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American Masters: The Short Stories of Raymond Carver, John Cheever, and John Updike

raymond carver john cheever john updike peter riegert maria tucci

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The Short Stories of Raymond Carver, John Cheever, and John Updike
5 cassettes / 7 1/2 hours
Unabridged short stories

Three American masters of the short story - Raymond Carver, John Cheever, and John Updike, brought together for the first time in one deluxe audio collection.

Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver, read by Peter Riegert
Few American writers are more admired than the late Raymond Carver. InWhere I'm Calling From, his highly acclaimed short story collection, Carver displays an astonishing genius. His stories are populated by characters living in an unforgivable world, suffering the burdens of displacement, divorce, despair. These people snarl and bark and speak in bursts of rough-and-tumble dialogue. They are everybody, anybody, nobody. A final testament to Carver's towering talent, Where I'm Calling From is a mesmerizing masterpiece of fiction drama, and poetry.

The Stories of John Cheever, read by Maria Tucci
"[John Cheever is] a master storyteller." - Time
A selection of the incomparable short fiction that has, together with his novels, secured John Cheever's place among the foremost writers of our time. The stories included on this AudioBook are "The Enormous Radio", "O Youth and Beauty!", "Just One More Time", "A Woman Without a Country", and "The Worm in the Apple".

Selected Stories by John Updike, read by the Author
John Updike reads six stories, including "A&P", recounting a moral crisis at the checkout counter; "Pigeon Feathers"; "The Family Meadow"; " The Witness"; "The Alligators" and "Separating," which recounts the June day when Richard andJoanMaple separate, in front of their children.
Mr. Updike, when asked to describe his method of reading aloud, said "I try to picture the things described, and to speak the words distinctly, and to let the emotion come through on its won."
The method works beautifully.


* American Masters also includes a 30-minute audio sampler of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, performed by Jeremy Irons

5 pages, Audio Cassette

First published November 3,1998

This edition

Format
5 pages, Audio Cassette
Published
November 3, 1998 by Random House Audio
ISBN
9780375404764
ASIN
0375404767
Language
English

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About the author

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raymond carver

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Carver was born into a poverty-stricken family at the tail-end of the Depression. He married at 19, started a series of menial jobs and his own career of 'full-time drinking as a serious pursuit', a career that would eventually kill him. Constantly struggling to support his wife and family, Carver enrolled in a writing programme under author John Gardner in 1958. He saw this opportunity as a turning point.

Rejecting the more experimental fiction of the 60s and 70s, he pioneered a precisionist realism reinventing the American short story during the eighties, heading the line of so-called 'dirty realists' or 'K-mart realists'. Set in trailer parks and shopping malls, they are stories of banal lives that turn on a seemingly insignificant detail. Carver writes with meticulous economy, suddenly bringing a life into focus in a similar way to the paintings of Edward Hopper. As well as being a master of the short story, he was an accomplished poet publishing several highly acclaimed volumes.

After the 'line of demarcation' in Carver's life - 2 June 1977, the day he stopped drinking - his stories become increasingly more redemptive and expansive. Alcohol had eventually shattered his health, his work and his family - his first marriage effectively ending in 1978. He finally married his long-term parter Tess Gallagher (they met ten years earlier at a writers' conference in Dallas) in Reno, Nevada, less than two months before he eventually lost his fight with cancer.

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Community Reviews

Rating(3.5 / 5.0, 4 votes)
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4 reviews All reviews
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Nymiea
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This book is filled with a plethora of outstanding short stories.

However, I am not reading it from beginning to end. Instead, I will simply select a story, read it, and then return to something else.

The fact that Raymond Carver edited this book means that the stories truly embody his particular style.

Carver is known for his minimalist approach, which is evident in the简洁的 language and spare descriptions used in these tales.

Each story is a self-contained world, with its own unique characters, plot, and theme.

Some of the stories are poignant and emotional, while others are more humorous or thought-provoking.

Overall, this is a wonderful collection of short stories that is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers.
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joe_g7
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This was an outstanding collection of short stories, and the audio production was truly excellent.

I chose not to listen to the Carver stories as I had already read them before. However, the Updike and Cheever stories were simply amazing.

John Updike himself read his own stories, and his voice added a wonderful character to the words. His stories seemed to depict real-life accounts of the awkwardness that often accompanies human interaction.

Cheever's stories, on the other hand, brought out similar qualities but in a completely different setting. These stories were so captivating that at times, they made it hard for me to get out of the car.

The combination of the well-written stories and the engaging audio made this a truly enjoyable experience. It allowed me to appreciate the works of these great authors in a new and exciting way.

I would highly recommend this audio collection to anyone who loves short stories and wants to experience them in a unique and immersive manner.
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Usuiko
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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An excellent selection of short, meaty stories awaits you. These stories have the remarkable ability to quickly captivate your attention and just as quickly conclude, leaving you with a sense of satisfaction. The collection showcases three separate writing styles, each unique and distinct. It also presents three wildly diverse imaginations that will transport you to different worlds and experiences. The range of subjects covered is truly incredible, encompassing everything from the mundane to the extraordinary. This is short story fiction of a class and a time, at its very best. Whether you're a fan of mystery, romance, or science fiction, there's something in this collection for everyone. So sit back, relax, and let these short stories take you on a journey you won't soon forget.

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Zombiee
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is a truly great collection of short stories.

Among them, I have to say that Carver's works are by far the most enjoyable for me. There is a certain charm and depth in his stories that draw me in and keep me engaged from start to finish.

However, it would be unfair not to mention the selections from Updike and Cheever. They also included some really good pieces. Updike's stories often have a unique perspective and a细腻的描写 of human nature and relationships.

Cheever, on the other hand, has a way of creating vivid and memorable characters and settings. Each of these authors brings something different to the table, and together they make this collection a must-read for any lover of short stories.

Whether you're a fan of Carver's minimalist style, Updike's psychological insights, or Cheever's social commentary, there is something in this collection for everyone to enjoy.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.
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