My first encounter with Carver's works was truly remarkable, and I'm certain it won't be my last.

I'm deeply enamored by the simplicity in his writing. It's a unique kind of simplicity that has the power to clearly elucidate even the most complicated of things. How he manages to achieve this, I'm not entirely sure. It's as if you're gliding smoothly along until suddenly you hit a massive wall.

"Short Cuts" delved into the lives of people in marriage or those who have a family of their own (although I had some doubts about that one particular story).

To be honest, it's a rather basic topic. However, witnessing how vividly the horror and heartbreak were executed in the book truly stretched my perspectives a bit, especially regarding marriage and family life.

For the record, I have a profound love for short stories, and "Short Cuts" provided me with more satisfying emotions as a reader than some other lengthy novels have. It's a testament to Carver's skill and the impact his works can have.

If I could award this book a perfect ten stars, I most definitely would. I have an absolute passion for Ray Carver's books. I vividly recall reading stories from this collection long before I made the firm decision to become an author. His remarkable storytelling ability had such an impact on me that, even as an undergraduate, I would jot down in my journal, "I wish I wrote that sentence" about a hundred times! I've lost count of how many times I've read just this one particular book of his, not to mention his other works as well.

If you've ever had doubts about whether you're a writer or if you're hesitant about entering this industry, pick up this book. Read just one of these amazing stories. (The 1993 movie directed by Altman was based on the combined stories from this book - it's also well worth watching!) Then take a moment to contemplate and start writing!

This was my initial foray into Raymond Carver's body of work. I anticipated adoring this collection because of what I had read about his writing and the fact that several of my favorite authors had cited him as an inspiration. The idea of clean, sleek minimalist short stories that pack a powerful punch seemed precisely like my cup of tea.

And indeed, there were some truly brilliant stories within the collection. Most notably, "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?" (what an amazing title it is too!), which managed to captivate me with its concise yet impactful prose. However, there were also other stories that I felt didn't really go anywhere.

Furthermore, due to the extremely minimalist style and the brevity of the stories, I had difficulty connecting with the characters. In general, I have a profound love for character-driven stories, and this aspect was somewhat lacking for me in this collection.

Nonetheless, I would definitely be interested in reading more of Carver's work. Although I wasn't as thoroughly wowed as I had hoped to be, I still believe that there is much to discover and appreciate in his writing.

This collection was carefully assembled with the intention of promoting the Robert Altman movie Short Cuts.

This movie adapt all these stories and skillfully weaves them into an interlocking and broader narrative. In this story, all the characters cross paths through blind chance and other circumstances.

Robert Downey Jr, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lily Tomlin, and Tom Waits are all part of this amazing cast, and the movie really rocks.

Anyway, there is some overlap with the Carver collection Cathedral that I hold near and dear. And those stories are without a doubt the best ones here.

I think "A Small Good Thing," which is included in both this collection and Cathedral, is one of my all-time favorite short stories.

Some of the stories, like "They Aren't Your Husband," are a little more minor, and I think they are definitely improved upon in the movie.

However, because it's still Raymond Carver, they are all at the very least interesting and offbeat. And at their best, they are some of the most incredible and perceptive short stories you'll find anywhere.

I would definitely recommend Cathedral over this collection as it is more consistent in quality and writing style. But there is still a lot of wonderful stuff in here, and I'm excited to rewatch the movie and see these stories come to life on the silver screen now that I've read the source material.

Ordinary people are often confined within the boundaries of their ordinary lives. They find themselves in situations that seem to offer little hope of achieving anything remarkable. However, Raymond Carver's works show that these very same people can be compelled to achieve greatness in spite of themselves.

Carver's genius lies in his ability to outsmart the most mundane circumstances. He has a remarkable talent for taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary, hooking his readers from the very first sentence. His stories are filled with characters who are dealing with the everyday struggles of life, but who also manage to find moments of beauty and meaning in the midst of it all.

There is truly no equal to Carver's mastery. His writing is simple yet powerful, and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience is second to none. Through his works, we are able to see the world from a different perspective and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.

Stunning, cinematographic narratives have the power to transport us to different worlds and evoke a wide range of emotions.

These narratives are like a magical portal that allows us to experience stories in a vivid and immersive way.

The use of cinematographic techniques, such as lighting, camera angles, and special effects, adds an extra layer of depth and realism to the story.

It makes us feel as if we are actually a part of the action, witnessing every moment unfold before our eyes.

Whether it's a thrilling adventure, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking drama, stunning, cinematographic narratives have the ability to captivate our attention and leave a lasting impression.

They have become an essential part of our entertainment culture, providing us with a source of inspiration, escapism, and entertainment.

So, the next time you watch a movie or a TV show, take a moment to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into creating these stunning, cinematographic narratives.

I am an avid reader of short stories and novellas. There are indeed some outstanding short story writers in the literary world. However, for me, Carver does not belong to that category. His spare and minimalist writing style has the effect of dulling the prose. What many readers might perceive as witty, I view as a rather poor attempt to make the readers feel uncomfortable.

