This short story (and one poem) collection served as the foundation for the Altman film of the same name. If you're a Carver enthusiast, you likely already know this. However, it's important to note that this collection consists of selected reprints from his earlier works rather than original material.

Carver's fiction can be a bit of a hit or miss for me. But when it hits, it achieves a level of devastating perfection. Included in this collection are some of my all-time favorite stories of his, such as "A Small Good Thing," "So Much Water So Close to Home," "Jerry and Molly and Sam," and "Tell the Women We're Going." (That last one is truly outstanding, but holy shit, that ending! Have you ever screamed at a book? I have.)

Since we're on the topic of him anyway, I continue to deeply feel the loss of Robert Altman. Similar to my view of Carver, I didn't adore all of his movies. (Am I the only one who didn't really care for The Player or Gosford Park?) Among Altman's films, Short Cuts was one of my favorites, but it's a close call with several others like MASH, Nashville, and A Wedding.

The text "...y recuerda cuando la vida era dulce y ya no puede encarar dulcemente lo que le queda de vida." implies a sense of nostalgia and perhaps a tinge of sadness. It makes one think about those precious moments in the past when life seemed so sweet and wonderful. The person is reminiscing about a time that has now passed, and they find it difficult to approach the remaining part of their life with the same sweetness and lightheartedness.

Maybe they have experienced hardships or disappointments that have changed their perspective. Or perhaps they have simply grown older and wiser, realizing that life is not always as easy and carefree as it once was. Whatever the reason, this statement serves as a reminder that we should cherish the good times while they last and try to find joy and meaning in the present, even when faced with challenges.

It also makes us wonder what steps this person can take to regain that sense of sweetness and find a way to face the future with a more positive attitude. Maybe it's time to let go of the past and focus on creating new memories and experiences that can bring happiness and fulfillment.

The past often remains a mystery, veiled in uncertainty. It's like a hazy film covering those early years. As Raymond Carver so poignantly put it, "The past is unclear. It's as if there is a film over those early years. I can't even be sure that the things I remember happening really happened to me." This sentiment is captured in his work "So Much Water So Close to Home" in Short Cuts.

The movie based on Carver's stories, Short Cuts, is a great adaptation. Altman's love for Carver is evident in the film and his choice of stories. It was my first introduction to Carver in high school. While I liked the film and felt its brutal, raw strength, I was perhaps too young to fully appreciate the source material or Altman's interpretation. Maybe I didn't have enough life experiences, enough "lemons" to truly understand stories like "A Small, Good Thing" or a poem like "Lemonade".

Overall, this collection is a great place to start with Carver, but I highly recommend any of his collections. He is a master of minimalism, able to convey deep emotions and the essence of humanity with just a few words. The stories and poem in this collection, such as "Neighbors", "They're Not Your Husband", "Vitamins", "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?", "So Much Water So Close to Home", "A Small, Good Thing", "Jerry and Molly and Sam", "Collectors", "Tell the Women We're Going", and "Lemonade", all showcase his talent and are worthy of four or five stars.

The present volume of short stories by Carver is a selection made by the filmmaker Robert Altman from the work of this excellent author.

I realized late that they were stories I had already read, in some cases a decade ago. Still, I noticed that they were something different from how I remembered them. The solution is simple. There are stories I read in "Beginners" which contains the original versions of "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love", which went through the scissors applied by the editor Gordon Lish.

I reread the two versions of a story "Tell the Women We're Going" which made an impression on me and I discovered that the abridged version has an impact that the original does not possess. There is an enormous force in that abrupt and open ending.

Carver is one of the great American short story writers. It is worth reading him whether in complete versions, abridged, in anthologies, whatever. He lays bare the soul of the human being.

Carver's work is truly like a soothing balm.

Even when it takes unexpected dark turns and becomes somewhat inexplicable, it still has a certain allure.

I often find myself turning to his works in the midst of reading more "challenging" pieces.

The ease and enjoyability of reading Carver are remarkable, regardless of the emotional weight and difficulty of his subject matter.

I read this collection over a span of a few days, while intermittently watching sections of Robert Altman's companion film adapted from these collected works.

Some of the stories I had already encountered in other collections of his, while others were completely new to me.

But with Carver, there's always something to come back to.

I've read many works that were later adapted into films, but never had I compared them side-by-side.

It is rather compelling to see the different takes that Carver and Altman have on these stories.

I thoroughly enjoyed the film, and Altman's decision to transport the pieces to Los Angeles, along with his changes, additions, and revisions, ultimately worked well for me without in any way diminishing Carver's work.

I happened to find this book second-hand, but I believe the text was included, in part, with copies of a DVD release.

I'd previously read the edited version of "A Small, Good Thing" as "The Bath" in another collection.

Aside from the film adaptation having its own unique character, the fleshed out "A Small, Good Thing" in this book was, in itself, both unexpected and rewarding.

At my birthday party, I casually mentioned to someone that I had recently delved into these stories. To my surprise, two other individuals, completely independent of each other and me, immediately began to gush about how amazing Carver is. And it's indeed true.

After devouring this guy's stories, all I can think of is having a drink and perhaps engaging in some sort of passionate, albeit beautiful, interaction with my wife.

