A Brief Reading discussion

Hi everyone! My name is Brooke Lee. Thanks for joining my little short story home away from home. So many lovely people have expressed a desire to read short stories, but have been frustrated in the past when they've tried on their own. So let's do it together!

This group will be very low key. Easy, informal discussions as we go along and work the kinks out about what works best for this group. We'll start with one collection a month and see how that goes and then maybe add a second or even some poetry collections into the mix.

We'll have a single discussion thread for each title where we will openly discuss whatever we want. It's probably best to name the title of the story if you are specifically speaking about that story. All of this is common sense.

There will also be a discussion thread for short story recommendations. Anyone can recommend any title there and we'll pull our monthly selections from that thread - mostly at random. It'll also be a great source for collection recommendations outside of the group reading experience for the next time you place an order or hit your local bookshop!

Feel free to introduce yourself here and ask any questions you may have. We'll read books starting on the 15th of every month through the 15th of the next month. First book has been selected and we'll get started midway through November. Happy Reading!

Hi! My name is Max, and while I wouldn't say I'm an avid short story collection reader, I do really enjoy them. I've read a handful in the last year or so and am always looking for recommendations. I notice that it takes me a while to get through collections because I'm less motivated to pick one up as opposed to a full novel. But I do read the New Yorker short stories since I'm a subscriber, and I almost always enjoy those. I'm hoping this group will motivate me to read more collections and make some new bookish friends. Thanks for creating this group! Can't wait!

Hey :) I'm Kelly and I'm a bit of a short story addict, I usually read at least a couple of collections each month and they're usually magical realism or fairytale inspired. I try to always have one on the go so I can read stories to break up my other reading (novels etc) but I usually end up playing the 'just one more story' game and I'll have finished the collection before I know it! I'm really looking forward to seeing what other people enjoy.

Hi! My name is Aurora and I really enjoy reading short stories. I read a couple of collections a months. So far it's been mostly magical-realism/slipstream stuff and I'd love to broaden my horizon a bit. So hopefully this group will help with that. I can't wait to start reading!

Hi! My name is Terri. This is a great idea, Brooke. I definitely want to read more short story collections, and was aiming to read one a month in 2016 so this group is very well timed for me! Just yesterday (pay day!) I ordered a few collections, mostly recommended by Mercedes (mercysbookishmusings) ... but of course, not the first group read, lol! So I'll have to go ahead and pick that one up. Looking forward to this :)

Hello :) I wouldn't call myself an avid reader of short stories, probably 2 or 3 collections a year, but always on the look-out for ideas.
I am what I've seen described as a 'mood reader' so can't commit to anything every month, but one advantage of short story volumes is the ability to dive in and out.
The Gutshot; Stories looks 'interesting', and it has a very cool cover :)
(I perhaps have a weakness for the weird?) :)

Hi! I'm Kris. This is such a wonderful idea. 2015 was the year I was going to begin reading short story collections. So far...only have read one. I'm really looking forward to participating in the reads.

Hey all! I'm Mercedes and I'm a short story addict! Haha. I read 2 or 3 collections most months and would like to keep this up I. The coming year :) I'm so excited about this group so thank you so much Brooke for creating it!

Very much looking forward to reading some fantastic collections with you! Plus I'm super excited for Gutshot, it was already on my tbr (I mean how could it not be with that cover?!) so I'm glad I'm finally going to read it :)

*waves to everyone* Thanks for joining up and getting this group off the group with me! Don't forget to add any short story collections or authors you're interested in to the recommendations discussion!

Hi everyone! I'm Dawn. I really haven't been that much of a short story reader, but it's alawys something I've wanted to get more into. I read the occasional short story but not collections. I think this group sounds interesting, and I'm hoping to meet some new people.

Hello all! I'm Desiree and excited about joining this short story focused group. I've dabbled a bit with short story collections but haven't been super consistent in reading them. I recently counted the collections I've acquired and was surprised by the number(!) - a few are already in the recommendations list. Clearly this group will do me some good!

Hello! I'm Erika! I love, love, love short stories, and am super excited to be here!

Hi everyone! Another Erica...but this time with a c haha. I'm not a huge short story reader, only really discovered them last year when a friend recommended a collection to me. I have since picked up a few more collections this year which I've enjoyed so looking forward to discovering more here. Thanks for setting this group up :)

Hi everyone! I'm Daphne, I found out about the group from Mercedes' youtube channel. I really like reading short stories and have read several collections this year. I want to keep it up and I'm always looking for recommendations.

Hi everyone. I'm Claudia, I have read a few short stories but only got into them this year, looking forward to reading more with everyone!

Hi! I'm Meredith and I am new to short story collections. After watching Brooke, Mercedes and Erika rave about short story collections on their YouTube channels, I think I am finally ready to give them a try!

Hi everyone! I'm Nuria and I also discovered this group through Mercedes YT channel.
I've always loved short stories. But it's the first time i'm joiming a club on goodreads about short stories.
Looking forward to reading with you! Also, I'm all about poetry too, so I'd love reading one poetry book per month.
Thanks!

Hello, I'm Rebecca

Hi everyone! I'm Kerstin and I also ended up here via Mercedes' YouTube channel. I never used to be into short stories, but have picked up a couple this year that the aforementioned Mercedes raved about on a number of occasions and I ended up adoring them. So I decided to delve into the genre a little more.

I'm not sure if I will get my hand on this months group read in time, but will definitely join in next time.

Hi! I'm Sam and, like many people above me, I discovered this group through Mercedes YouTube channel. I absolutely love to read short stories, although I don't seem to read as much of them as I'd like to. I'm really excited to find a group who enjoys this genre as much as I do and I'm looking forward to reading with everyone!

Hey all, it's great to have you here :)

Hi, I'm Katrina, I like a short story collection but tend to read them over a fairly long period of time as I forget to pick them up again. I've just ordered the first one so I'll be playing catch up in a few days.

Hi everyone! I'm Kira, I have never read a short story collection and thought this would be great way to give them a try.

Hey! I'm Jillian! :)
I have read only a few short story collections so far. But I really did enjoy them. That's why I want to read a few more. I'm looking forward to read some awesome collections with you guys and hope to meet new people. :)
Oh ... and I'm from Germany. So please excuse me if my grammar or spelling isn't always correct.

Welcome everyone!! I just read this rad quote from Joy Williams (famed short story writer):

"A novel tries to befriend you and the short story almost never."

That's such a true statement and really brings home the difference between novels and short stories.