Reviews

Cathedral by Raymond Carver

rowanmoth's review

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challenging sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75


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breadandmushrooms's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

summer135's review

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challenging reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

raquelssilva's review against another edition

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4.0

Uma escrita simples que esconde nas suas profundezas um subtexto muito forte e nem sempre fácil de interpretar. Que reflecte, em parte, as vivências do autor, a sua vida indissociável do hábito da bebida, os seus principais questionamentos na vida. Podemos dizer que são histórias do dia-a-dia, com as quais nos identificamos facilmente: a dor da perda, a separação, o ciúme, o amor. Mas dos seus contos que fogem às regras, que querem dizer tão mais que o que encerram nas suas palavras, o que fica é uma sensação desconfortável e uma necessidade de reflectir sobre o que lemos e sobre o significado que Carver queria dar a cada uma das suas criações artísticas.

http://leiturasmarginais.blogspot.com/2018/07/catedral-raymond-carver.html

ondrobondro's review against another edition

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4.0

Feathers - 4/5
Chef's House - 4/5
Preservation - 3.5/5
The Compartment - 5/5
A Small, Good Thing - 5/5
Vitamins - 4/5
Careful - 3/5
Where I'm Calling From - 3.5/5
The Train - 3/5
Fever - 4/5
The Bridle - 4/5
Cathedral - 5/5

randojunko's review

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4.0

the tendency of "serious" fiction is often to delve into the psyche of people or institutions (character studies) but interiors only get you so far. carver bypasses that easy impulse by leaning into gestures and verbs. he writes about the way people notice each other's surfaces- like an inventory of movement.

annabelws23's review against another edition

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4.0

I preferred the shorter format from the collection ‘What We Talk About When We Talk About Love’, where Carver presents just a snapshot of the character’s lives before abandoning them in the messiness of their lives. Nevertheless, Carver’s eye for the minutia of everyday life, dialogue and inner thoughts, and his ability to translate them in minimalist prose is truly one of a kind. He brings the mundane to the surface and imbues it with significance in a few choice words. My particular favourite story was “Cathedral”, followed by “A Small, Good Thing” and “The Compartment”.

kamneggs's review

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

iaiette's review against another edition

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5.0

Mia recensione su Temperamente: Ci sono persone comuni nei racconti del grandissimo Raymond Carver. C’è la gente che potremmo incontrare salendo sul bus, andando a far la spesa, camminando per strada. C’è la Vita. Quella di tutti noi. Niente di epico, stravagante, avventuroso. Solo Lei, la Vita, col suo carico di contraddizioni, difficoltà, noie, casualità.
Mi era capitato di cominciare a leggere Cattedrale un anno fa, e l’avevo letto quasi tutto. Quasi, perché mi mancava proprio l’ultimo racconto, appunto, Cattedrale, che tutti dicevano costituisse una chiusura spettacolare.
Non avevo più il libro a disposizione e per un anno intero (sì, non sto esagerando, c’è chi può testimoniarlo!) il mio pensiero, di tanto in tanto, volava verso Carver e quell’ultimo racconto che non mi aveva permesso di chiudere il cerchio. Devo tornare su Carver, mi dicevo. Così, esattamente un anno dopo averlo cominciato, l’ho riletto e, questa volta, concluso.
Cosa posso dirvi, se non che considero Carver uno dei miei scrittori preferiti? Che la sua penna folgorante mi ha guidata nelle comuni vite di persone che potrebbero esistere veramente e mi ha costretta a riflettere? [...]

Per continuare a leggere la recensione: http://www.temperamente.it/novecento/cattedrale-raymond-carver/

ris_stitches's review

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5.0

Easily one of the best books I've ever read.

I read this in small doses because I didn't want it to end. The stories are amazing and I don't understand how Carver can write from so many perspectives and make them all believeable. I loved that the stories were realistic, and gave new perspective on common relationships (co-workers, neighbors, etc). I guess I should have something more eloquent to say, but I don't. It was just really, really good and you should definitely read it.