Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
154th out of 300 books
—
156 voters
Collected Stories (Library of America #195)
Carver transformed the American short story in the 1970s and 80s with spare, intense, often disturbing dramas. Gathering for the first time all Carver's stories, this volume provides the first comprehensive overview of Carver's career.
Hardcover, 960 pages
Published
August 20th 2009
by Library of America
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,298)
This guy was a master. I only recently discovered him and I read about five stories from the compilation "Where I'm Calling From" and gave that away then went right out and bought the Collected Stories. I can't get enough Carver. His stories are often so subtle in how they hit you, but man do they linger long after the story is finished. Yeah, there are some issues with repetition with the characters and their traits/personalities. And most stories end without much resolution. Some folks seem to...more
I first came across Raymond Carver when I began to study creative writing with the Open University. I was recommended to revisit some of his short stories having not fully understood the relevance of them the first time. The usefulness of this collection is that it contains just about every short story that Carver ever published, and is a compilation of other, smaller collections.
The four stories I was recommended to read are: 'Neighbors', 'Why Don't You Dance?', 'A Small, Good Thing', and 'Cath...more
The four stories I was recommended to read are: 'Neighbors', 'Why Don't You Dance?', 'A Small, Good Thing', and 'Cath...more
I've been rediscovering Raymond Carver. Turns out he wasn't a minimalist after all. Even though that's what he's famous for.
His editor, Gordon Lish, was the minimalist, slashing many of Carver's stories by half. Others by even more. This was especially true in the case of the groundbreaking collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.
Now, in a new volume called Raymond Carver: Collected Stories, we get to see the writer's original drafts along with the cut-down versions of those stori...more
His editor, Gordon Lish, was the minimalist, slashing many of Carver's stories by half. Others by even more. This was especially true in the case of the groundbreaking collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.
Now, in a new volume called Raymond Carver: Collected Stories, we get to see the writer's original drafts along with the cut-down versions of those stori...more
I found myself starting this - having already read almost every single story at least twice in the collections they first appeared in - thinking I'd just dip in now and then until I found the next novel to read that would become my "main" book. But I got caught in the Carver beauty drone. Soon I was past the 800 page mark and felt like I'd sat across a greasy old table from Carver far too many late nights to count. Occasionally it would feel like you were hearing the same voice, but then there w...more
This is just a beautiful book, for two reasons. First, Carver finally takes his rightful place in the Library of America next to so many great American fiction writers with this nicely bound collection. Purists might argue that the he is best read from those stained vintage paperback we're used to reading him from, but that's another argument.
Second, this book ends with the original manuscript of 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love' under it's original title, 'Beginners'. For those not f...more
Second, this book ends with the original manuscript of 'What We Talk About When We Talk About Love' under it's original title, 'Beginners'. For those not f...more
Carver is fantastic. I'm not usually a fan of books that are "Collected Works" or compendiums of an author's greatest hits, but this one is absolutely worth it if only for the fact that it contains both versions of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: Carver's manuscript version (roughly 200 pages) and Gordon Lisch's heavily edited final version (100 pages). For those not familiar with the story, Lisch (Carver's long time editor) took unbelievable license with Carver's manuscript, often p...more
I knew this was going to be a 5-star book before I read it. I had already read and loved many of the stories collected here. I assumed I would love the stories that were new to me just as much. I did. I can now say that I have read every short story by Raymond Carver and I have loved each one.
The main attraction of this book is the inclusion of the manuscript form of Carver's most well-known book, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". We can see the stories as Carver wrote them and comp...more
The main attraction of this book is the inclusion of the manuscript form of Carver's most well-known book, "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". We can see the stories as Carver wrote them and comp...more
It was interesting to be able to read different versions of the same stories. It was eye-opening to see how much some of Carver's stories had been cut by Gordon Lish, his editor. It was also interesting to read some of the essays, which I had not read before. The essays also served as a means to catch a breath from the stories. It was wonderful to have them included, as they revealed another dimension of Carver's insight and talent.
On the other hand, the very completeness and sheer scope of thi...more
On the other hand, the very completeness and sheer scope of thi...more
The true treasure in this collection is the original manuscript for "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," which Carver had titled "Beginners." Previously unpublished you get to see the editing that Lish did, reducing stories by 10 or 15 pages at times, changing the tone and texture of Carver's work. "A Small Good Thing" being edited down to "The Bath" is a perfect example of the impact that Lish had on the writing. Both stories are strong and I am not sure which I favor more, the ambigui...more
I'm a fan of horror stories. I'm also a fan of literary short fiction though I must admit to rarely being able to figure out what I'm supposed to glean from most stories of this kind. I reckon it's like someone who enjoys crossword puzzles or word games, the joy of decoding the secret meaning. About two years ago, I came across Ray Carver, his name meaning nothing to me up to that point. The more I read about him, the more intrigued I became. Here was a guy that was considered literary, but spok...more
4 likes
·
like
· see review
view all 9 comments
I had never read Raymond Carver before this book. The stories are depressing--nearly all of his characters are in failed relationships, drink too much, and exist in dead-end jobs. And yet there is a haunting quality to the stories that kept me turning the pages. Carver's lean prose goes at the heart of his characters and through them to the reader. An interesting aspect of this edition is the appearance of several stories in more than one form.
when things are getting you down and maybe ALL your bad decisions won't let you sleep or function, you know its time to take a Raymond carver pill. i bet maybe, you never did sleep with that person you lusted after, or skipped town like you wanted too, or raped that girl then bashed her head in with a rock. no. but reading short stories could help pass your time during those long nights. this is a definitive edition with lots of notes, bibliographical essays, two different versions of "this is w...more
Do NOT read "Tell the women we're going". Altman used it to end Short Cuts so don't see the end of that film either. Only reading Carver because he is supposed to be the Chekhov of late 20th century. Am learning about minimalism and tight prose. Would be interested to hear other opinions. Some stories are well crafted but just a tad depressing. "Neighbours" is pretty cool though.
