Carver's works have a unique charm.

They can be both funny and sad simultaneously. Despite using only a few words, he manages to penetrate into human nature.

He discovers a way to make you feel a deep connection with everyone around you.

I have a profound love for each and every one of these stories. They possess a blend of humor and sadness, much like life itself, I suppose.

There is an insatiable desire for more of Carver's masterpieces.

His writing style is so captivating that it leaves the reader longing for more.

It is truly a remarkable feat how he can convey such complex emotions and ideas with such simplicity.

Carver's stories are not just entertainment; they are a reflection of the human experience.

They make you think, feel, and appreciate the beauty and tragedy of life.

More Carver, please! We need his unique perspective and talent to continue enriching our literary lives.

Carver had an extraordinary ability to capture the delicate mechanisms of the human psyche.

He could perceive the subtlest, most cynical nuances that cause pain. These are the ones that cut through life like a sharp blade, leaving a festering wound that is never truly healed, but rather remains painful and, most importantly, lies there, dramatically at the mercy of all, exposed.

Morbid obsessions, crushing torments, sudden upheavals or dramatic disappointments: these are the themes that, story after story, overwhelm the reader, leaving little room for immediate reflection, simply disarming.

Carver's stories engage us and leave us in awe (prompting us to a subsequent reconsideration) not only because the narrated episodes catapult us into a Hopper-esque scene (he too was direct and cold with the brush, just as Carver was with the pen), but perhaps also because they echo events that belong to us and whose wound still hurts.

We can easily empathize with the obtuse perversions or the silent resentments of Carver's characters (without necessarily having to reach drastic endings, of course), because these are not surreal situations, but detailed and sincere conjunctures. Human, tragically human.

Absolutely to be read and reread. To be loved.

(As soon as I can, of course, I will enjoy Altman with pleasure, quite certain that he has managed to recreate the same poignant atmospheres in the cinematic adaptation).

Oohhh, I really like Carver.

In his short stories, it seems as if nothing significant happens on the surface. However, that's precisely what makes them so great.

This collection is truly very good. Although there are some flaws or less-than-perfect moments along the way, which is quite understandable considering it's a collection of 22 stories.

Each story has its own unique charm and way of presenting the ordinary yet profound aspects of life.

I am definitely going to read more of Carver's works.

I'm eager to explore the different worlds and emotions he creates in his writing.

His style is so distinct and engaging that it keeps me hooked from the beginning to the end of each story.

I believe that with each new story I read, I'll gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of his literary genius.

So, yes, more Carver is definitely in my reading future.

4 y 1/2
Carver had been a pending subject ever since the apotheotic "Birdman" by González Iñárritu was released in 2014, which won several Oscars. And the first encounter has been very good.

More than short stories, they are intense pieces of stories on the verge of ending badly, very badly. This has been said about Carver until exhaustion, but it is what gives his stories their incredible strength, without endings, without a conclusion, only with countless anti-climaxes, when something "more" is going to happen. Does it happen or not? It is part of the game that Carver proposes to the reader. I usually like complete stories, and at first it did shock me a bit that the story would be left hanging by a thread. But as one progresses, one discovers the incredible gems of Carver's genius. Basically, it is about the relationship of a couple, a family, or friends, going in a spiral of surprises and misery. The last story, which gives the title to the book, is brilliant, with solid descriptions, very powerful images without so much literary ornamentation.

Notable stories:
- "The Ducks"
- "Nobody Said Anything"
- "He Wasn't Your Husband"
- "Are You a Doctor?"
- "Neighbors"
- "What Do You Think?"
- "What Do You Want?"
And of course, the one that gives the name to the book. Great closing.

I will definitely continue reading his other anthologies.

Straziante, come sempre.

The desperation, the failure, the betrayal and alcoholism. There is all of life in Carver's stories.

Even though in this collection there are some bitter stories, I really appreciated a great deal the ability to describe provincial life and all the ambitions and frustrations of the protagonists.

Carver has a unique talent for capturing the essence of ordinary people's lives and making them come alive on the page.

His characters are flawed and complex, just like real people, and their struggles and triumphs are both relatable and moving.

Reading his stories is like taking a journey into the hearts and minds of those who are often overlooked or forgotten in society.

It is a powerful and poignant experience that leaves a lasting impression.

Overall, I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys reading about the human condition and the beauty and tragedy of everyday life.

What to say... Carver has the gift of presenting us with sharp images of characters who move, quarrel and love in colors. Sometimes it seems to me that I (re)cognize relationships through these characters who usually present themselves as husband and wife. Carver uses his autobiographical experience as a starting point and then develops and creates new situations and lives. It is an immediate and very vivid reading.

His works are like windows into different worlds, allowing us to peek into the lives and emotions of ordinary people. The details he provides make the characters come alive, as if we are standing right beside them, witnessing their joys and sorrows. We can feel the tension in their arguments, the tenderness in their love, and the complexity of their relationships.

Carver's writing style is simple yet powerful. He doesn't use flowery language or complicated literary devices, but instead, he relies on the authenticity of his characters and the situations he creates. This makes his stories accessible to a wide range of readers and allows them to connect with the characters on a deep level. Whether you are a seasoned reader or someone who is just starting to explore literature, Carver's works are sure to leave a lasting impression.

