The essays and short stories in this collection were written in a truly brilliant manner. The author's ability to craft engaging narratives and develop complex characters within a short space was truly remarkable. However, when it came to the poetry, it didn't quite reach the same level of excellence.

Despite this, I was so impressed with the overall quality of the writing that I've already ordered two more books from this author. Raymond Carver was a unique writer who had a distinct style. He wrote without any intention to impress the reader, but rather focused on presenting the story in a simple, clean, and straight-to-the-point manner.

His work often dealt with the ordinary aspects of life, but through his keen观察力 and ability to capture the essence of human experience, he was able to make these平凡的 moments seem profound and meaningful. I'm looking forward to exploring more of his work and seeing what other literary treasures he has to offer.

Raymond Carver's short stories and essays hold a significant place in the literary world.

His works are ranked at the 1222nd position on The Greatest Books of All Time site.

Another version of this note and thoughts on other books can be found at the provided links.

This might be the last note on Raymond Carver for now, but after a few years of re-reading his works, more thoughts could be put down.

It has been a wonderful journey exploring his narratives. Some of the first titles that come to mind are "A small Good thing", "Vandals", "Kindling", and a couple of essays.

The essays on Writing and his father stand out.

In the Essay on Writing, the reader discovers the authors Raymond Carver prefers, such as Chekhov, Isak Dinesen, Isaac Babel, and Flannery O'Connor.

Flannery O’Connor, a favorite of the author, reveals that when writing, she doesn't always know where the story is going.

Raymond Carver emphasizes his dislike for small tricks and quotes another author, stating that he likes no tricks at all.

He also discusses the right attitude of the creator, saying that the writer must not be too smart and should rather stare at the event with a gaped mouth and then write about it.

The chronology at the end of The Collected Stories shows the importance of sincerity for Raymond Carver.

Alcohol is a major theme in his stories, and he has overcome this addiction, which he considers his biggest achievement.

He also stresses the importance of hard work and honesty.

To end, another quote from the master: "Get in, get out. Don't linger."

Raymod Carver's collection is an essential one, filled with beautiful poetry, profound thoughts, and captivating stories. It is rapidly becoming a favorite. Through his keen observations, such as the guilt of one person for the sins of another, he presents us with a set of heartbreaking tales. His poetry is also very strong, consisting of formidable little bits and pieces that draw on his early life. Here, his decision to understand and pursue shorter works is explored, and it is successfully concluded with evidence that he was well-suited to quick formats. Despite their brevity, his stories are still weighty and complete. "Fires" proves that his prose is more than capable of captivating a reader in just a few pages, while some authors struggle to do so in hundreds. Carver cuts through with six or so pages and leaves the reader with an open-ended expectation. The people in his stories live on beyond the final page, and it is this aftershock that often makes his best moments, some of which are included in this collection.

Interessanti i saggi, belli i racconti (che hanno anche ispirato in parte i miei scritti).

Carver's essays are interesting, and his stories are beautiful. They have also inspired me in part when I write.

I especially appreciate the importance that small details assume in the behavior of his characters. It's not a symbolic importance but rather a sense of things that is revealed in the details that no one sees.

Carver is an artist in knowing how to tell the daily, the banal, making it engaging.

The central part of the book (and also the longest of the three) is dedicated to his poems, which I appreciated less.

Of this great American writer, surely the prose is better than the poetry.

His prose has a unique charm and power that can touch the hearts of readers and make them think deeply about life and human nature.

Although his poems also have their own characteristics, they don't have the same impact as his prose.

Overall, Carver is a remarkable writer whose works are worth reading and studying.

Raymond Carver is a renowned American writer who passed away in 1988. His works have had a profound impact on the literary world, especially in the realm of minimalist literature. He taught us the beauty and power of short stories as a unique form of literary art.

Carver's stories are characterized by their meticulous and anguished language,描绘着日常生活中的人们，尤其是那些处于社会和经济边缘的普通人。他的作品真实地展现了人们在悲伤和孤独的边缘挣扎求生的状态。

In this article, the author highlights three of Carver's essential works: "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love", "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?" and "Cathedral". These works showcase Carver's mastery of the short story form and his ability to capture the essence of human experience.

The article also delves into "Fogos", a collection of essays, poems, and narratives by Carver. In the essays, Carver shares his personal experiences and thoughts on writing, including his difficulties with long-form fiction and his discovery of the joys of writing poems and short stories. He also discusses the influence of his teacher, John Gardner, on his writing.

The poems in "Fogos" are short and powerful, revealing Carver's skill in capturing the beauty and tragedy of everyday life. The narratives in the third part of the collection are seven remarkable stories that explore the ambiguity and despair of the human condition. The author singles out "The Lie", "The Death of Harry" and "Where Are They Now?" as particularly outstanding examples of Carver's work.

Overall, this article provides a comprehensive overview of Raymond Carver's life and work, highlighting his importance as a writer and his contribution to the minimalist literary movement. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American literature or the art of the short story.

On page 58, there has been one rather boring and arguably bad essay. However, the others were truly wonderful. The poetry has really taken me by surprise. It's like a hidden gem within the pages.

As I reach page 91, I find myself in a bit of a dilemma. I can't quite tell if a lot of these poems are brilliant or terrible. It's a strange feeling, and I'm not sure if this is a good or bad sign. I'm also not certain if this reflects on me or on Raymond Carver. Maybe it's a bit of both.

