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Great Dream of Heaven: Stories
by
Sam Shepard
In eighteen stories unlike any in our contemporary literature, Sam Shepard explores the vast and rugged American West with the same parched intensity that has made him “the great playwright of his generation” (The New York Times).
A boy watches a “remedy man” tame a wild stallion, a contest that mirrors his own struggle with his father. A woman driving her mother’s ashes ac...more
A boy watches a “remedy man” tame a wild stallion, a contest that mirrors his own struggle with his father. A woman driving her mother’s ashes ac...more
Paperback, 160 pages
Published
December 18th 2007
by Vintage
(first published 1999)
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Wow, Sam Shepard writes amazing dialogue. And - wow, does he write terrible prose. Good thing he's better known as a playwright, because that seems like exactly what he naturally should be. Some of the all-dialogue scenes are so well-rendered and beautiful that they could break your heart. Some of the prose could also break your heart, but in the bad way - a lot of awkwardsness and not very much that is innovative or special.
I should have known going into the book since I borrowed i...more
I should have known going into the book since I borrowed i...more
Reading what so ever written by Shepard means going through a shortened social history of America after wwII, and up til the end of 20.century. Plots are so simple and dialogues are not very much sophisticated. Myabe some of works by Shepard are not as interesting as the others, but for those whom are interested in history and sociology, also theatre and drama as writing-art, will enjoy reading or watching works by Shepard. I’m agreed with those who believe reading simple and palin plays by Shep...more
The Remedy Man ***oo
Coalinga ½ Way ****o
Berlin Wall Piece ****o
Blinking Eye ****o
Betty’s Cats ***oo
The Door to Women ****o
Foreigners **ooo
Living the Sign ****o
The Company’s Interest ***oo
Concepcion ***oo
It Wasn’t Proust ****o
Convulsion **ooo
An Unfair Question ****o
A Frightening Seizure ***oo
Tinnitus ***oo
The Stout of Heart ***oo
Great Dream...more
Coalinga ½ Way ****o
Berlin Wall Piece ****o
Blinking Eye ****o
Betty’s Cats ***oo
The Door to Women ****o
Foreigners **ooo
Living the Sign ****o
The Company’s Interest ***oo
Concepcion ***oo
It Wasn’t Proust ****o
Convulsion **ooo
An Unfair Question ****o
A Frightening Seizure ***oo
Tinnitus ***oo
The Stout of Heart ***oo
Great Dream...more
I enjoyed reading these very short stories, but I was also glad I didn't have to linger any longer than 142 pages in a world where men are distant and volatile, women are warily tolerant.
Neither my favorite nor least favorite parts of the book were written by Shepard, though. My least favorite was the fussy note, at the end, about the font: 'Although modeled on the Aldine type used for Pietro Cardinal Bembo's treatise De Aetna in 1495, Dante is a thorougly modern interpretation of ...more
Neither my favorite nor least favorite parts of the book were written by Shepard, though. My least favorite was the fussy note, at the end, about the font: 'Although modeled on the Aldine type used for Pietro Cardinal Bembo's treatise De Aetna in 1495, Dante is a thorougly modern interpretation of ...more
Short stories by playwright and "The Right Stuff" actor Sam Shepard.
A nice collection of blue collar type stories about everyday life, so really the type of stuff I like to read. The writing is fairly poetic the characters are great and the stories themselves are very uncomplicated and easy to relate to.
The two stories that stuck out for me were - A woman who drives an urn with the ashes of her mother cross country. The other one was is written from the perspect...more
A nice collection of blue collar type stories about everyday life, so really the type of stuff I like to read. The writing is fairly poetic the characters are great and the stories themselves are very uncomplicated and easy to relate to.
The two stories that stuck out for me were - A woman who drives an urn with the ashes of her mother cross country. The other one was is written from the perspect...more
من هم زیاد نمی دونستم سر چی ناراحت بوده م. هیچ وقت نتونستم روش انگشت بذارم بگم این. شاید سر یه سوال بی جا بوده. نظر تو چیه؟ این که از کسی بپرسی چرا خیلی خیلی ناراحته؟
back at the house, the party is now in full swing. balloons hang from the front gate. the dogs have been locked in the garage, whining and clawing desperately at the door. why they crave human attention is beyond me.
is there anything sam shepard can't do?
is there anything sam shepard can't do?
