Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
I picked this book up in New York. I wanted to buy something very American in the shop at the New York Public Library. This book in particular jumped out at me because I had recently been enthralled by Birdman in which Michael Keaton attempts to dramatise the story that lends the book its title. While this meant that I read said story almost exclusively in Ed Norton's voice the rest of the stories were a mystery to me, a sorrowful mystery perhaps given their tone. The stories start well with Why Don't You Dance? the kind of story that shows that a big impact Carver had on Haruki Murakami wherein a despondent middle-aged man puts all his possessions out on the front lawn (rearranged and presented as they were inside in the house itself, plugged in and all should somebody wish to watch his tv outside) and is visited by two somewhat cynical twenty-somethings who take it to be a garage sale. This is followed up by the even more Murakami-ish Viewfinder starring a wandering salesman with two hooks for hands.
Thankfully, Carver shows a different side of his writing with each passing story and so the kind of stories that Murakami seemed to have mimicked were left behind quite quickly bringing such favourites of mine as I Could See the Smallest Things, about a pair of disgruntled friends; The Bath, about a parent's worst nightmare; and Tell the Women We're Going, a particularly dark number that I did not expect to find having previously felt that I had sussed what the stories in this collection were "going to be about".
Throughout the text Carver develops character and interest quickly, snaring the reader, and communicates a lot of detail about his characters without writing as much as you'd think he'd need to. Details are sparse; dialogue is realistic and often contains characters repeating themselves as if nervous or distracted (which they often are) but each line or prosaic detail is important and well-placed. All in all this is a very well-crafted, varied set of short stories put together with real care and skill.
Thankfully, Carver shows a different side of his writing with each passing story and so the kind of stories that Murakami seemed to have mimicked were left behind quite quickly bringing such favourites of mine as I Could See the Smallest Things, about a pair of disgruntled friends; The Bath, about a parent's worst nightmare; and Tell the Women We're Going, a particularly dark number that I did not expect to find having previously felt that I had sussed what the stories in this collection were "going to be about".
Throughout the text Carver develops character and interest quickly, snaring the reader, and communicates a lot of detail about his characters without writing as much as you'd think he'd need to. Details are sparse; dialogue is realistic and often contains characters repeating themselves as if nervous or distracted (which they often are) but each line or prosaic detail is important and well-placed. All in all this is a very well-crafted, varied set of short stories put together with real care and skill.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This wanky nonsense is great for restoring faith in your own writing
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Favorite stories:
-Why Don’t You Dance?
-Tell the Women We’re Going
-So Much Water So Close to Home
-What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Many of the stories leave you with a specific feeling that’s uncomfortable and maybe even unpleasant but so good to stay in for a few minutes.
“She kept talking. She told everyone. There was more to it, and she was trying to get it talked out. After a time, she quit trying.”
-Why Don’t You Dance?
-Tell the Women We’re Going
-So Much Water So Close to Home
-What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Many of the stories leave you with a specific feeling that’s uncomfortable and maybe even unpleasant but so good to stay in for a few minutes.
“She kept talking. She told everyone. There was more to it, and she was trying to get it talked out. After a time, she quit trying.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Murder, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it’s alright if you’re looking for a quick, light read
fav stories: gazebo, the bath, what we talk about when we talk about love
couldn’t sleep last night so I picked it up. it was almost too sad for me in the night but as I finished it up now I’m pretty amazed. I have my feelings about short stories, I feel like I usually gravitate towards novels but this collections packs a punch in so few words and so few pages. It amazes me how Carver can set a scene so quickly and put me in the headspace of these sad confused characters. my favorites were Gazebo and Everything Stuck To Him
Outstanding book of short stories. Carver crafts a whole emotional world of richly developed characters in just 5-10 pages.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A