One horrific character after another

emerges in this collection. The darkness that lies within these men is depicted with a simplicity that is truly mind-blowing

. It shows how the American Dream can go horribly wrong. Each story seems to peel back the layers of these characters, revealing their deepest, darkest secrets and desires

. The writing is so engaging that it keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end

. I absolutely love this collection as it offers a unique and disturbing look into the human psyche

. It makes you question what lengths people will go to in order to achieve their version of the American Dream

. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys exploring the darker side of human nature.

He once again delved into a Raymond Carver collection. It had been years since he last perused one. In fact, it had been decades. However, this particular collection wasn't solely Carver's work. It was the result of the collaboration between director Robert Altman and Carver's widow, Tess Gallagher, a poet. Apparently, a movie titled Short Cuts was made based on this hodgepodge of stories. He was eager to watch it and see how Altman managed to bring it all together. But it had been released in 1993, and he had never even heard of it, let alone seen it. Goodness gracious. Was it already 27 years ago? Time seemed to have flown by, just like everything else.

Anyway, as he read the stories, it all came back to him quickly. The down and out individuals who resembled you and me. Mostly husbands and wives, facing job difficulties, liquor problems, and mostly lust issues. All that "lives of quiet desperation" stuff that Thoreau had cautioned about. The men were especially pitiful. With the kids arguing upstairs and the dog urinating on the new living room rug.

Some of these men never matured. Peter Pan, indeed. Sherwood Anderson would have called them "grotesques" because their days were filled with one cigarette after another and one beer after another. No one had enough money, and when opportunity presented itself in the form of a woman, they couldn't resist opening the door and letting that "horse" out. As if consequences no longer existed.

The thing was, it all seemed so easy. Not just cheating on your wife but also writing these stories. You could be a reader, reading this, and say to yourself, "Damn. I could write a story like that. Maybe sell it to The New Yorker or something. Big payday. Big deal. Big man on campus." But only after having this drink, perhaps. You had to be in the mood for writing, you know? But you had a couple of ideas anyway. Just looking in the mirror gave you ideas. Or thinking too much. Or drinking vodka tonics, turning off the lights, and listening to jazz in the living room. You and that orange tip of the cigarette, pulsating bright and dull. You and that up-in-smoke life. It had to lead somewhere, right? You didn't start with all these great hopes for nothing. Right?

What can anyone say that hasn't been said? It's Carver, who is now becoming a cult figure. Regardless, he was a great writer. How can I capture the essence of a Raymond Carver story? It is a difficult proposition. Let me try this: a small vignette.

It is a bright spring morning in Seattle. The neighbors are going about their business; tending to flower beds, mowing their lawns. I'm standing at the bottom of a short flight of stairs, stairs that lead to what is soon not to be my house. The woman who is soon not to be my wife is at the top of the stairs. The front door is open. There are a few brown paper bags sitting on the landing outside the door. The bags are misshapen, bulging with belongings haphazardly packed. Paper grocery bags make lousy luggage.

The woman at the top of the stairs is wearing a bathrobe, one hand clutching it at her throat. Her voice is ringing out over the quiet street, but I cannot hear the words. There is only a chanting sound, volume rising and falling. The chant has wings, carrying it across the morning. The neighbors keep their heads down, try not to hear. There is poison in the chant, an easily caught infection, darkness that could seep into an unguarded crack.

A bare foot flashes in the sunlight, kicking one of the paper bags. The bag tumbles down the wooden steps, ripping open on the second bounce. Books, CD's, balled-up socks; they cascade down the worn wood, landing around my feet. I gather up the detritus as best I can, cradling it in my arms. As I turn away, the chant hits me in the back of the neck. I throw the armload of junk into the bed of my pickup, joining it with the rest. Behind me, I hear the slam of a door.

