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1.94k reviews for:
What We Talk about When We Talk about Love / Beginners (A Vintage Short)
Raymond Carver
3.83 AVERAGE
1.94k reviews for:
What We Talk about When We Talk about Love / Beginners (A Vintage Short)
Raymond Carver
3.83 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There’s not a lot to say. It’s a collection of slice-of-life short stories, most of them with ambiguous endings…so a lot of them just felt like a whole lot of nothing, and you can decide if I mean that in a good or a bad way (I don’t know myself).
But I did really like some parts of this, some stories - and even in the ones that didn’t stand out to me, I could still see the appeal and appreciate the work.
I’ve also not read many short stories in the past, so it’s a newer medium to me which might explain why I felt underwhelmed at times. But I did like this - the ambiguous endings give you room to think and draw your own conclusions, which is good, I think? Maybe I didn’t think too much about most of them, but the opportunity was there, and that’s nice.
Anyways, I hate writing reviews and I don’t have a lot to say about the book itself… so, if nothing else, it’s a short, easy read to kick off the year.
But I did really like some parts of this, some stories - and even in the ones that didn’t stand out to me, I could still see the appeal and appreciate the work.
I’ve also not read many short stories in the past, so it’s a newer medium to me which might explain why I felt underwhelmed at times. But I did like this - the ambiguous endings give you room to think and draw your own conclusions, which is good, I think? Maybe I didn’t think too much about most of them, but the opportunity was there, and that’s nice.
Anyways, I hate writing reviews and I don’t have a lot to say about the book itself… so, if nothing else, it’s a short, easy read to kick off the year.
Not sure if a collection of stories can be considered a masterpiece, but if it can, this is one.
The sparse & helpless melancholia isn't for every day of the week but the stories within can be returned to again and again.
The sparse & helpless melancholia isn't for every day of the week but the stories within can be returned to again and again.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I don't usually like short stories but I understand why this collection has so many accolades. Carver is a skilled writer - he implies so much with a turn of a phrase. The stories are disturbing and stay with you which, again, is the mark of excellent writing.