The book consists of five short stories and an epilogue.

With a smooth rhythm and a simple style, Raymond Carver leads us through these five stories. Here, we will encounter intense and somewhat melancholic tales. In them, real people, just like you or me, live their lives in their own way. And surely, there will be someone who can identify with one of the characters.

What we will find in this reading are real stories. Therefore, not all of them are happy stories. Many of them tell us about separation, problems with alcohol, and death.

Undoubtedly, it is a book that will keep you eager to know more and will not leave you indifferent.

You can read the full review here: https://monalisa40.blogspot.com/2023/...

Librazo is an interesting concept. It may refer to a fictional character, a place, or an idea.

Perhaps it has unique qualities and characteristics that set it apart from others. It could be a heroic figure with great strength and courage, or a mysterious location full of hidden secrets and wonders.

The name "Librazo" might also carry a certain charm and allure, attracting people's curiosity and imagination.

Whether it is part of a story, a game, or a creative work, Librazo has the potential to capture the hearts and minds of those who encounter it.

It could inspire new ideas and interpretations, and become a beloved and memorable element in the world of fiction or art.

Overall, Librazo is a fascinating and enigmatic term that holds great potential for exploration and discovery.

Carver is an amazing storyteller. I read his book "Cathedral" for the first time and was truly impressed. That's why I had to read what he said about writing. And bingo! Those who want to or are writing short stories must definitely read it.

However, what interested and pleased me was that he presented the suggestions for writing good stories in a way that would give literary pleasure. The sections where he described his own writing experiences were especially very good.

In the part where he evaluated some puzzle works, many of the writers were not yet translated into Turkish and therefore I didn't know/read them - it felt like he was talking about something very local - which strengthened my reading in a way.

This book provides valuable insights and inspiration for aspiring writers and lovers of literature alike. It makes you think about the art of writing and encourages you to explore different styles and techniques. Overall, it's a great read that I would highly recommend.

The stories are very particular, they seem like nightmares of middle age. My favorites are the first "Firewood" (with an atmosphere and style like "Little Nightmares") and the last one "If You Need, Call" (Existential Doubt).

In all of this, the book does not encourage the use of alcohol or drugs, nor does it advocate fleeing from adolescent traumas. Everything will be paid for in its own time, and it's not nice to suffer for a fillet of tuna infested with larvae.

The unique nature of these stories draws the reader in and makes them think about various aspects of life. The different settings and themes offer a diverse range of experiences. Whether it's the eerie ambiance of "Firewood" or the thought-provoking questions raised in "If You Need, Call", each story has its own charm.

Moreover, the book's stance against harmful behaviors and its reminder that consequences will come is an important message. It makes the reader reflect on their own actions and choices, and perhaps encourages them to face their problems head-on rather than逃避. Overall, it's a collection of stories that is both engaging and meaningful.

More than ten years after Carver's death, his widow Tess Gallagher - a writer and poet herself - found five unpublished stories or those that had only appeared posthumously and sporadically in magazines like Esquire, and decided to gather them in this anthology. As she herself explains in the epilogue, these are stories written at different times in the life of the North American author, and in which we can find elements that recall or, directly, are repeated in some of his better-known stories; we deduce that many of them must have been embryonic forms of the latter, - to my taste - more polished and complete. This does not mean that in If You Need Me, Call Me we do not find five first-rate stories in which some of the recurring themes of the Carverian universe are dealt with: couples trying to repair a broken relationship, types who have stopped drinking but are still shadows of themselves or writers who face the writing of the void.

Perhaps because of the small size of the volume, perhaps because of that embryonic writing I mentioned, perhaps because it was not Carver himself who selected them, the stories are less spectacular than those already read in Cathedral or in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, for example, and may give a certain sense of repetition with respect to these. Most likely, if these last two anthologies did not exist If You Need Me, Call Me would acquire a new status as a masterful book, so it is only by comparison with its sisters that this book loses - albeit only a little.

Having said all this, there are two stories that stand out above the rest:

(i) Dreams: In this story of spied neighbours and almost mystical hues, we see elements of It Seems Like a Fucking Miracle or Whoever Sleeps in This Bed, and it is easy to be left with a strange but tangible feeling of unease from the first paragraphs - which will only increase until the icy end. Without a doubt, it has the flavour of the classics of the North American author, and will be liked for its brilliant creation of the atmosphere.

(ii) If You Need Me, Call Me: I would dare to say that the story that gives its name to the anthology is a more relaxed, less cerebral and more human version of Horses in the Rain; not only because the metaphor of the situation is exactly the same, but also because the theme and its outcome are. To each his own taste, but I would have trouble choosing between the two; while the former is more an exercise in brilliant and heartless style, the latter goes straight to the heart of the matter - is it possible to fix what has been broken into a thousand pieces? - and perhaps for this reason it is a more honest and sincere text.

El vacío es el principio de todas las cosas.

It represents the absence of matter and yet, paradoxically, it holds the potential for all existence.

From the vast expanse of outer space to the tiniest subatomic particles, the concept of the void plays a crucial role.