The boards creak under my boots as I reach for the last crumpled bag. The chanting is gone now, the echoes of it having chased the neighbors inside their safe havens. I carry the bag, gentle against my chest, place it intact on the floorboard inside the truck. There is a bare mattress leaning against a concrete wall. I heave it over the pile of junk in the bed of the truck. I am sweating in the sunshine as I tighten down the straps. As I look up and down the empty street, I realize that my life has become a Raymond Carver short story. It's a story of broken relationships, of small moments that hold great significance, and of the quiet desperation that often lies beneath the surface of our lives. Just like in a Carver story, the details are simple yet profound, and the emotions are raw and palpable. I can almost feel the weight of the situation, the sense of loss and uncertainty. And as I drive away from that house, I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one that will be filled with its own set of challenges and experiences.

I read "Short Cuts" after going through "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" and I have to say, it's simply not as strong a collection. This seems quite fitting considering it was compiled by Robert Altman and not Raymond Carver himself.

When it comes to the highlights that don't completely overlap, "A Small Good Thing" stands out. It's a more elaborate version of "The Bath" from the other collection. This time around, we have names, emotions, and even a resolution (!). "They're Not Your Husband" is just about as Carveresque as anything he's ever written. And "Jerry and Molly and Sam" is great too.

Reading this makes me really eager to see the movie. As for the books, I would suggest not purchasing this one. It would be far more worthwhile (and cost-effective) to hunt down these stories in their original collections. "Short Cuts" only compiles 9 stories and costs the same as the larger collections from which these stories are taken. The 3-page intro by Altman is nice, but it by no means justifies the price tag. If you're really interested, just sit down in a bookstore and read that. :)

I had already read "Cathedral", and in this other collection of stories (chosen by Robert Altman, who was inspired by it for the film "Short Cuts") I found the Carver I remembered. Strokes of cruelty, of everyday life, of the lives of strangers so human and believable that they could be our neighbors, or ourselves.

Actually, Carver's dry style and especially the abrupt, cutting, and bitter endings that characterize it are largely due to the heavy hand of his editor. But this does not take away the fact that the humanity described by Carver is desolately realistic, precisely because it concerns humble and "normal" characters, whose thoughts are perfectly shareable.

As in "Cathedral", the true strength of these stories lies in the unsaid, in the chopped-off endings of the stories that leave the reader with the task of reflecting on what he has just witnessed.

Day 1: (18/12/2024)
I read 133 pages today. The stories I read are as follows:
1. "Neighbors": 5 out of 5.
2. "He's Not Your Husband": 5 out of 5.
3. "Vitamins": 5 out of 5.
4. "Would You Do Me a Favor and Shut Up, Please?": 5 out of 5.
5. "So Much Water So Close to Home": 5 out of 5.
6. "It Seems Like a Foolish Thing": 5 out of 5.

Day 2: (19/12/2024)
Today I read 48 pages. The stories I read are:
7. "Jerry, Molly and Sam": 5 out of 5.
8. "Collectors": 5 out of 5.
9. "Tell the Women We're Going": 5 out of 5.
10. "Lemonade": 5 out of 5.

It is absurd how good this book is. This writer amazes me more and more with what he has to tell. We can say that this is simply like his "Greatest Hits" since each story is part of his previously published short story books and also a poem that I think is in itself a story. Everything that is covered here and how it is constructed is incredible. He constructs a world full of shadows, violence, addictions, and just as I said in "Cathedral", a world that we observe in an intrusive way, like a security camera.

I'm not overly acquainted with a project quite as unique as Short Cuts. It involves the adaptation and synthesis of the work of a remarkable American short story writer into a cinematic mosaic. And there was no one more suited to undertake this arduous challenge than the counterculture film icon, Robert Altman. The film is truly excellent, but undeniably, it all ultimately circles back to the stories themselves.

I had only recently finished reading Where I'm Calling From when I delved into Short Cuts, so I was relatively familiar with most of the tales within. A second perusal merely solidifies Carver's genius, his distinct way of seizing the essence of promise and loss in mid-century America. There's the disconcerting unease present in "Neighbors" and "Collectors," the menacing terror of "Vitamins," and the absolutely heart-wrenching "A Small, Good Thing."