Brilliant.

I don't know what else I could really say to drive the point home.

Reading Carver's short stories feels like being a little kid reading a pop-up book. The characters are human--fragile, funny, scarred, real.

In my opinion, a big challenge in writing short stories is being able to really get a strong feel of a character within a short amount of time without a whole lot being said.

And he executes this perfectly. If only I could write this concisely. It's a rarity in short fiction.

Carver's writing style is truly remarkable. His ability to create vivid and complex characters with just a few strokes is something that many writers strive for but few achieve.

Each of his stories is like a small snapshot of life, capturing a moment in time and revealing the essence of the characters involved.

I find myself completely immersed in his worlds, empathizing with the characters and their struggles.

I will be reading a lot more by this man, eager to discover more of his literary treasures and learn from his masterful writing.

Reading such stories about the everyday minutiae of American life without the political or Hollywood hype sometimes makes me sad. It does make me compare my life, which is far away from America, and see what's the same and the differences. Basically, though, I see the universal realities. Basic human needs remain the same, basic human insecurities remain the same. Different cultures then jump in to add more difficulty, like different perceptions of how to live a good life, priorities, etc. I like exploring these nuances, and with Carver, these come in gallons.

Carver says very much in a few words. His characters are unadorned, sometimes in all their sleazy glory. He gives them to us as is, no holds barred. I suspect that his worldview comes out in his characters. Some of the stories made me laugh. Others made me sad or afraid. Some I didn't get, maybe because I come from a too different culture to understand those. Still, at the end, I'd say I got a slice of humaneness reading this book.

Read with Maya and Nick 6th Feb 2016 - great talking with you about these. Discussing these with you made some of the stories more accessible to me.

  

  

It is not easy to reach the end of such a book: with each story becoming so bitter and desperate that at the end you MUST stop for a moment to recover.

Each story is incredibly believable, it could be the story that someone is telling you in a bar: the greatness of Carver for me lies also in this, his ability to be both so credible and so universal.

Carver's writing has a way of pulling you in and making you feel as if you are right there in the midst of the characters' lives.

The emotions he portrays are raw and真实, and you can't help but be affected by them.

His stories are not just about the characters themselves, but about the human condition in general.

They explore themes of love, loss, hope, and despair, and in doing so, they touch on something deep within us all.

Reading Carver's work is like taking a journey through the darker side of life, but one that ultimately leaves you with a greater understanding and appreciation of the human experience.

I transitioned into this writer after discovering how much Haruki Murakami admired Raymond Carver.

The simplicity of Carver's works strikes you stupid. The prose is stripped down to the essential, with no fat or fanciness. Yet, through the depiction of American poverty, there is a sense that something magical would have happened a few words after the story ended. However, of magical things, Carver said, "Dreams are what you wake up from."

Yes, dreams are what you had last night for dinner.

Carver reminds me of John Steinbeck. He is concerned with working-class people who still believe in the American dream. These are the people discarded by American prosperity and made hard by too much alcohol and cigarettes. Their lives have no room for foolishness.

These stories will touch you deeply without your understanding. They will end, and you will feel strange, unable to explain why. A great hollowness will open inside your chest. Carver's stories will be to blame. His characters will be to blame. And this strangeness will not leave you easily. It will linger, making you reflect on the lives of those ordinary people he so skillfully portrayed, and on the nature of our own dreams and the harsh realities that often shatter them.

Raymond Carver's works are truly remarkable.

\\n  “He lies on his back for a time and pulls the hair on his stomach, considering.”\\n

This simple yet profound description makes us wonder. What man has not engaged in such an act? Whether it is part of God's grand design or the result of good old-fashioned evolution, Carver has ingeniously revealed the purpose of male stomach hair as an aid to male cognition. But what about women?

His stories are not only filled with acute observations about male stomach hair but also other aspects of human behavior. They are rich in the psychology of unsaid things and understandings that are not shared. Carver has mastered not only natural dialogue but also the spaces between that dialogue. These spaces are filled with misdirection, unexplained or half-understood motivations, and powerful emotions that remain un-expressed. Many of his stories communicate the failure to communicate. Characters often end a story feeling lonely, yet unable to precisely identify the source of this loneliness. This is surely a common human experience and one of the reasons why his stories are so easy to relate to.

“Short Cuts” was a great film, and I am certain that anyone who liked these stories would also enjoy the movie. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I only realized it was based on Raymond Carver stories after finishing reading this. It just goes to show the depth and influence of Carver's work.

I have this distinct feeling that every single character within the narrative is quietly teetering on the edge of madness. They seem to be on the verge of exploding at any given moment, yet, curiously, they never do. It's as if this entire buildup, which initially holds so much promise and anticipation, ultimately amounts to nothing but disappointment.

If there is supposed to be some profound literary purpose behind this underwhelming construction, I must admit that I simply despise it. The stories lack any semblance of a clear goal. There are no unexpected twists, no sudden turns, no elements that would add excitement or depth to the plot. It leaves me wondering how on earth people can find any enjoyment or value in such平淡无奇的 tales.

It's truly baffling to me that something so devoid of substance and excitement could be appealing to anyone. I just can't fathom it.