May 2022 Book of the Month Club - Short Stories

[rubysmama]

May is short story month, so instead of reading a book, we are going to read some short stories. We’ve chosen five, all of which can be easily read online, or listened to via YouTube. The stories range from just over 1000 words to 12,000 words, so 3 weeks should give everyone enough to time read them. However, if time is short, you can just read as many, or as few, as you'd like, and still be able to join in the discussion later in the month.

1. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Read online at: https://www.sdfo.org/gj/stories/flowersforalgernon.pdf
Read reviews at: Flowers for Algernon - Short Story
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2. The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs

Read online at: https://www.kyrene.org/cms/lib/AZ01001083/Centricity/Domain/2259/The Monkeys Paw - text.pdf
Read reviews at: The Monkey's Paw
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3. On The Gull’s Road by Willa Cather

Read online at: On the Gulls' Road | Willa Cather Archive
Read reviews: On The Gull's Road
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4. Cat in the Rain by Ernest Hemingway

Read online at: Cat in the Rain By Ernest Hemingway.pdf
Read reviews at: Cat in the Rain
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5. The Necklace by Guy De Maupassant

Read online at: https://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/sites/default/files/the_diamond_necklace.pdf
Read reviews: The Necklace
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We will be reading the short stories between May 1st and May 21st.
Discussion will begin May 22nd

Everyone is invited to read along with us.
You can RSVP by posting in this thread.

For anyone who prefers audio books, here are the YouTube links:

Flowers for Algernon - part 1 (28 minutes, 28 seconds)


Flowers for Algernon - part 2 (56 minutes, 28 seconds)


The Monkey's Paw (25 minutes, 24 seconds)


On The Gull's Road (45 minutes, 33 seconds)


Cat In The Rain (6 minutes, 27 seconds)


The Necklace (17 minutes, 21 seconds)

 

[artiemom]

OMGosh....
Flowers for Algernon.. OMG... I remember reading it either in High School or right after high school.. I forgot about it, until I saw the post.
Such a good book... I cried ... and cried... It is one of those books, you really HAVE to read.

I saw the movie also.....never as good as the book, but powerful, nontheless.

 

[rubysmama]

I also read Flowers for Algernon in either junior high or high school, and also loved it. So knew it was one we had to read for Short Story Month. Hope you'll have time to read it in May, artiemom , so you can see if you love it as much now as you did then.

 

[pearl99]

I read the novel Flowers for Algernon and loved it. Didn't know it was a short story first, I'll enjoy this one a lot.
Hopefully can read all the others also.

 

[rubysmama]

Hope you'll be able to read them all too, pearl99 . But if not, that's fine, as just reading one, you'll still be able to join the discussion.

 

[misty8723]

OMGosh....
Flowers for Algernon.. OMG... I remember reading it either in High School or right after high school.. I forgot about it, until I saw the post.
Such a good book... I cried ... and cried... It is one of those books, you really HAVE to read.

I saw the movie also.....never as good as the book, but powerful, nontheless.

I read this book a long time ago and loved it, definitely sad. But I thought it was a book, not a short story. I also didn't think the movie was as good.

 

[rubysmama]

I recently borrowed the Flowers For Algernon e-book from the library, and there were parts I'm pretty sure weren't in the version I read in school. However, I seem to remember the school copy being in book format. So maybe it was printed as a book for schools, even though it was officially a short story.

 

[gilmargl]

I may miss out on April's Book of the month and concentrate on these short stories. I should have known - modern books offered free are not for me. What amuses some people makes my skin creep - humour is a very personal thing and is either funny or just plain stupid. But don't worry - it makes me smile to think of people enjoying something harmless .
I'm certainly going to enjoy these short stories - even if I do find one a bit tiresome, it will not be long enough to really get on my nerves!

Thank you rubysmama and other members of the team for running these threads!
(Sorry for being a pain....)

 

[verna davies]

gilmargl . You are certainly not a pain. Thankfully we are individuals who like different things and have different senses of humour, its not one size fits all and we are always glad to have different perspectives on the books chosen. Read what appeals to you and review as you, as an individual sees it.

 

[rubysmama]

Thank you rubysmama rubysmama and other members of the team for running these threads!
(Sorry for being a pain....)

gilmargl : You are most definitely not being a pain. You're one of our loyal, regular book club readers, and we truly appreciate your participation each month. But we would never expect you, or anyone, to read a book that does not appeal to them. So if you feel Louisiana Longshot isn't for you, that's fine. We'll see you again for Short Story Month.

 

[misty8723]

I have just downloaded the short stories that are in PDF form and will be reading as much of them as I can. I have three other books started and one of the previous month books just came available from the library.

 

[verna davies]

I have just downloaded the short stories that are in PDF form and will be reading as much of them as I can. I have three other books started and one of the previous month books just came available from the library.

Someone's going to be busy.

 

[maggiedemi]

Ernest Hemingway is fabulous! The movies based on his books are anyway...Is that story just 6 minutes or is that only Part 1?
Does Flowers For Algernon have any romance in it? The last 3 books sound like the best.

 

[rubysmama]

Does Flowers For Algernon have any romance in it?

No. At least I don't think so. It's a really good story though, so definitely worth reading.

 

[maggiedemi]

It's a really good story though, so definitely worth reading.

Nah, I probably wouldn't read the first two. But the last 3 sound good...

 

[rubysmama]

Nah, I probably wouldn't read the first two. But the last 3 sound good...

Sounds good. And glad you'll be able to join us in May.

 

[maggiedemi]

Cat In The Rain

Well I listened to the Cat story. But it was only 6 minutes and they don't say how it ends! Is there more to it?

 

[rubysmama]

Well I listened to the Cat story. But it was only 6 minutes and they don't say how it ends! Is there more to it?

I don't know. Probably not, as it is a short story.. But I haven't read it yet. Cuz, it's still April.

 

[maggiedemi]

I don't know. Probably not, as it is a short story.. But I haven't read it yet. Cuz, it's still April.

Well let me know, cause if that is the ending, then short stories are definitely not for me! I want to know what happens to the cat!

 

[rubysmama]

Well let me know, cause if that is the ending, then short stories are definitely not for me! I want to know what happens to the cat!

Novels often leave you wondering about what came next too. Guess you have to use your own imagination.