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Short Cuts: Selected Stories
Écrit par Raymond Carver
Raconté par Norman Dietz
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The nine stories and one poem in this volume formed the basis for the astonishingly original film Short Cuts, directed by Robert Altman. Collected altogether in this volume, these stories form a searing and indelible portrait of American innocence and loss. With deadpan humor and enormous tenderness, this is the work of "one of the true contemporary masters" (The New York Review of Books).
Actions du livre
Commencer à écouterInformations sur le livre
Short Cuts: Selected Stories
Écrit par Raymond Carver
Raconté par Norman Dietz
Description
The nine stories and one poem in this volume formed the basis for the astonishingly original film Short Cuts, directed by Robert Altman. Collected altogether in this volume, these stories form a searing and indelible portrait of American innocence and loss. With deadpan humor and enormous tenderness, this is the work of "one of the true contemporary masters" (The New York Review of Books).
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Avis
It was really interesting to go back to the volume of short stories to look again at the (post-Hemmingway) father of the contemporary short story. He really was a masterful writer, and I don't know too many authors who can capture the unease, trouble or human question behind a set of circumstances, or a relationship, with saying so little. All of these stories are uneasy in some way or another, mostly marriages in trouble, and Carver's characters tend to be alcohol-sodden and hard to like. But that said, such is humanity. I don't think all of these stories work, and some push the boundaries of weird for the sake of being weird (and not in a good way). But overall, a strong collection and well worth re-visiting considering the resurgence of the short story form. It's also really refreshing to read some "real" short stories amidst the surge of "magic realism" currently glutting the market.
We studied these stories in high school literature. I really enjoyed them at the time, though I'd love to re-read them again.
This book probably represents the best half-dollar I ever spent at a yard sale. Raymond Carver wrote mostly short stories, and he is among the best short stories writers of the latter part of the 20th century. I had never heard of this book, although I have read several of the stories.Raymond Carver died at the young age of 50. He wrote five collections of stories, and five collections of poetry. His first published story appeared in a college literary journal, and his first book of poetry was published by a college press. His career was plagued with bankruptcies and alcoholism. The American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters awarded him a fellowship, which allowed him to write full time. At age 49, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, and despite radiation, chemo, and surgery, he died in August of 1988Robert Altman wrote the Introduction to Short Cuts, because he assembled a selection of nine Carver stories and a poem and made a film with the same title. Amazon should shortly process my order for the film.Each of these nine stories tells a tale of families and relationships. Individuals, who through fate, carelessness, accidents, and plain old stupidity, find themselves in a corner of dark shadows, fears, and stressful situations. Raymond Carver short stories often probe the psyche of men and women caught in uncomfortable positions. Most of these slice of life stories end up without resolution, as the character founders and struggles with the consequences of his or her own deeds.I do not have a single favorite. Unlike most collections of stories, Carver’s Short Cuts, has no lumps of coal. They are all gems. However, one story intrigued me slightly more than the others – “So Much Water So Close to Home.” In this intense story, four friends, bowl, play cards, drink, and a couple of times year, travel over 100 miles for a long weekend of fishing. One trip, however, will alter Stuart Kane’s life forever.Carver wrote, “On Friday afternoon these four men left for a three-day fishing trip to the Naches River. They parked the car in the mountains and hiked several miles to where they wanted to fish. They carried their bedrolls, food and cooking utensils, their playing cards, their whiskey. The first evening at the river, even before they could set up camp, Mel Dorn found the girl floating face down in the river, nude, lodged near the shore in some branches” (71).Imagine what happens next! All of these stories revolve around a crisis of some sort, and they all shatter lives and relationships. A nifty collection and a first-rate introduction to a master of the short story. 5 stars.--Jim, 12/31/12