Four Masters of the Short Story

Short stories have the power to entertain, inform, and even heal. Interpreting those stories, uncovering the author’s message, is a noble, challenging task. That task is the goal of this study group. Each week two complex stories by two different master authors are vigorously dissected for their ideas. During a lively exchange of interpretations, participants learn from one another and refine their own positions. At discussion’s end, all have a clearer sense of the author’s words and, week by week, all become more adept at literary interpretation. There are neither prerequisites for this study group nor is specialized knowledge required. The coordinators will provide any necessary definitions of literary terms as well as guidance on how to lead a discussion. The texts will be: Stolen Pleasures by Gina Berriault (Counterpoint, 2011), Liberation Day by George Saunders (Random House, 2022), The Souvenir Museum by Elizabeth McCracken (Ecco, 2001) and My Father's Tears: And Other Stories by John Updike (Random House, 2009).