Thursday, June 5, 2008

Friday Book and Another Blog I Read

This post is another book recommendation and part of Pattie Abbott's Forgotten Book Friday. But I'm taking the premise one step farther and talk about what is fast becoming a forgotten form of fiction ... the short story. My friend Debbie blogged about this very thing in two recent posts over at the criminal brief site.

In the spirit of her posts I am recommending a fine short story collection. Davis Grubb is best known for his suspenseful novel, The Night of the Hunter, but I've never read it. I did however, read a collection of his short stories that was released after his death in 1980.




You Never Believe Me:And Other Stories is chocked full of dark tales. From the weird, to the ironic to the finely woven plots filled with murder and vengeance. The collection houses eighteen tales and while some are better than others they all have their merits and at least a dozen classify as pure classics. One was made into a segment on the old Twilight Zone series. Also included are personl noted from the author which adds to the stories.




Now for another addition to the blogroll ...

Welcome to The Patti-O is the outlet for fellow Texan and Shiner Bock drinker Patti. She very well could be the closet thing to a female version of me out there. Today's post is a good one and she is search for a wedding dress for her son's upcoming wedding so if any of you are fashion designers or just savvy in that department stop in and offer her some advice. Otherwise, stop in and get ready to smile. It's hard not to when reading her wit.

15 comments:

Tawnya Shields said...

I really enjoy compilations like this. I will add this to my wish list at Amazon.com

I have quite a few collections like this in different genres. I decour short stories. Could be that I have attention affective disorder. :O)

Charles Gramlich said...

I still read quite a few short story collections. I really appreciate the art of the short story. It's a difficult form to master but it has so much potential. And there are many stories that just can't be told in novel form but need to be short stories.

Vesper said...

Thanks for sharing this. I'll add this book to my list.
It's not easy to write a short story...

Monnik said...

I love that you picked short stories. I am really getting into them lately. And, since I'm a person who typically has 3 books going at once, I love that I can put a collection of SSs down and come back to it a few days later!

And that Patti sure is entertaining - I have enjoyed her blog for a while and I found her here!!

pattinase (abbott) said...

There is nothing more satisfying than a good short story because you can read it in one sitting and go away sated.

Bernita said...

Believe I read Night of the Hunter years ago. Really masterful suspense.

Aaron said...

Her son is going to wear a wedding dress? I've gotta check in on this!

Melissa Amateis said...

Sometimes I get in the mood to read some short stories and sometimes I'm in the mood to write them, but it's rare because they're so hard to write.

Lisa said...

I'm hoping to tackle some of my short story collections this summer. Great idea.

And -- as a regular visitor to The Patti-O, I have to say that on most days, I need my fix! The day is not complete without a stop in to see Patti.

Beck said...

That actually sounds pretty terrific - and I love the title. I wish I'd thought of it.

Barbara Martin said...

Travis, thanks for reminding me to read the 80th anniversary DAW of fantasy short stories I have in my bookcase. I wonder what gems I'll find in there.

Many years ago I took a children's writing course and found out just how difficult it was to compose and write something in 750 words.

Andrea Frazer said...

Great recommendations as usual. I am so behind... aaackkk.

And can I just say, and I don't mean this in any way to sound like a ditzy woman, but how the hell do people stay abreast of everything with news, radio, magazines, blogs, literature and on and on? Am I just the dumbest most uneducated person ever that I get most of my news from AOL's home page?

Okay,don't answer that. My point: Thank you for kicking my ass.

DrillerAA said...

I've never been able to stay with a long novel. Short stories are better suited to my personality.

Patti said...

nice surprise to see me featured. holla!

Anonymous said...

Sounds good. I like to keep a short story collection on my nightstand, right now it's the current David Eggers "The Best American Nonrequired Reading".