Raymond Carver's spare dramas of loneliness, despair, and troubled relationships breathed new life into the American short story of the 1970s and '...
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Apr 02, 2010
Al
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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 ver 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 ver More...
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Feb 08, 2011
Rodney
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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 fo
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May 17, 2011
Rupert
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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, bu
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Oct 03, 2009
Andrew
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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'. 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'. More...
Oct 18, 2009
Karl
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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 she More...
On the other hand, the very completeness and she More...
Jul 18, 2011
Charity
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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
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Jul 16, 2010
Gary
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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.
Jan 21, 2010
Tuck
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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 "th
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Mar 24, 2010
Robert
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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.
May 30, 2011
Sara
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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
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 ...
May 02, 2010
robert
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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.
Mar 19, 2010
Jennifer
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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 More...
You can't read this More...
Dec 05, 2009
Dylan
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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"
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Jan 18, 2010
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 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 More...
Nov 24, 2009
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!
Oct 01, 2009
I've known and loved Carver's work for years, but apparently this has "Beginners," the collection that later became "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," before Gordon Lish got his hands on it. exciting!
Feb 21, 2011
Zach
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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.
Jun 12, 2011
Marc
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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
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Jun 03, 2011
M.
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I wrote a review that covered this book as well as four others. You can find it here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/FiveBestNewBooks...
http://hubpages.com/hub/FiveBestNewBooks...
Oct 16, 2011
Francis
rated it:
Raymond Carver is my current mentor. He rocks.
If I were a scholar I would explore three components of his work:
1. Alcohol
2. Rented Rooms
3. Redemption
If I were a scholar I would explore three components of his work:
1. Alcohol
2. Rented Rooms
3. Redemption
Jun 13, 2011
Matthew
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What with the whole Beginners manuscript and the letters and everything else, this one is amazing.
May 22, 2011
Rebecca
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The master. I've read no one else who says so much in so few words.
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Jan 02, 2010
What We Talk about When We Talk about Love: A lot of the action takes place in these here parts in Eastern Washington - and Carver captures the sad mentality of its redneck citizens who, when they're not hunting or lusting after each others' wives, dream of better days. One story - which was (and I forgot this until the final few sentences) in the movie Short Cuts - left me physically ill (as had the cinematic vignette): "Tell the Women We’re Going" would do proud early Bret Easton El
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Apr 19, 2010
Sean
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Currently reading this book because it's listed on Esquire's Top 75 List.
