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pestxbell's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
grahamiam's review against another edition
4.0
Raymond Carver is a fantastic short story artist. This book is a little repetitive with its themes but otherwise a very nice, quick read.
suncica's review
emotional
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
casecous's review against another edition
3.0
First time reading Carver. This particular collection was recommended to me after I asked. I didn't dig the first few stories. The characters were unlikable, the stories ended abruptly, and it was heavy on the male gaze. Maybe that was the point? Still didn't dig it. I don't need to read more stories illustrating how terrible men are and how they dislike the women in their lives. I've heard enough of those. His writing is great though, I liked his style. I don't know if enough to read more.
I enjoyed 'So Much Water Close to Home' because it reminded me of something you would read in English class, then analyze and interpret. 'A Small, Good Thing' was my favorite. One whole star is for that one.
I enjoyed 'So Much Water Close to Home' because it reminded me of something you would read in English class, then analyze and interpret. 'A Small, Good Thing' was my favorite. One whole star is for that one.
lindsayb's review against another edition
4.0
This has been sitting on my DVD shelf for a few years now as the Criterion companion to the movie. While I really enjoy the movie, I think I ended up buying it just because there was a book included in the packaging. And thank goodness...Carver might have continued to go undetected by me as--for the most part--all I've ever heard him discussed is a one sentence nod of approval in passing. Not that I could have predicted it, but I'm glad I've waited to read his work because I might not have appreciated it as much had I read it before this particular moment of my life...whatever that is.
So this is a collection of his stories (plus one poem) that Robert Altman used in his film, which added a whole other level to my reading that I enjoyed. I usually like to read the book before I see the movie, but in this case I'm glad it went the other way around. It was fascinating to find what elements Altman used and their point of departure, and really I can't say that I enjoyed one more than the other in its own right. However, Carver's style really shines through...I love the open ends he leaves in his stories. In other authors' writing, this technique often seems to me like a cop out, a lazy solution for a plot they never quite thought out, but with Carver I feel a sense of certainty planted within what might seem ambiguous. Like this is where we close our eyes to go to sleep for the day, and even though the future likely will sling us every which way, at least we know tomorrow will come, even if maybe not for us...that much we may rely on.
I give this four stars because this is Altman's selection of Carver. Now I want to read Carver's selection of Carver, the way he intended. I am enamored. I have been wooed. I am prepared to blissfully writhe in his stories like a pup when he finds that funky patch of grass in the park. Yeah.
So this is a collection of his stories (plus one poem) that Robert Altman used in his film, which added a whole other level to my reading that I enjoyed. I usually like to read the book before I see the movie, but in this case I'm glad it went the other way around. It was fascinating to find what elements Altman used and their point of departure, and really I can't say that I enjoyed one more than the other in its own right. However, Carver's style really shines through...I love the open ends he leaves in his stories. In other authors' writing, this technique often seems to me like a cop out, a lazy solution for a plot they never quite thought out, but with Carver I feel a sense of certainty planted within what might seem ambiguous. Like this is where we close our eyes to go to sleep for the day, and even though the future likely will sling us every which way, at least we know tomorrow will come, even if maybe not for us...that much we may rely on.
I give this four stars because this is Altman's selection of Carver. Now I want to read Carver's selection of Carver, the way he intended. I am enamored. I have been wooed. I am prepared to blissfully writhe in his stories like a pup when he finds that funky patch of grass in the park. Yeah.
emmamme's review against another edition
4.0
Καθημερινές ιστορίες, φουλ ρεαλιστικές, φαίνονται απλές σε θεματολογία αλλά εξερευνούν σε βάθος τις ανθρώπινες σχέσεις και την ανθρώπινη φύση γενικότερα. Πρώτος Κάρβερ για μένα, θα προσπαθήσω σίγουρα να διαβάσω όλες τις συλλογές του στο πρωτότυπο.
darwin8u's review
4.0
“The past is unclear. It's as if there is a film over those early years. I can't even be sure that the things I remember happening really happened to me.”
― Raymond Carver, "So Much Water So Close to Home" in Short Cuts
Four stars mainly because there isn't much new here. Great here? Absolutely. Most of it is fantastic. Altman loved Carver and you can tell in the movie and his selections of stories. My first introduction to Carver was watching Altman's Short Cuts while still in high school. I liked the film, felt something brutal, raw and strong in the film, but really wasn't old enough to appreciate the source (or Altman's take on it). I probably also didn't have enough lemons in my life to appreciate stories like "A Small, Good Thing" or a poem like "Lemonade". This is as good a place as any to jump into Carver, but I'd seriously recommend any of his collections. He is a master of minimalism, emotion, and humanity.
1. "Neighbors"+* - ★★★★★
2. "They're Not Your Husband"+* - ★★★★
3. "Vitamins"+ - ★★★★
4. "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"* - ★★★★★
5. "So Much Water So Close to Home"+ - ★★★★★
6. "A Small, Good Thing"+ - ★★★★★
7. "Jerry and Molly and Sam"* - ★★★★★
8. "Collectors"+*- ★★★★★
9. "Tell the Women We're Going"# - ★★★★★
10 "Lemonade" (poem) - ★★★★
* from Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
+ from Where I'm Calling From
# from What We Talk About, When We Talk Abotu Love
― Raymond Carver, "So Much Water So Close to Home" in Short Cuts
Four stars mainly because there isn't much new here. Great here? Absolutely. Most of it is fantastic. Altman loved Carver and you can tell in the movie and his selections of stories. My first introduction to Carver was watching Altman's Short Cuts while still in high school. I liked the film, felt something brutal, raw and strong in the film, but really wasn't old enough to appreciate the source (or Altman's take on it). I probably also didn't have enough lemons in my life to appreciate stories like "A Small, Good Thing" or a poem like "Lemonade". This is as good a place as any to jump into Carver, but I'd seriously recommend any of his collections. He is a master of minimalism, emotion, and humanity.
1. "Neighbors"+* - ★★★★★
2. "They're Not Your Husband"+* - ★★★★
3. "Vitamins"+ - ★★★★
4. "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"* - ★★★★★
5. "So Much Water So Close to Home"+ - ★★★★★
6. "A Small, Good Thing"+ - ★★★★★
7. "Jerry and Molly and Sam"* - ★★★★★
8. "Collectors"+*- ★★★★★
9. "Tell the Women We're Going"# - ★★★★★
10 "Lemonade" (poem) - ★★★★
* from Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
+ from Where I'm Calling From
# from What We Talk About, When We Talk Abotu Love
janeneal's review
Personally, Raymond Carver isn't to my tastes at all. This is my third class where we had to read his work and I just don't see the appeal.
It doesn't help that my current class has an MRA that consistently defends the male characters and their actions but simply cannot do the same for any of the female characters in either this book or any of the others we've read for our class. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It doesn't help that my current class has an MRA that consistently defends the male characters and their actions but simply cannot do the same for any of the female characters in either this book or any of the others we've read for our class. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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