Instead, I would highly recommend trying the works of John Cheever or Yates. Their writing is rich, engaging, and offers a deeper exploration of human nature and the human condition. Cheever's stories are known for their sharp social commentary and vivid characterizations, while Yates' works are often characterized by their emotional intensity and profound insights into the lives of ordinary people.

In conclusion, while Carver may have his fans, I believe that there are other short story writers who offer a more satisfying reading experience.

A truly compelling and realistic collection awaits with nine short stories and a poem that were carefully selected for the film titled ‘Shortcuts’, directed by Robert Altman in 1993.

Five of these short stories are taken from the author’s very first published collection in 1976, which is named ‘Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?’. The five stories include ‘Neighbors’, ‘They’re not Your Husband’, ‘Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?’, ‘Jerry, Molly and Sam’, and ‘Collectors’.

Two other stories are sourced from ‘What we talk about when we talk about Love’. These are ‘So much water so close to home’, and ‘Tell the women we’re going’.

Finally, two stories, namely ‘A small good Thing’, and ‘Vitamins’ are from ‘Cathedral’.

The poem included in this collection is ‘Lemonade’.

This collection represents short story writing at its absolute best. It is highly recommended for all those who have a passion for engaging and thought-provoking literature.

It's Carver, so of course it is a fantastic collection.

His writing has a unique charm that draws readers in and keeps them engaged from start to finish.

This particular collection not only showcases his talent but also piqued my interest to check out the movie adaptation.

I'm curious to see how the stories translate to the big screen and if the essence of Carver's work is captured.

However, one note of caution.

The majority of these stories are in the collection Where I'm Calling From.

If you have already read that volume, as I had, then Short Cuts won't really contain anything new for you.

It's still a great collection, but it might not offer the same level of新鲜感 as it would to someone who hasn't read the other book.

Nonetheless, I would still recommend it to fans of Carver or anyone interested in exploring the world of short stories.

I found nearly all of the characters in these stories to be thoroughly unlikeable.

I'm no stranger to works with complicated, dark, or unpleasant protagonists. I've read many such pieces and often been able to see the deeper layers and understand the motives behind their actions.

However, in this instance, it was different. I didn't feel any sympathy for the characters. Their actions and behaviors seemed so unappealing and unrelatable that I couldn't bring myself to empathize with them.

Moreover, I didn't feel that I was learning anything from them. Usually, when reading about complex characters, I can glean some insights into human nature or society. But here, it felt like a wasted opportunity.

Nor did I find myself asking any questions of myself that I considered particularly useful. There was no spark of inspiration or self-reflection.

In conclusion, these stories failed to engage me on an emotional or intellectual level due to the unlikable nature of the characters.

Carver is a remarkable writer renowned for his positively minimalist style. This style serves as a powerful conduit through which he delves deep into the complex and often difficult inner worlds of those inhabiting blue collar America. What is truly astonishing is that despite the unadorned realism and pared-down nature of his writing, Carver frequently employs the uncanny and leaves intriguingly ambiguous gaps for the reader to fill in. This invites the reader to actively engage with the text and uncover hidden meanings.

I must mention that "Short Cuts" is a fascinating amalgamation of his short story collections and also serves as the basis for Robert Altman's film of the same name. In my copy, there is a short yet beautiful introduction penned by Altman himself. Among the numerous short stories in this collection, nearly all of my favorites are from Carver's Where I'm Calling from. In particular, So Much Water So Close to Home holds a special place in my heart as my personal favorite.

*After reading this collection, I watched the film, and it was indeed good. However, it's not my favorite Altman film. That honor would go to The Long Goodbye.

3.5/5

꧁ 3 stars ꧂

This collection of stories about middle-aged married couples and their marriage problems is not amazing, but not terrible either. Given the subject matter, my expectations weren't overly high. Some of the stories really felt lackluster, lacking a real purpose or message. They seemed to just meander along without a clear direction. However, there were also some that were touching and felt complete, managing to draw me in and make me care about the characters. Overall, I was often confused, as Carver really doesn't like to spell things out for the reader. He leaves a lot to interpretation, which can be both frustrating and intriguing.

On the positive side, my favorite story in the collection was 'A Small, Good Thing'. It had a certain charm and poignancy that really stuck with me. Perhaps closely followed by 'Tell the Women We're Going', which was so strange that it became interesting. I was really curious about what was going on in that story. However, I was left completely baffled by 'So Much Water So Close to Home'. I really wish it would just tell us if the husband and his clique of men killed the girl or not. But it says nothing, leaving me in a state of confusion. My least favorite was probably 'Jerry and Molly and Sam'. It was just plain boring, and the title made no sense. Who even is Sam?

Anyways, some of the short stories were really good, and some were really boring. It's a bit of a mixed bag. Thanks, I guess.

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