Wish I could fall in with the literati and gush over The Annointed One, but reading Carver (especially the G. Lish-pared, early drivel) is a lot like eating a bowl of Grape Nuts: you do it because you think you should, not because you necessarily enjoy it. Surely I can't be the only one out there afraid to admit to this. My heretical call: Carver's over-rated by half.
Jan 01, 2010
Kim Fay
is currently reading it
Short stories always make me sad, I think because they leave me wanting something more from them. Carver's stories are just sad on their own, in a quietly beautiful way. Spent this New Year's morning reading "Cathedral." Tobias Wolff is right. It's one of those stories that stays with you as if the situation happened to you and not in a story. More to come ...
I haven't read the whole book. the stars are for the following stories: fat, neighbors, why don't you dance, the calm, popular mechanics, a small good thing, and so much water so close to home. after completing so much water i would skip to page 881 and read carver's original ending.
This is a beautiful and comprehensive collection of Raymond Carver's writing. I love that it includes the original manuscript for What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, originally called Beginners. It's interesting to see the heavy hand of his editor, Gordon Lish, who was the man behind Carver's trademark minimalism. Some people prefer Carver's longer version, but I actually think the edits, though dramatic, make the stories more powerful, more mysterious.
You can't read this book all in on...more
You can't read this book all in on...more
This collection has been an on-going, sordid, love affair of late. While many critics have made the claim that Carver's stories were purely the product of fine editing, there is a haunting quality about what is said and what is left alone that drills deeply into the contemporary mindset. As a bonus, for those who accept the notions of criticism prevailed, LOA has added "Beginners" (the original, un-edited, version of Carver's landmark "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" so that comparis...more
Carver is a master of the form. His stories are deceptively straightforward--there is a lot going on under the surface.
Another outstanding collection from American Library, even including the original manuscript of one of his books that was heavily edited prior to publication. My only hair to split is that it does not include revisions Carver made to a small handful of stories published in lit mags after their appearance in whatever book has been collected here. But, overall the best that money...more
Another outstanding collection from American Library, even including the original manuscript of one of his books that was heavily edited prior to publication. My only hair to split is that it does not include revisions Carver made to a small handful of stories published in lit mags after their appearance in whatever book has been collected here. But, overall the best that money...more
Nov 24, 2009
Nathalie
marked it as to-read
Just read about this book in a review by Stephen King. WTF?? Editor Lish massacred his famous WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE stories? I'm aghast...and obviously, I need to read this book to understand the TRUE Raymond. Will do!
Raymond Carver is my kind of blue collar type of writer. Carver for me decodes human behavior from the side of town where I'm from. These stories linger with an aftertaste that I want more of. Damn good stuff;)
I am a big fan of Raymond Carver, and the inclusion of the original drafts of the stories in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love make this book really important to people who give a shit about Carver.
Soooo... wow... I was recommended to read Raymond Carver because someone believed I would find commonality with his slice of life style. I just feel like I should stop drinking after finishing his work. Or drink more... I haven't decided yet. "A Small, Good Thing" made me cry. I am tearing up just thinking about it. That was a good story. A really, really good story.
Carver's prose is crisp and plain - surprisingly untroubled for how often he writes about the trouble in people's lives. He is not preoccupied with happy endings, so read it when you're ready for sturdy stuff.
Even without the bait of the manuscript version of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, originally titled Beginners, this is still the holy grail of American short fiction, alongside Flannery O'Connor's work. What the draft of that classic collection shows us is that perhaps his reputation as a poet of terse, minimalist drama was overstated a bit, but that's neither here nor there: this is amazing stuff, and having it all here within the pages of a beautifully bound Library of America vol...more
This book is a course in the writing of Carver, his development and changes over time, his incredible ear and eye for the lives of his characters. A book to keep always.
Carver is easily my favorite short story writer ever. This collects all of his work, and honestly, the Library of America books look fantastic on a bookshelf.
I wrote a review that covered this book as well as four others. You can find it here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/FiveBestNewBo...
http://hubpages.com/hub/FiveBestNewBo...
This and The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway are easily the two best short story collections ever.
Jun 13, 2011
Matthew
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People I like
Shelves:
my-library,
short-stories
What with the whole Beginners manuscript and the letters and everything else, this one is amazing.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Carver was born into a poverty-stricken family at the tail-end of the Depression. The son of a violent alcoholic, he married at 19, started a series of menial jobs and his own career of 'full-time drinking as a serious pursuit'. A career that would eventually kill him. Constantly struggling to support his wife and family Carver enrolled in a writing programme under author John Gardner in 1958 and...more
More about Raymond Carver...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“It's akin to style, what I'm talking about, but it isn't style alone. It is the writer's particular and unmistakable signature on everything he writes. It is his world and no other. This is one of the things that distinguishes one writer from another. Not talent. There's plenty of that around. But a writer who has some special way of looking at things and who gives artistic expression to that way of looking: that writer may be around for a time.”
—
11 people liked it
More quotes…
