Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

NOTE: Short story selections will continue as QUARTERLY reads for 2025.

Every QUARTER we will read a COLLECTION of short stories by ONE AUTHOR. The collection as a whole should have an original publication date no later than 1975, 50 years ago, as per group guidelines.

Please suggest an author whose short stories you would like to read with the group next year. Please also provide a title of a collection of short stories by that author. Linking the book through Goodreads' add book/author option is super helpful for everyone. (wink, wink.) If you're unsure about the group having already read short stories by the author, please refer to our Short Story Classics section for recent reads and the Archive Short Stories section for past reads. Suggestions need at least 3 votes to be added to the schedule.

Suggestions (& votes):
X - Cane by Jean Toomer

XX - You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down: Short Stories by Alice Walker

X - The Open Door and Other Stories of the Seen and Unseen by Mrs. Oliphant

Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott

X - The Life to Come and Other Stories by E.M. Forster

XXX - Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb

X - Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams by Philip K. Dick

XX - Game Without Rules by Michael Gilbert

XX - Complete Short Stories OR Collected Short Stories by Graham Greene (READER'S CHOICE)

The New York Stories of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton

I'd be interested in :

Jean Toomer's Cane, first published 1923

Alice Walker's You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down: Stories, first published in 1971

I suggest Mrs. Oliphant book
The Open Door and Other Stories of the Seen and Unseen

Alcott Louisa May book Flower Fables

Jen wrote: "I'd be interested in :

Jean Toomer's Cane, first published 1923

Alice Walker's You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down: Stories, first publis..."

I support both of these.

Nidhi wrote: "I suggest Mrs. Oliphant book
The Open Door and Other Stories of the Seen and Unseen

Alcott Louisa May book Flower Fables"

I support The Open Door and Other Stories of the Seen and Unseen

I'll nominate The Life to Come and Other Stories by E.M. Forster.

I add Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb in my suggestions

I support Alice Walker and E M Foster.

I'm sure someone has suggested Alice Munro..but I'm just putting it out there.

Nidhi wrote: "I add Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb in my suggestions"

I support.

Piyangie wrote: "Nidhi wrote: "I add Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb in my suggestions"

I support."

I have a book by Charles Lamb about Shakespeare. But I don't know how to find it in my house. She has plenty of books! However, I'll support it!

Nancy wrote: "I'm sure someone has suggested Alice Munro..but I'm just putting it out there."

We just did Alice Munro at the beginning of this year. Feel free to read the book and share your comments, Nancy.

Rosemarie wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I'm sure someone has suggested Alice Munro..but I'm just putting it out there."

We just did Alice Munro at the beginning of this year. Feel free to read the book and sh..."
I should have checked the book shelf before suggesting Munro! Oops.

No worries!

Nidhi wrote: "I add Ten Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb in my suggestions"

support

suggestion Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams

the anothology is published in 2010s

but (I have this, not this ed but another one, where it lists) the orig published date of all shorts in this collection; it's before 1975.

Anisha, original publishing/writing date is what we go by. Electric Dreams is a perfectly acceptable suggestion.

I love seeing the suggestions and supports coming in. I'll organize it all by the end of the week if not before.

Suggestion: Published 1967 - Game Without Rules
by Michael Gilbert

These stories are about a pair of semi-retired English spies in the 1960s; they deal with both echoes of their exploits in World War 2, and the realities of the Cold War period.

Samantha, I'd like to propose Complete Short Stories by Graham Greene, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as one story in the collection (The Last Word) was written in 1988 - all the other stories seem to be within date.

If that rules it out, could I propose instead Collected Short Stories by Graham Greene? It was published in 1972.

I second Electric Dreams, Game Without Rules and Graham Greene

Nancy wrote: "Suggestion: Published 1967 - Game Without Rules
by Michael Gilbert

These stories are about a pair of semi-retired English spies in the 1960s; they deal with both ech..."

Nancy, this looks interesting, I've checked out a sample, I don't have this but have added to my wishlist - thanks!!!!!

Anisha Inkspill wrote: "Nancy wrote: "Suggestion: Published 1967 - Game Without Rules
by Michael Gilbert

These stories are about a pair of semi-retired English spies in the 1960s; they deal..."

You are very welcome!

John wrote: "Samantha, I'd like to propose Complete Short Stories by Graham Greene, but I'm not sure if it qualifies as one story in the collection (The Last Word) was written in 1988 ..."

I would like to support the Graham Greene Shorts

Suggestions and votes thus far tallied! 12:11 pm CDT November 25th.

I would like to suggest The New York Stories of Edith Wharton