Short Cuts

Selected Stories

By: Raymond Carver, Robert Altman

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

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).

©1993 Tess Gallagher (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Carver's stories can be counted among the masterpieces of American fiction." ( The New York Times)

Or: Please Altman, Like Carver, Please

“The past is unclear. It's as if there is a film over those early years. I can't even be sure that the things I remember happening really happened to me.”
― Raymond Carver, "So Much Water So Close to Home" in Short Cuts

Four stars mainly because there isn't much new here. Great here? Absolutely. Most of it is fantastic. Altman loved Carver and you can tell in the movie and his selections of stories. My first introduction to Carver was watching Altman's Short Cuts while still in high school. I liked the film, felt something brutal, raw and strong in the film, but really wasn't old enough to appreciate the source (or Altman's take on it). I probably also didn't have enough lemons in my life to appreciate stories like "A Small, Good Thing" or a poem like "Lemonade". This is as good a place as any to jump into Carver, but I'd seriously recommend any of his collections. He is a master of minimalism, emotion, and humanity.

1. "Neighbors"+* - ★★★★★
2. "They're Not Your Husband"+* - ★★★★
3. "Vitamins"+ - ★★★★
4. "Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?"* - ★★★★★
5. "So Much Water So Close to Home"+ - ★★★★★
6. "A Small, Good Thing"+ - ★★★★★
7. "Jerry and Molly and Sam"* - ★★★★★
8. "Collectors"+*- ★★★★★
9. "Tell the Women We're Going"# - ★★★★★
10 "Lemonade" (poem) - ★★★★

* from Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?
+ from Where I'm Calling From
# from What We Talk About, When We Talk Abotu Love

a fine book

this book is not very pleasant to read because it goes into different stories without much ending to the previous story.