While it is not the best of Carver (my favorite remains Cathedral), the book condenses his work to a great extent. It presents urban portraits of places with lights on but a latent darkness. Almost as if he were delving into the corners of the rooms, Carver narrates that small dose of unease and insecurity that every life, no matter how resplendent it may become, possesses. Among banal phrases and insubstantial moments, the lives of Raymond C.'s characters are all or nothing, fighting to survive one more day or change everything. Normally, his characters recount a particular moment of their lives that could perfectly be the tipping point to weave a new story; however, the story ends there, indicating that possibility. Whether it is due to his editor (who liked to give him a lot of help with his texts) or under his own conscience, Carver's stories never have an end. They are like life: impossible to grasp in a couple of words. Hence, they extend until the writer is tired, as far as necessary in order to capture an entire moment of life. Although not all the stories in the book are equally powerful (the first two are rather slow and not very well achieved), the two middle stories ("Menudo" and "The Elephant") are violent tales, in which life emerges with all its small triumphs and incessant fears in every word. The last two stories ("Horses in the Fog" and "Three Yellow Roses") maintain the line, without being as powerful as the two in the middle.

This isn't a collection to read for happy endings.

Most of the stories in Elephant center around a middle-aged man, frequently a recovering alcoholic,被困在美国蓝领郊区。这些角色要应对疏远的家庭、金钱问题、分居、孤独、健康问题和死亡。从来没有安慰。没有人能在人际关系、宗教、个人才能、友谊或外部兴趣中找到慰藉。

In “Boxes\\", a man has to deal with an aging mother who is an irritable complainer. She is constantly on the move, hopeful that she will find happiness in the next apartment or town.

In \\"Whoever was using this bed\\", a couple wakes up in the middle of the night after a wrong number caller phones their house. They stay awake and discuss the inevitability of health trouble and death.

“Intimacy” is about a man who revisits his ex-wife, asking for forgiveness. He never really explains why he shows up at her house. It's almost as if he just stopped by to see what might happen since he was already driving through town.

In “Menudo”, an adulterer has to decide between his wife and the woman across the street. He reflects back on his first marriage while contemplating his current situation.

“Elephant” is a story about a middle-aged man who is being financially drowned by his family. His mother, ex-wife, daughter, son, and brother constantly ask him for money. He wants to say no, but he can't. Instead, he borrows money from the bank so he can keep sending checks.

In “Blackbird Pie” a woman leaves her husband. She writes him a letter which he swears is not in her handwriting.

The last story, “Errand\\", which won an O. Henry short story award in 1988, is entirely different. It's about the last days of Anton Chekhov’s life, showing Chekhov denying his oncoming death despite exhibiting all the signs of advanced tuberculosis.

The power of Raymond Carver lies in the way he explores problems that inevitably touch all of us, the darker elements of everyday existence. Reading \\"Elephant\\" brings to mind the Franz Kafka quote, \\"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound or stab us. If the book we're reading doesn't wake us up with a blow to the head, what are we reading for? So that it will make us happy, as you write? … A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.\\"

In his tone, which is not mine.

His tone is distinct and unique, carrying a certain charm and character that sets it apart from my own. It might be more assertive, or perhaps more gentle and soft-spoken. Maybe it has a hint of humor or a touch of seriousness.

No matter what the specific qualities of his tone are, it is clear that it is an essential part of who he is. It can convey his emotions, his thoughts, and his intentions with great precision.

Sometimes, when I listen to him speak in that tone, I find myself captivated and drawn in. It has a way of making me pay closer attention and really listen to what he has to say.

Overall, his tone is a fascinating aspect of his communication style, and I can't help but be intrigued by it.

Nadie escribe cuentos como él. Raymond Carver tiene una manera única y poderosa de contar historias. En un par de oraciones, uno ya entiende los sentimientos del protagonista y se dispara o no la empatía con el personaje de turno. Su estilo es directo y sin vueltas, te pega en el hígado con una o dos frases.

Leer a Carver es una experiencia intensa. Sus cuentos son como relámpagos que iluminan brevemente una vida, una situación, un sentimiento. Pero en ese breve instante, logra transmitir una profundidad y una verdad que te marcan.

Carver es un maestro de la economía de palabras. Sabía decir mucho con muy poco. Sus cuentos están llenos de detalles que parecen insignificantes a primera vista, pero que al final resultan esenciales para entender la historia.

Su obra es un legado para la literatura mundial. Y aunque haya fallecido hace muchos años, su influencia sigue siendo palpable en la escritura de muchos autores contemporáneos. Nadie escribe cuentos como Carver. Y eso es algo que nunca cambiará.

It's truly strange, the kind of things that are written on the back covers of books.

The blurb on the Vintage Classics edition of 'Elephant' claims that 'Errand' is one of Raymond Carver's longest stories. However, this is not even the case within this collection. In fact, it's the second shortest. And let's face it, none of the stories are long to begin with. So, the suggestion that Carver was 'flexing his muscles for a longer work' is simply nonsense.

I also have a strong aversion to the insinuation that 'longer' necessarily means 'better'. Forgive the overused expression, but these brief pieces manage to convey a far greater sense of character and location than many novels that are twenty times their size. Each one is a swift masterpiece. As a whole set, I firmly believe it's the most moving work he ever produced. Raymond Carver really was the undisputed boss in the world of short stories.

His ability to pack so much depth and emotion into such concise narratives is truly remarkable and sets him apart from many other writers.

In the latest collection of stories by Karber, he perhaps reaches the pinnacle of his writing art.

Lives, relationships, and the failures of ordinary people are depicted with the least of means and with a narrative rhythm that engages.

