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Reminder!

Next Tuesday November 6 at 7:30 p.m. EST the Babble Book Club will hold its final discussion of the current topic “What are the best Canadian short stories” in the babble book lounge. We encourage everyone to join in on the conversation and participate! 

There has been some great ongoing discussion from readers and next Tuesday would be a great opportunity to tie everything together on this expansive and engrossing coversation topic.

1. What short stories or short story collection(s) did you read and why? What did you feel drawn to?

2. Do you prefer to read short stories or novels? Does either genre have key attributes that you prefer?

3. What do you think of John Metcalf and his assertions about Canadian literature? Do you think Penguin Canada made a good selection in choosing Jane Urquhart as editor of their short story collection?

4. Do you think it is important to arrange Canadian literature, especially short stories, into a canon? What purpose do you think it serves?

5. What are your go to recommendations for Canadian literature? Short story authors? Novelists?

6. Do you think short stories are just precursors to the novel or that they are their own distinct genre?

Let us know what you think about all these and more, and take a look at some of the additional blog posts we have had about this discussion: “How to read a short story” by Michael Stewart, “On Lee Maracle’s ‘Yin Chin’” by Canadian Literature editor Margery Fee and a few recommendation from Babble Book Club alum Kevin Chong in the babble thread.

For those wanting to join the Babble Book Club discussion, but are new to rabble.ca, here are some easy steps and tips:

1. To ask questions and submit comments, you must first register as a rabble.ca user and create a free rabble.ca account. This account allows access to babble, which is rabble.ca’s online discussion board and community where users can discuss ideas and opinions. Any questions about babble can be answered or asked on this thread as well as the babble FAQ page.

2. The Babble Book Club sets up a babble thread before our final discussion to promote ongoing conversation — check out our exisiting thread for the Canadian short stories topic. A babble thread just means the “page” where various babble users (babblers) can post their comments and questions. Babblers post in “real-time” and can also quote other users, use emoticons or post links!

3. Our final discussion will take place Tuesday November 6 7:30 p.m. EST in “real-time,” which means more Babble Book Club members will be present at this time for a more interactive conversation. After the “official discussion” the thread will remain open for readers to post additional questions and comments; however, they may not be responded to immediately!

So (while you’re maybe watching the American election results), let everyone know what you think about this topic of Canadian short stories and contribute to the conversation on Canadian literature.

Check out the Babble Book Club’s Facebook group for additional fun!