Formal reviews of these stories seem to hold little practical value. It somehow feels beside the crucial point. The only thing you truly must do is read them. And then read them again, and yet again. Immerse yourself in these "lives of quiet desperation." Catch a fleeting glimpse of their pain and sorrow and come to admire the abundant humanity they possess.

It should not surprise us that Raymond Carver never wrote novels. The encounter between the short narrative and the misery of a simple, peripheral humanity, almost always derelict, photographed in its attempt to stay upright despite everything, is too happy. Their lives are devoid of extraordinary events and complex plots that are better suited to great novels.

Carver's focus on the ordinary and the mundane allows him to explore the deep emotions and struggles of his characters in a concise and powerful way. His stories often depict the lives of working-class people, dealing with issues such as poverty, alcoholism, and failed relationships.

By presenting these themes in a short form, Carver forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of life and to find meaning and beauty in the simplest of things. His work is a testament to the power of the short story as a literary form, capable of capturing the essence of the human experience in just a few pages.

Continua a leggere: http://www.temperamente.it/contempora...

Guiding this collection and continuing it was difficult for me, but I was able to complete it. And it was only because the world of the stories was not very far from reality and I could imagine the story and the characters.

This made the process a bit easier as I could somewhat relate to what was happening in the tales.

However, there were still many challenges along the way.

I had to carefully consider each detail and make sure it fit well within the overall framework of the collection.

Sometimes, I had to go back and make revisions to ensure the coherence and flow of the narrative.

But in the end, seeing the completed collection gave me a great sense of satisfaction.

It was a labor of love that I was proud to have accomplished.

Carver is a master of the story.

Few, like him, know how to make something so wonderful out of the ordinary.

His works are filled with the details of everyday life, yet he has the ability to transform them into profound and engaging tales.

He delves deep into the human psyche, exploring the emotions, desires, and conflicts that lie beneath the surface of our seemingly mundane existences.

Carver's writing style is简洁 yet powerful, allowing the reader to easily connect with his characters and their experiences.

Through his stories, he shows us that even in the simplest of moments, there is the potential for great beauty and meaning.

His works have had a significant impact on the world of literature and continue to be widely read and studied today.

I saw Short Cuts when it first premiered in the theater in the early 90's.

To be honest, sitting in a theater for 3 hours felt like an eternity.

At that time, I had just discovered the works of Raymond Carver and was truly fascinated by how Altman skillfully weaved together the various stories in the movie.

Last weekend, I borrowed both the movie and this book from the library.

Surprisingly, it didn't take me much longer to read the book than it did to watch the movie. (And did I mention that the movie is 3 hours long!)

I did enjoy the movie. The acting throughout was really amazing.

However, I have to admit that I enjoyed reading the original stories even more.

Carver's characters are so imperfect and flawed that, strangely enough, I find myself having sympathy for them.

I can even relate to their often narrow-minded views and motivations.

I always catch myself saying, "I wouldn't do that," but it's as if I'm trying to convince myself.

Because if you were to ask Carver's characters, they would probably say the same thing - that they wouldn't do that either.

But in the end, someone always ends up doing THAT.

Minimalist short stories are a unique form of literature that can be both depressing and marvellous at the same time.

These stories often rely on brevity and simplicity to convey complex emotions and ideas.

Their minimalistic nature allows for a more direct and powerful impact on the reader.

Despite their short length, minimalist short stories can explore deep themes such as love, loss, and the human condition.

They can make us feel a range of emotions, from sadness and despair to hope and inspiration.

Some minimalist short stories may leave us feeling depressed due to their portrayal of difficult or tragic situations.

However, they can also be marvellous in their ability to capture the essence of a moment or a feeling.

Overall, minimalist short stories offer a fascinating and thought-provoking reading experience.