The last one, for me, is a masterpiece by Tsekhov.

Karber's ability to capture the essence of human existence in these stories is truly remarkable.

He presents the characters and their situations in a way that makes the reader feel as if they are a part of their lives.

The simplicity of his writing style belies the depth of his insights.

Each story is a gem, offering a unique perspective on the human condition.

Whether it is the joy and sorrow of love, the challenges of everyday life, or the search for meaning and purpose, Karber explores these themes with sensitivity and authenticity.

His work is a testament to the power of storytelling to touch our hearts and minds.

Wonderful Carver! These are the last of his stories which are more "quiet", but how does the unworthy one manage it? They strike chords and at the most crucial points, they convey all the intensity even in one sentence. Especially "Who is under the bed" was shocking. I simply love him.

Carver's writing is truly a masterpiece. His ability to create such vivid and impactful stories with just a few words is remarkable. In these final tales, he展现出了 a different side of his talent, one that is more subdued yet equally powerful. The way he weaves together the simplest of details to create a sense of mystery and tension is truly masterful. Each story leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and a desire to know more. Whether it's the haunting question of who is under the bed or the quiet moments of reflection that Carver so skillfully portrays, his work is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

Exceptionally wonderful stories! The heroes of Carver are people next door with common problems and through his stories, Carver gives us multiple images and different psychological portraits of human characters. Especially the end of each story puts the reader in a dilemma and makes him think about how he would act in the case of each hero, but also about the different concepts that each one grasps in the way Carver chooses to end each of his stories.

Carver's writing style is simple yet profound. He has a unique ability to capture the essence of human nature and relationships. His stories are not just about the events that happen but about the emotions and thoughts that lie beneath the surface. Through his characters, we see the struggles, joys, and sorrows of everyday life. We are able to empathize with them and understand their motives.

The endings of Carver's stories are often open-ended, leaving the reader to draw his own conclusions. This adds to the depth and complexity of the stories, as it allows for different interpretations and discussions. It also makes the reader think about his own life and values, and how he would respond in similar situations. Overall, Carver's stories are a rich source of inspiration and reflection, and a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the human condition.

In almost 20 pages, each story managed to contain entire lives.

By simply and plainly narrating the emotions, agonies - joys, passions - fears of people, he created stories that are mirrors of reality.

However, some stories I didn't like. They were completely indifferent in terms of content.

The last one, the "Czech" one was very powerful!

It had a unique charm and a depth that made it stand out among the others.

The way the author described the characters and their experiences was truly remarkable.

It felt as if I was actually there, witnessing their lives unfold.

Overall, although not all the stories were to my taste, the collection as a whole was a great read.

It offered a diverse range of perspectives and emotions, and it made me think about the human condition in different ways.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading short stories that are both thought-provoking and engaging.

In the seven stories that make up this book, Carver takes the chair of how to write stories that delve into loneliness and the impossibility of breaking it, in broken relationships and seeing the moment when that break occurs.

The story that gives the book its title is one of the best known of Carver and for good reason, a tribute to Chekhov - without whose prose Carver's would not be possible - and for its impeccable execution. "Horses in the Rain" is a disconcerting beauty, the disconcertion of abandonment.

In "The Elephant," a mature man tells of his economic tribulations, the desperation over all the relatives who depend on him. "Neighbors" makes us listen to a man who in the middle of the night is unable to sleep and who, in the language of the insomniac, tells us of his marital failures.

"Intimacy" is almost a script with the ex-wife demanding from the narrator (who is also a writer) the abandonment, the fact that he wrote about her life and the loneliness in which he left her.

"Whoever Was Using This Bed" Carver shows a couple who are awakened from sleep by a call and are led to discuss matters of life and death.

"Boxes" opens the book and presents a narrator (who will have similarities with other narrators in the book: he is in a second relationship, his mother may be a burden) and in the face of the conflict with his mother, he realizes the futility of existence.

Overall, Carver's collection of stories offers a profound exploration of the human condition, filled with complex characters and poignant moments that stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.

There are only a little more than 100 pages in this book, yet it took me a considerable amount of time to complete it. Each time I finish a story, I find myself reluctant to move on to the next one. Don't misunderstand me. His prose is simple, with every word being precise. However, his sentences hold within them a multitude of expressions, and the trails of clues make me follow with patient anticipation.

There is always something unmistakably modern and American in his short stories, and this collection is no exception. "Elephants and other stories", like most of his shorts, portrays the ordinary life of small-town men and women and their relationships, seemingly when they are out of luck. Reading these stories makes me imagine living in the 80s in one of those suburban houses; screaming at my first husband for betrayal, discussing immorality with my wife at 3 am, and dreaming about raiding an elephant.

I was aware of his "minimalism" style (even though he rejected the term himself), but reading his word-perfect stories is always such a pleasure. It's as if he peels back the layers of ordinary life to reveal the hidden emotions and dramas that lie beneath. His stories are like snapshots of a particular moment in time, capturing the essence of a relationship or a situation with remarkable clarity. I can't wait to see what other stories he has in store for us.

I really liked every story in the book and I found something in myself in each story.

It had a fluent language and a conversational style of narration.

Particularly, I hold the stories related to Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Anton Chekhov in a special place.

The way the author described the characters and their emotions was truly captivating.

I could easily imagine the scenes and the settings as if I was there.

Each story had its own unique charm and message.

Some made me laugh, while others made me think deeply.

The book is a wonderful collection of short stories that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves reading.

It is a great way to explore different literary styles and get a taste of some of the greatest works of fiction.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more from the same author.