Here's a sample quote from "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?":

"For their honeymoon, they embarked on a drive to Guadalajara. While they both relished visiting the decayed churches, the poorly lighted museums, and spending afternoons shopping and exploring in the marketplace, Ralph was secretly appalled by the squalor and open lust he witnessed. He was eager to return to the safety of California. However, the one vision that would forever remain etched in his memory and which disturbed him the most had nothing to do with Mexico. It was late afternoon, almost evening, and Marian was leaning motionless on her arms over the ironwork balustrade of their rented casita as Ralph ascended the dusty road below. Her long hair hung down in front over her shoulders, and she was looking away from him, fixated on something in the distance. She wore a white blouse with a red scarf at her throat, and he could see her breasts pressing against the white cloth. He had a bottle of dark, unlabeled wine under his arm, and the entire incident brought to Ralph's mind something from a film, an intensely dramatic moment into which Marian seemed to fit perfectly, but he felt he could not."

I often find myself wondering where exactly I managed to obtain the inspiration for my latest title. And then, there it was, right there on my bookshelf. It was a collection of short stories that was truly a completely different offering. Raymond Carver, without a doubt, is a genius. It doesn't really matter whether you love the subject matter that he writes about or not. The beauty lies in the fact that his stories are crafted with such finesse and skill. It's as if I could take those words, run a warm bath, and simply soak in the essence of his writing all day long.

His prose has a way of drawing you in, making you feel as if you are a part of the story itself. The simplicity of his language belies the depth of his ideas and the emotions that he manages to convey. Each story is like a small gem, shining with its own unique light.

Raymond Carver's work has had a profound impact on my own writing, and I am constantly striving to emulate the beauty and elegance that he brings to every page.

SHORTCUTS. Raymond Carver. 179 pages (4/10)

This is a collection of short stories that offer a diverse range of human experiences.

In one story, a couple keeps the keys of their neighbors and snoops around their house.

Another tale tells of a husband who hears a comment about his waitress wife and forces her to go on a diet and lose weight.

A man tries to get involved with his partner's coworker, a girl who sells vitamins and is having a hard time at work, but things don't go well when he has an encounter with a former combatant in a black bar.

Ralph discovers his wife's infidelity and feels that his life has completely changed. He doesn't know how to act the next day after spending the night drunk upon learning the news.

The tribulations of a woman are explored after her husband, while fishing with his friends, finds a dead girl and leaves her in the same place all weekend without calling the police.

A child is hit by a car and taken to the hospital, where he remains stable but doesn't wake up. His parents are worried despite the reassuring messages from the doctors. The child eventually dies on the third day.

A man tired of his life abandons his dog but, seeing how his family takes it, returns to the place where he left it to retrieve it.

A man who wasn't interested in buying a vacuum cleaner has his house cleaned for him.

Two friends follow two girls on bicycles with the intention of hooking up with them but end up throwing stones at the poor girls.

These stories paint a vivid picture of the复杂性 and多样性 of human nature and relationships.

I can't quite recall when exactly I first read this book. However, the fact remains that I find myself re-reading it from time to time.

I have always been a huge fan of Raymond Carver's works. What I truly love is the way he delves into the underbelly of life. His stories are not fictional concoctions but rather a reflection of the real world.

The characters he creates are so vivid and real that they seem to jump off the pages. Carver had an innate understanding of people, and he knew precisely how to bring them to life within the confines of the short story form.

He is truly a master of his craft, able to convey complex emotions and experiences in a concise and powerful manner. His writing has the ability to touch the reader's heart and make them see the world in a different light.

Every time I pick up one of his books, I am transported into a world of raw emotions, flawed characters, and the beauty and tragedy of everyday life.

Two things are certain: 1) people no longer care what happens; and 2) nothing makes any real difference any longer.

This is a truly remarkable book. It presents a paradoxical situation where it is both absolutely perfect and yet completely ill-suited for reading just before and after childbirth. On one hand, its content is so engaging and thought-provoking that it can capture the reader's attention from the very first page. The ideas and themes explored within its pages are profound and relevant, making it a must-read for many. However, on the other hand, the intense emotions and physical demands associated with childbirth make it a less than ideal time to immerse oneself in this particular book. The complex nature of the story and the depth of the characters may require a level of concentration and mental energy that new parents simply do not have. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the overall quality of the book, which remains a stunning piece of literature.

No se me ocurre mejor plan, que acabar el año con él. Aunque sea un refrito de libros anteriores que ya he leído, seleccionados por Altman para una película. Carver es el ejemplo de que menos es más.

Carver's works have a unique charm. His concise writing style manages to convey profound emotions and complex human relationships. Even though these stories might be a rehash of those from previous books I've read, as chosen by Altman for a film, they still hold great value. It's as if each word is carefully chosen to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.

As the year comes to an end, spending time with Carver's stories feels like a perfect way to reflect and unwind. His ability to capture the essence of life's ordinary moments and turn them into something extraordinary is truly remarkable. Whether it's a simple conversation between two people or a quiet moment of self-reflection, Carver makes it all seem significant. I look forward to delving deeper into his world and seeing what else he has to offer.

The fact that the writer was drunk while penning this piece truly sheds light on the context.

It's rather comical, really. At times, I found myself thinking, "SHUT UP, you *****! Why on earth are you writing this?"

Maybe it was the alcohol that loosened the inhibitions and allowed for such unfiltered thoughts and expressions to flow onto the page.

Or perhaps it was a moment of pure spontaneity, where the writer just let go and wrote whatever came to mind.

In any case, it makes for an interesting read, doesn't it?

It gives us a peek into the mind of the writer in a rather unique and unguarded state.

Who knows what other gems of drunken inspiration might have been captured in this piece?

Only the writer truly knows.

But for us readers, it's a fascinating little glimpse into a world of inebriated creativity.