I have read some great books since starting this blog and have not written about them. So I thought I would begin with the book I finished yesterday, Raymond Carver's selection of stories compiled into Where I am calling from. I had never read Carver before and found at times I was reading an autobiography, the writing was so personal. After getting about half way through the book I asked John whether Carver had had alcohol problems and more than one wife, as well as moving around a bit, John responded "yes, how did you know?" I told him it is all in his stories. His stories seem to mostly be about relationship problems, people are always smoking, drinking (there is also some pot in there), but basically about the American guy next door in the 60's. He opens up doorways into private lives and marriages, and I find his relaxed style comfortable and easy to read. I really got a feel of that time period in America through his personal experiences. He passes no judgement on his characters in true Christopher Isherwood style. The last story in the book throws you, because as I have said his other stories are all fictional but personal, whereas the last story is a true account of the death of Chekhov. Although it felt like it was a little out of place with the rest of the American drama stories, finding yourself watching Chekhov die actually makes you feel like going right out and getting another Carver book.... kind of a taste of what else he can write.
2 comments:
Oh... my... life - I LOVE Raymond Carver! This was so cool for me to read that you enjoyed 'Where I'm Calling From'! I finished a dissertation on the stories of Carver in January, and it was one of the highlights of my degree. Funnily enough, one of the towns I spent time in on my mission was little Clatskenie, Oregon, where Carver was born.
For me, the man really speaks to what it is to be human, as you said. My favourite stories are from his collection 'Cathedral', where his style became considerably more optimistic, but no less Realist. Check out 'A Small, Good Thing', 'Feathers', and 'So Much Water, So Close to Home' (that was made into the recent film 'Jindabyne').
I can see why you love his work so much Andy. I am now reading Short Cuts, some are the same short stories from where I'm calling from. I will check out the books you have referred to. I am also finishing Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison which has been a bit depressing and heavy going but I love the way he writes - not sure about the way the main character talks through the book, as in fitting with his history. Anyway also reading (to lighten up things a bit) Tears of a Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith - I watched the film of the first book on t.v (no. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) so have gone straight into the second. What are you reading now?
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