In the vacuum of space, stars are born and die, galaxies collide and evolve.

On a microscopic level, the empty spaces between atoms and molecules determine the properties of matter.

The void is not just a passive backdrop; it actively participates in the creation and transformation of the universe.

It is a source of mystery and inspiration, challenging our understanding of the fundamental nature of reality.

By exploring the concept of the void, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the world around us.

Whether we are physicists studying the mysteries of the universe or philosophers pondering the meaning of existence, the void is an essential part of our intellectual and spiritual journey.

My wife said: "He is lying. Why did you believe him? He is jealous. Just like that... Don't you believe my words? You who shouldn't believe those words?"

She had taken off her raincoat and still had her hat on. She made a sudden movement towards her head. Her face turned red with the accusation.

I shrugged and said: "What lie could he tell? What could he be jealous of? What does he get from lying? Obviously, he is our friend. Our mutual friend." .....

..... I remembered an old friendship that I had in the early and late years of high school. A friendship with someone who never told the truth. Empty-handed and behind everyone, but a lovely child; a sincere and honest friendship on which I relied during the stormy period of my life. Remembering this old habitual liar brought me a lot of joy from the dust of memories; a memory that until now in this storm of life, it has helped me without any pain. This person, this honest liar, in fact, confirmed my wife's words that such people are found in the world. I was happy. I turned around to talk to him. I knew what I wanted to say. Yes, in fact, it may be true, it is also true – people can lie and do lie, helplessly, unconsciously, and like patients. Without thinking about the consequences...!

The rating would be 3.5. I really liked the stories as they quickly draw you into the narrative. However, some of them I felt as if they were incomplete.

It's quite interesting how these stories manage to engage the reader right from the start. The authors have done a good job of creating an immersive experience. But at the same time, those incomplete stories leave a bit of a void.

Maybe it's a deliberate choice to make the reader think and imagine more. Or perhaps there was a lack of time or space to fully develop those particular tales.

Nevertheless, overall, it's still a decent collection of stories that has its own charm and吸引力. It makes me curious to see what else the authors have in store.

I really liked the first half of the story.

It had a certain charm that immediately caught my attention. The characters were introduced in an interesting way, and I found myself eager to know more about them.

The plot was also engaging, with enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I was particularly impressed by the author's use of language. The descriptions were vivid and detailed, making it easy for me to picture the scenes in my mind.

Overall, the first half of the story was a great read, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all ends.

Fun read for the Carver superfan.

I sort of got the impression that the "newly discovered" stories were most likely those that Carver didn't desire to be published. This could be due to the fact that they had a somewhat similar backdrop. Many of them are about a newly sober person, striving to reconfigure their life. Or perhaps it's because they don't seem as complete as the other published stories.

The early stories are also rather peculiar to read as Carver hadn't yet fully developed his style. Additionally, the introductions and book reviews are quite strange to peruse.

Ultimately, even if a significant portion of this feels like they were scraping the bottom of the barrel for one final book, it still manages to illuminate Carver's thoughts on writing and life. The final piece, a book review on two Hemingway biographies, is a perfect way to conclude the book. Carver writes about Hemingway with admiration, yet also as a cautionary tale. It's a sad ending for a man whose demons clearly resembled his own, which makes the piece a poignant and empathetic tribute.

A posthumous book. The wife discovers some unpublished stories in a folder and decides to publish them. How many such stories do we know? How many verses have we devoured from unpublished materials that end up being crap.

Well, this is the exception. There are five short stories, but I suggest you read only one per day. They are intense. You repeat the story like a heavy stew.

Each story in this collection seems to hold a world of its own. The wife's decision to share these hidden gems with the world is a brave one. As you read through them, you'll find yourself drawn into the vivid landscapes and complex characters that the author has created.

Don't rush through these stories. Take your time to savor each word and let the emotions wash over you. You might be surprised at how much they can touch your heart and make you think about life in a whole new way.

I don't believe there is anything else to say about Carver that hasn't been said already. Each of his short story collections contains at least three or four stories of the highest level, and all the others follow suit. In fact, perhaps all of his stories are of the highest level, and that's why his name is an important one. Whether he wanted it or not, minimalism is always present, or perhaps it's simply essential, dry writing that leaves no room for escape and plunges the thinker into reality. A reality that Carver always depicts in extremely human and everyday people, who do human and everyday things, sometimes even too much so that everything seems permeated by something vaguely surreal or grotesque, against the backdrop of an America that seems like just a country and that's it. Then comes the hard and cruel reality, and sometimes it is extremely destructive.

I believe the most beautiful story in this collection is the one that gives the book its title, "If You Need Me, Call." It leaves a perennial sense of nostalgia, reality, and also melancholy that recurs in other stories by Carver. And I think this is the aspect that more than anything else has made him and continues to make him a great writer, capable of saying a lot while saying little and in not many pages for each story.

Carver's writing has a unique charm that draws readers in and makes them think about the human condition. His stories are like snapshots of life, capturing the essence of a moment and making it unforgettable. Despite their simplicity, they are filled with depth and meaning, and they continue to resonate with readers long after they have finished reading.