries reading should begin in Summer, lol! ;-)

[Amy]

You found my review! My True Love Gave To Me - Twelve Holiday Stories. Would you believe I have a Fall Flurries List going too? So when I need them, I can get to them easily. Add the Fifth Petal for Halloween/October. I read that this year and it was great! I also read Herschel and the Hannukkah Goblins, which I had never heard of, but was all of a sudden all over Goodreads during Chanukah time, and it was adorable. My little guy loved it!

[[deleted user]]

Amy wrote: "Would you believe I have a Fall Flurries List going too? So when I need them, I can get to them easily. ..."

Yes! Major pre-planning, that will come in handy later on. :-)