Welcome to the end of season one. You are listening to “The Shorttales Club,” where we read, think and discuss short stories we love.
Every new year signifies change but with it comes the end of old things. So Oz and friends will be taking a short break before returning with a brand new season of the show. However, before we say goodbye, here’s one more episode.
Join us as we take a look back at some of the stories we’ve covered on The Shorttales Club.
The Madman by Chinua Achebe
We had lots of laughs as we delved into mental health, the stigma associated with it, the importance of therapy and of course, how at the end of the day, almost all of us are mad and should seek help. Thumbs up to Chinua Achebe for writing this in 1971 and predicting our present reality.
The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
When an extremely expensive necklace goes missing and the borrower is too afraid or ashamed to admit the loss, you are left with a lifetime of servitude as they try to raise the money to replace what’s missing.
Hanan took this personally, blaming the wife for her high taste and the sin of saddling her husband with debt. We had fun defending her honour but did not fail to point out each of the character’s flaws.
Guy’s story is a masterpiece that everyone should read as it will leave you with a lifelong lesson on contentment.
This Man by Kasimma
The story had us talking about the afterlife, religion and to what extent the dead affect the living. The ghost-filled episode brought Peter into the mix and I suspect this is Cryptte’s favourite. He just couldn’t stop laughing.
This Man is a tale of corrupt politicians, ancestral worship and the Biafran war, told in the guise of a ghost story. A must-read for anyone looking for something deep told simply.
We Will Talk About Other Things Instead by Deborah Oluniran Adeniyi
The story is about a shattered mind, with all the characters as confused as the reader, trying desperately to piece together the mystery that is the life of our protagonist.
We all argued and debated in an attempt to interpret what each phase of the story really meant. One thing we did all agree on however, was how there is only a thin line between her sanity and madness.
The Man from Kawo by Blessing Tarfa
Fresh brought Blessing’s words to life with a reading early in the episode, doing justice to the author’s descriptions and the power of her imagination. Hanan was left speechless when he realised the true nature of Iman’s suffering while my voice cried for vengeance.
This story is not for the faint of heart and the captivating way it is told just makes it more disturbing.
Caterer, Caterer by Pemi Aguda
You see the word caterer and you think food, right? Well, no! This is one meal you don’t want to be eating. A mysterious priest, a handicapped husband, and an enterprising caterer come together in this tale of cannibalism and deceit.
This was another hilarious episode with everyone picking their favourite character. I’d love to know who you prefer.
Call Her No One written by Frances Ogamba
This episode brought Deborah into the gang of bedroom critics and she owned it, by confessing her love for Frances and all her stories. However, Call Her No One is far from sunshine and rainbows. It’s a horrific tale, particularly for anyone looking forward to the joys of motherhood. It will leave you appalled and emotionally drained from both excitement and shock. The perfect present to the end of the season.
Farewell and See you Soon
I hope you’ve enjoyed our discussions and would not hesitate to read up on the stories, listen to the episodes and tell us if you agree with our thoughts or not.
