Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9822 in Books
• Published on: 1993-11-01
• Binding: Paperback
• 438 pages

Customer Reviews

The smallest details
I have been dipping in an out of this book for a few months inbetween reading longers novels. Every story in it is a pleasure. Carver is an expert in observing human relationships and human behaviour in general. He captures the wonder of everyday situations that most of us probably take for granted. His prose is simple and honest but the stories are very deep and meaningful. A lighter read than chekhov in my opinion;but but certainly not lighter in quality.

You can't go wrong with Carver
This man could write a short story. Every story is a mini-master piece from 'feathers' to 'where I'm calling from' to 'boxes', all managing to resonant at a deeply human level. It's the little tragedies that accumulate through everyday circumstance that Carver just chews up and spits out with a pared down even-handed prose. His stories manage to lever the most basic but cramped difficulties of life and always leaves the reader asking 'how the hell did he just do that?' This collection are his favourites and a brilliant introduction to the one of greatest short-story writers of all time.

No Regrets!
These short stories are simply brilliant! Carver writes about those tipping points in life, the moment when the effort to keep it all together gets too much, when the awkwardness can no longer be avoided. The dialogue is so convincing.... like a tape recorder which has been left running. The stories are told simply and honestly which belies their depth - human weakness is brought to the surface and whole lives are exposed.

The stories are mainly set in America's West Coast, but far from what you might expect - none of LA's glamour, fame and fortune to distract or hide in. No, these are ordinary people, their flaws do not seem excessive but their consequences bite. There are themes of breakdown, separation, isolation and alcohol, but there is also a diversity making each story unique.

In a story appropriately called 'Intimacy' we appear to come closest to the author, and the quote "I admit I hold to to dark view of things. Sometimes, anyway. But regret? I don't think so." But I don't find the stories altogether pessimistic or gloomy, there is a facing up to the truth which appears a positive step, even if there are no answers and the powers against seem over-whelming. (Samuel Beckett?)

Many of the stories have been blended into the equally brilliant and unique film 'Short Cuts,' so if you are familiar with the film you will certainly suffer flashbacks when reading the stories! To my mind, a small distraction and an added dimension.