T O P I C R E V I E W |
Salopian |
Posted - 06/07/2007 : 17:06:43 This was in the Guardian on 24th March:
To cut a long story short
Ernest Hemingway once said his best work was a story he wrote in just six words: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn." We challenged some contemporary authors to be equally economical.
"Samaritans." "I'm listening." "Hello?" "Hel..." "Samaritans..." (Michael Faber)
"It can't be. I'm a virgin." (Kate Atkinson)
Set sail, great storm, all lost. (John Banville)
Dream punctured. Build pyre. Curses... Adolf. (Beryl Bainbridge)
See that shadow? (It's not yours.) (Jim Crace)
Defenestrated baby, methamphetamine, prison, rehab, relapse. (Jeffrey Eugenides)
Juicy offer. Must decline. Still paralysed. (Richard Ford)
Bob's last message: Bermuda Triangle, Baloney. (Elmore Leonard)
Dad called: DNA back: he isn't. (Helen Fielding)
Humorous book: critic died laughing. Sued. (Alexander McCall Smith)
"Kiss me." "?" "Kiss me.." "?!!" "Oh, sorry." (Jon McGregor)
Mother's-milk. Ribena. Tetley's. Chibuku-Shake-Shake. Complan. Morphine. (Marina Lewycka)
"Apple?" "No." "Taste!" *** "ADAM?" Oh God. (David Lodge)
Evil isn't necessarily unkind. Gran next. (DBC Pierre)
Megan's baby: John's surname, Jim's eyes. (Simon Armitage)
Purse found. "No notes," she said. (Andrew O'Hagan)
After typing out that much, I decided to see if they were actually on the Internet... |
6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
MM0rkeleb |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 17:50:00 My favorite is the original Hemingway one. Absolutely heartbreaking. |
Salopian |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 10:08:25 quote: Originally posted by BaftaBabe
On the off-chance this is an invitation to post some of our own ...
Of course it is.
quote: I'm starting a 4-word story thread in the Games thingy.
Will try to think of something. |
Salopian |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 10:07:10 quote: Originally posted by Se�n
Womb. Bloom. Groom. Gloom. Rheum. Tomb. Blake Morrison
This is my favourite one. |
BaftaBaby |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 06:54:26 On the off-chance this is an invitation to post some of our own ... I'm starting a 4-word story thread in the Games thingy. With kudos to Sal for pointing it out!
All welcome to join!
|
Sean |
Posted - 06/08/2007 : 00:29:39 Here are the rest...
Served the pie, watched him die. Maggie O'Farrell
Thought love must fade: but no. George Saunders
He didn't. She did. Big mistake. AL Kennedy
They awaited sunrise. It never came. AS Byatt
In the end, everything simply began. Ali Smith
Stop me before I kill again. Hari Kunzru
Free to good home. Extraneous coffin. Barbara Trapido
I repented and turned to Christ. Ian Sansom
"Hello?" "Cupcake." "Douglas?! I'm... married." [click] Miranda July
The pillow smelled like my brother. Patrick Neate
It was a dark, stormy... aaaaargggh! John Lanchester
Armageddon imminent. Make list. Tick most. Ian Rankin
Catherine had treasonable sex. Heads rolled. Helen Simpson
"The Earth? We ate it yesterday." Yann Martel
A&E IOU Toby Litt
Funeral followed honeymoon. He was 90. Graham Swift
Womb. Bloom. Groom. Gloom. Rheum. Tomb. Blake Morrison
Pain, unutterable pain, stertorous exhalation. Death. Will Self
"Mind what gap?" ... ... ... Hilary Mantel
|
randall |
Posted - 06/07/2007 : 18:37:57 The names I recognized: funny. The ones I didn't: most. |