By page 98, I've come to the conclusion that the poems about the ancient Middle East were definitely not my thing. And I think that one's on him. But that's okay, as everyone has their own preferences.

On page 139, "Distance" was a very nice story. Some of the other poems were just okay, but I'd say there were only 3 or 4 or 5 that I really liked. But now, we're back to what RC does best, which is writing captivating short stories.

Finally, on page 205, the last couple of stories were great. I'm done now, and overall, I have to say that this collection was at times a little uneven. You're probably better off starting with one of the quintessential short story collections like "What we talk about when we talk about love" or "Will you please be quiet, please?" But it's been so long since I've read them. Maybe they're uneven too.

Turns out I'm not a big Carver poem fan, who knew! It came as a bit of a surprise to me. I had always thought that I would enjoy all aspects of his work, but it seems that his poetry just doesn't quite hit the mark for me.

However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate his other talents. He still writes a damn good short story. His short stories are known for their simplicity and yet they manage to convey complex emotions and ideas. The characters in his stories are often ordinary people facing extraordinary situations, and Carver has a way of making us feel as if we are right there with them, experiencing their joys and sorrows.

So while I may not be a fan of his poetry, I will definitely continue to read his short stories. I'm sure there are many more great ones waiting for me to discover.

You know, when you're in middle school, there's this boy. You've seen him around and know he has a good reputation. So, you arrange to spend some time with him.

At first, you think it's just a casual thing, but then you start to realize that you like him, but not in that deep, "like-like" kind of way.

That's exactly what my first Raymond Carver book felt like. This particular volume has essays, poems, and short stories, so I thought it would be a great sampling of his work.

I absolutely loved the essays. They were engaging and thought-provoking. The poems were okay, but they didn't give me that spine-tingling feeling.

The short stories, on the other hand, were a bit of a mixed bag. Some had ambiguous and abrupt endings that left me a bit confused.

However, the last two stories almost made me change my mind and commit to him. "Where Is Everyone" had me laughing out loud, and I do love a man with a sense of humor.

"So Much Water So Close to Home" was perfectly chilling and gave me a glimpse of what might lie ahead in our relationship.

So, for now, we are on a break. But I'd really like us to remain friends. And who knows? Maybe another date will be in the cards down the road. It could definitely happen.

Raymond Carver's writing has always been incredibly inspiring to me.

I have a deep affection for this collection as it allows me to observe three distinct styles of his writing side by side.

It is truly fascinating to jump around between the poems, essays, and short stories.

As I do so, I notice a plethora of recurring themes, events from his life, and words that seem to pop up across all three forms.

It's as if Carver is weaving a complex tapestry, with each strand representing a different aspect of his creative genius.

The poems are often concise and powerful, packing a punch with their vivid imagery and emotional depth.

The essays offer a more personal and reflective look into Carver's thoughts and experiences.

And the short stories are masterpieces of compression, telling complete and engaging stories in a relatively short space.

Taken together, these three forms of writing provide a comprehensive and rich understanding of Carver's literary world.

I can't help but be in awe of his talent and the way he is able to bring his ideas to life on the page.

Raymond Carver will always be one of my favorite writers, and this collection is a testament to his enduring legacy.

I didn't like this as much as I liked Cathedral.

To be completely fair, I have never liked any collection of short fiction as much as I liked Cathedral.

In this particular work, my favorites were actually some of the poems. However, the essays and the stories (along with some of the poems) seemed to be infected by alcoholism. There was also a (probably related) viciousness that, for me, really obscured the originality of the writing.

One interesting takeaway from all of this is that Raymond Carver doesn't seem to have a great affection for children. In fact, he seems to harbor a particular resentment toward his own children.

This aspect of his work adds an interesting layer of complexity and perhaps a bit of mystery as to what might have led to such feelings. It makes one wonder about the personal experiences that influenced his writing and how those experiences shaped his views on family and childhood.

A bit of a mixed bag, but with some strong highlights.

The essays are interesting, yet perhaps a bit forgettable. They offer various perspectives and ideas, but don't necessarily leave a lasting impression.

However, some of the poetry in this collection is truly very good. In particular, works like "Wes Hardin: From a Photograph", "Morning, Thinking of Empire", and "Photograph of My Father in His Twenty Second Year" stand out. They展现了独特的情感和意象，让读者沉浸其中。

The short stories, on the other hand, are of the Raymond Carver type. You know the kind - a guy goes fishing or hunting, and in the process, he contemplates about how his wife might be cheating on him, and perhaps he himself is an alcoholic, among other things. While there's nothing in here that can quite compare to the masterpiece "Cathedral", they still possess a certain charm.

Overall, this is a decent and varied collection. It has its strengths in the form of good poetry and charming short stories, but it's not the strongest work I've read by this author. There's room for improvement and perhaps a bit more depth in some areas.

The way this guy can convey so much with so few words is truly astonishing.

It's almost unbelievable how he manages to pack such a powerful punch with just a few sentences.

The last story, "So Much Water So Close To Home", was nothing short of amazing.

It was phenomenal, captivating, and had the ability to stop you in your tracks.

The story had a certain charm and allure that drew you in from the very beginning and kept you hooked until the end.

The author's use of language and his ability to create vivid images in the reader's mind was truly remarkable.

Overall, this guy is a master of his craft and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.