SHORTS & SWEETS BOOK CLUB | Monthly | 07 June 2012

Feb 082012

Shorts & Sweets Book Group meets at 19:30 on the first Thursday of every month, for a couple of hours of literary discussion and sweet treats. Each month we’ll be discussing a different piece of short fiction (be it a short story or two, or perhaps a novella). There is no need to book in advance of coming, just come along to TOM’s Bar. Anyone is welcome, just so long as you’ve a love of good fiction (and a sweet-tooth!).

May:

Due to the jam-packed Brighton Festival and Fringe calendar at The Old Market, the next Shorts & Sweets Book Club has been postponed until June 7th.

Thursday 07 June: A selection of shorts, by Jack London.

In June we’ll look at a selection of short stories by Socialist writer Jack London. We’ll look, in particular, at:

‘To Build a Fire’ – this story was first published in 1902, but then revised and republished in 1908. We will read and compare both drafts

‘South of the Slot’ and ‘The Apostate’ – from the posthumously published collection, Jack London’s San Francisco Stories (2010)

Whilst best known for the children’s novels The Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906),* over the course of his career London would experiment with many different themes, styles, and formats. And, in fact, his literary artistry is most evident in his shorter fiction. As Dale L. Walker wrote:

London’s true métier was the short story … London’s true genius lay in the short form, 7,500 words and under, where the flood of images in his teeming brain and the innate power of his narrative gift were at once constrained and freed. His stories that run longer than the magic 7,500 generally—but certainly not always—could have benefited from self-editing.

In June’s Book Club we will consider London’s short fiction, paying particular attention to the socialist thread that runs throughout the extensive collection. If you don’t own a copy of Jack London’s short stories, then don’t worry.His complete short stories - yes, all 197 of them! - can all be read online, at: http://www.jacklondons.net/writings/ShortStories/index.html

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Event Details:
Title:               Shorts & Sweets Book Club.
Date: The first Thursday of each month.
next: Thursday 07 June. (Please note that due to Festival & Fringe events, there will be no Shorts&Sweets during May.)
Time:              19:30 (but arrive earlier for a chat!)
Bar Open:      From 18:00.
Entrance:       Free, Non-Ticketed.
Additional:     All welcome, ideally (but not exclusively) having read the short.

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