I love the plays of Shepard, but found this collection of short stories merely average. (Just one, the story of a woman who finds an injured hawk on the highway, caught my interest and stays with me now that the book is finished.)
اولین داستان هایی بود که از سام شپارد خوندم. خوب پرداخت شده بودند .. نویسنده های معاصر امریکایی همشون راحت می نویسن
There were two stories that I really liked in this collection, but the others didn't strike me. My favorite was "The Door to Women."
به غیر یکی دوتا داستان از همهشون خیلی خوشم اومد. اولین بار بود از سام شپارد چیزی میخوندم. داستانهاش رو خیلی خوب پرداخت کرده و از توصیفات قوی محیط و روابط بین آدمها و حسی که تو داستانهاش بود خیلی خوشم اومد. البته از ترجمهی خوب امیرمهدی حقیقت هم نباید غافل شد.
خلاصه اینکه خیلی خوشم اومد
خلاصه اینکه خیلی خوشم اومد
Debbie
added it
Don't you just love Sam Shepard? He makes it all look so easy. I wish I could write like he does.
Scenes covering the most regular, every day people and situations with the slightest touch of whimsey thrown in, usually at the end. That's almost every story though I'm hesitant to call them "stories". I'm not a fan of whimsy, and I don't like my writing or stories to be too plain, and these are. There just wasn't much here for me, I was glad the stories as well as the book itself was short. The only ones I actually enjoyed were The Stout of Heart (dark, heavy, hopeless and honest) an...more
My first Shepard. These short pieces are more scenes than stories, befitting his background, but they are mostly choice scenes. Shepard seems particularly concerned with those moments when the cracks in the facade of everyday life start to open up and become fissures.
بسیارعالی و خواندنی
pretty good
Pretty decent stuff. But as with much of his work post- "A Lie of the Mind", he's been interested in well-constructed material; I enjoy it when he shoots off into silly land, the weird places of the mind and emotions. Which he sometimes does here; but those who want to get to know him, his "Motel Chronicles" is the place to go.
The story "Coalinga 1/2 Way" alone is worth the price of admission to this collection.
Paris, TX is my favorite movie of all time (screenplay by Sam Shepard). Reading this book of short stories I'm almost disturbed by how much I connect with his *male* characters. It might be time for a girls night! I don't know why but I loved these often very short portrait type stories. If you find a copy of this laying around pick it up a read a story you'll know immediately if it is for you or not.
There's a great story in here that I absolutely love about two gay cowboys who have lived every day together for the last 50 years, and one day, the unexpected happens in their relationship. Really well written. A lot of his stories have the feeling of being plays (his primary form of writing, I believe), so I feel less engaged, but there are some good ones in here.
disappointing
Jen de la Osa
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jen by:
Bono (well I mean I read it was supposed to have inspired Joshua
I've never really sat down with book of short stories. I picked this up about a week ago and it was the best $4 I ever spent. These stories are either funny or sort of surprise endings that are really quite clever. It's fantastic writing in classic sort of desert land American language and settings. It's simple and intelligent. I'd recommend this to anyone.
Bit like Carver in structure, but also in a way that tells you there is a vast disconnect that exists in so many relationships. Shepard is lacking in the telling of tales, indeed the prose leaves something to be desired. BTW, Jessica Lange snapped the picture on the cover, which is quite beautiful.
There are some five star stories in here, but also some half-baked scenarios.
This collection of stories was fantastic, one of the best I have read! I had no idea the actor wrote and I now feel writing is his where his talent lies although I will see him in a movie and be equally convinced it is acting.
Mike
added it
When the other book on your nightstand is the definitive history of al Quaeda, this counts as escapism. Shepard can turn a short story, man.
This book reminded me why I like short stories. They were mysterious at times, funny and touching as well. Mr.Shepard continues to impress me.
Didn't realize how really talented Sam Shepard is - wow 45 plays, and 10 plus books and oscar nominations - wow
If you've only read Shepard's plays, do yourself a favor and try some of his short stories and poems.
i loved these stories. simple and beautiful. quick to read. each packs a punch at the end.
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Sam Shepard is an American artist who worked as an award-winning playwright, writer and actor. His many written works are known for being frank and often absurd, as well as for having an authentic sense of the style and sensibility of the gritty modern American west. He is an actor of the stage and motion pictures; a director of stage and film; author of several books of short stories, essays, and...more
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