What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: Raymond Carver

Arrived quickly & in good condition

This is one of those books and one of those American writers like Tennessee Williams, Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald that I never read at the time. Not old enough; not interested or more likely, not mature enough to appreciate them. So as a consequence American culture, American mores and in particular a wide range of post-war American social and economic policies with the prime purpose I suspect of reinforcing the belief that individuals are responsible for their own destiny have rather passed me by. And I am not now interested in catching-up.It’s a series of [17] short stories. Can’t remember the last collection of short stories I read; was it Olive Kitteridge [Elizabeth Strout]? . . . [which I adored], so I am not against fiction in this format. All the reviewers refer to his pared-down writing style as if it is to be admired. One reviewer refers to the similarities between Carver and the singer/actor and songwriter, Tom Waites.Not a Tom Waites fan. They seem to have booze in common.So anyway, this is a novel comprising of bleak vignettes about men mostly blue collar, mostly drunks, mostly in broken or almost broken marriages in the American Mid-west in the sixties. It is an attempt I think to blend the particular and the universal, moving away from a straight narrative retelling in search of a larger truth. As I said it is very lean, which I do quite like although this is too big a dose for me: I think writing a short story well is pretty difficult.

Unexpected- but excellent

This book of short stories was recommended to me as a good example of minimalism. The stories are short and sharp as might be expected when considering that Raymond Carver is a writer known for his succinct text. I enjoyed the stories even though they are miserable and gloomy. The book has ecouraged me to read more about Carver himself.

I had high hopes for this book since everyone told me Carver is one of the best short-story authors and I was a little bit disappointed, to be honest. The style is nice and refreshing but the stories left me feeling quite indifferent.

I enjoyed almost all of these stories, both the subject matter and Carver’s writing style. For a similar and excellent collection of American short fiction from the same period (early 1980s), I would recommend  Liars in Love  by Yates.

Book is in perfect condition! I'm really happy with it :)

Fascinating, well written stories about complex relationships. Challenging and heart rending some of them.

Love Raymond carver short stories

bom livro

If you'd like to take some time out of your busy schedule and try to contemplate on that flittery - fluttery feeling that exists in your heart when you see that someone smile, yet you can't just figure out what that "flittery - fluttery" feeling is called, then maybe this book can help you. After all, what we talk about when we talk about love, is a gentle feeling of understanding that needn't be apparent, but just needs to exist.

Libro discretamente ben scritto. Apprezzabile ma non un capolavoro

and great book lol