
Short story club is the book club for busy people
Big Night In is a series where Canadian experts and creatives share advice on how to spend a magical night at home. It's the ultimate guide to staying in — whether solo or with friends — featuring thoughtfully curated ideas that are anything but routine.
Turn the typical book club format into a one-night-only literary adventure. Rather than committing to monthly meetings and a full novel, you and a few friends can spend an evening focusing on a single short story — a piece of fiction that'll spark just as much conversation but require far less prep.
"Gathering to read and discuss stories with a group of friends is one of life's great joys," said lifestyle writer and The Next Chapter columnist Alicia Cox Thomson. "You're exposed to different points of view because people process literature through their personal experiences."
Cox Thomson suggests keeping the group small — around four to six people — so everyone can share their thoughts without getting lost in the shuffle. Choosing a story that fits the vibe of your group is also important. "You know your friends," she said. "What will get them thinking, laughing, talking?"
If you're looking for something fun and buzzy, pick a light-hearted story; for a deeper dive, go for dark and thought-provoking. Collections like How to Pronounce Knife by Souvankham Thammavongsa and Peacocks of Instagram by Deepa Rajagopalan contain fantastic options that bring fresh perspectives and diverse voices to the table, says Cox Thomson. She also likes How to Walk on Water and Other Stories by Rachel Swearingen and Show Them a Good Time by Nicole Flattery, which feature "stories about womanhood and the minutiae of life that are dark, peculiar, moving, haunting and often laugh-out-loud funny."
To start the evening, you might listen to an audio version of the story together while settling in with snacks and drinks. When it's time for discussion, Cox Thomson suggests having a few open-ended questions prepared. Start with something simple: "Let's all share three adjectives to describe this story." Another great opener: "Who would you recommend this story to and why?" She also suggests encouraging each guest to come up with a question of their own. The key is to let the conversation flow naturally while keeping an eye on balance — invite quieter guests to share and gently steer the discussion if it drifts too far off course.
If you decide you'd like to make this a regular thing, then wrap up the evening by talking about what to read next. Whether you swap hosts or stick to the same spot, the goal is to keep things fresh and exciting. Maybe next time it's a surreal fairy tale — "In White Cat, Black Dog, Pulitzer-nominated author Kelly Link reinterprets familiar fables and fairy tales from around the world, modernizing them in subversive, thought-provoking ways," Cox Thomson said. Or perhaps it's a romantic comedy or a haunting thriller. Whatever you choose, a short-story club makes it easier to dive into some great literature.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Vancouver Sun
an hour ago
- Vancouver Sun
Three B.C. bands make the 2025 Polaris Music Prize long list
Three B.C. bands have been named to the 2025 Polaris Music Prize long list. Juno-winning Haisla rappers Snotty Nose Rez Kids' Red Future, Victoria's dapper Art d'Ecco's Serene Demon, indie rock fixture Destroyer's Dan's Boogie are all albums nominated on the list. A total of 189 albums were considered for the Long List this year. Artists include 16 first-time nominees, two past winners in Backxwash and Caribou, and one past recipient of the Polaris Heritage Prize in Rich White, a member of Eric's Trip. Established in 2006, the Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the winner, with runners-up each receiving $3,000. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The assemblage of 40 Canadian artists will be narrowed down by the 205-member Polaris Prize jury to 10 finalists on July 10, when the Polaris Prize short list is set to be revealed. Along with the long list, the new SOCAN Polaris Song Prize category was announced. The first expansion to the prize since the hall of fame Heritage Prize was launched in 2015, the song prize will be adjudicated by the members of the Polaris jury to determine the Canadian song of the year. Criteria considered is similar to the main award, based only on artistic merit, without any regard given to genre or commercial success. The Song Prize will feature a 20-nominee Long List to be revealed on July 29. Winners of the inaugural SOCAN Polaris Song Prize will receive $10,000 split between the song's Canadian performers and credited Canadian songwriter or songwriters. The prize money is courtesy of SOCAN. The Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize will reveal its 12 nominated heritage recordings in July. The winners of that award are to be announced in October. An 11-member grand jury selected from the greater juror pool will make the final vote for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize winner to be announced on Sept. 16 at Toronto's Massey Hall. Tickets to the Polaris concert and awards ceremony are on sale at . A 15 per cent Long List discount is available using the code POLARIS15. Here is the complete list of 40 Canadian artists selected by the 205 member jury: • Art d'Ecco — Serene Demon • Backxwash — Only Dust Remains • Quinton Barnes — CODE NOIR • Bibi Club — Feu de garde • Basia Bulat — Basia's Palace • Caribou — Honey • Lou-Adriane Cassidy — Journal d'un Loup-Garou • Choses Sauvages — Choses Sauvages III • Cold Specks — Light For The Midnight • Antoine Corriveau — Oiseau de Nuit • Marie Davidson — City of Clowns • Destroyer — Dan's Boogie • Myriam Gendron — Mayday • Gloin — All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry) • Saya Gray — SAYA • Hildegard — Jour 1596 • Yves Jarvis — All Cylinders • Kaia Kater — Strange Medicine • Bells Larsen — Blurring Time • Richard Laviolette — All Wild Things Are Shy • Wyatt C. Louis — Chandler • Kelly McMichael — After The Sting Of It Men I Trust – Equus Asinus • Mustafa — Dunya • N NAO — Nouveau language • Nemahsis — Verbathim • Eliza Niemi — Progress Bakery • The OBGMs — SORRY, IT'S OVER • Dorothea Paas — Think Of Mist • Klô Pelgag — Abracadabra • Population II — Maintenant Jamais • Ribbon Skirt — Bite Down • Ariane Roy — Dogue • Mike Shabb — Sewaside III • Sister Ray — Believer • Snotty Nose Rez Kids — RED FUTURE • The Weather Station — Humanhood • Rick White and The Sadies — Rick White and The Sadies • Donovan Woods — Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now • Yoo Doo Right — From the Heights of Our Pastureland sderdeyn@


Edmonton Journal
an hour ago
- Edmonton Journal
RCMP musical ride returns to Alberta this summer
Article content Among Canadian iconography, the RCMP musical ride is among the most revered. And for the first time since 2017, they're returning to Edmonton this summer, after a scheduled tour in 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a 2023 tour at stops across the country in honour of the ride's 150th anniversary, though it didn't stop at as many Alberta locations.


Calgary Herald
2 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
RCMP musical ride performing at Calgary Stampede and across Alberta this summer
Article content A Canadian institution will be performing at the 2025 Calgary Stampede. Article content The RCMP announced the musical ride will be at the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for nine of the event's 10-day run. Performances will be on July 4-6 and 8-13, the Mounties announced Tuesday. Article content The ride includes up to 35 Mounties and their horses performing intricate movements and drills for a 30-minute performance. Article content Article content Each province gets a tour by the musical riders every four years. This summer the musical ride will be in Alberta from July 4, where the tour starts at the Calgary Stampede, until Sept. 7. Article content Other stops for the musical ride around Calgary include at the Strathmore Stampede Aug. 1-3, Century Downs Racetrack and Casino, north of the city, on August 9 and 10 and at Spruce Meadows Sept. 1 and 3-7. Article content Article content