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The Hotel Eden: Stories
A dozen stories feature a young man who discovers that Eden is not a permanent residence, a baseball player who accidentally becomes a killer, and a teenager from Phoenix who experiences an unsettling sexual awakening
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
48 people are currently reading
1163 people want to read
About the author
Ron Carlson
84 books125 followersRon Carlson is an American novelist and writer of short stories.
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
Carlson was born in Logan, Utah, but grew up in Salt Lake City. He earned a masters degree in English from the University of Utah. He then taught at The Hotchkiss School in Connecticut where he started his first novel.
He became a professor of English at Arizona State University in 1985, teaching creative writing to undergraduates and graduates, and ultimately becoming director of its Creative Writing Program.
Carlson also taught at the University of California, Irvine.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Carlson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 9, 2015
NOTE: This review is for a single story in this collection.
I got this to read "Keith"; I saw the movie based on this short story recently. To say I loved the movie is a gross understatement, so I was naturally curious about the story. It's more subtle than the film, more restrained, but it still hit me with a ton of bricks. I read it about four times: it's charming and bittersweet and romantic. It's the story of the relationship between high school seniors Barbara Anderson, "president of half the school offices and queen of the rest," and her lab partner, Keith Zetterstrom, "the window, wallpaper, woodwork. He'd been there for years and they'd never seen him." The friendship is extremely unlikely--the entire alphabet comes between them--and yet utterly destined.
There is a lot of telling in this story, which creates an emotional distance; simultaneously, there are subtle and quirky details--mainly having to do with physical objects (a trophy, a key, a valise, a pair of bowling balls)--that take on huge emotional weight. I'm frankly stunned with what Carlson was able to do in twenty pages.
You'd think, given my reaction to "Keith," that I'd be curious about the other stories in the collection. Try as I might, though, I couldn't read any of the others without drifting back to "Keith." It's like when I become single-repeat-obsessed with a song on an album: often it takes me years to listen to the other songs. But the book is due back to the library tomorrow, so I think I'll read "Keith" one last time and send it on its way.
"I haven't lied to you this far, and I'm not going to start now."
I got this to read "Keith"; I saw the movie based on this short story recently. To say I loved the movie is a gross understatement, so I was naturally curious about the story. It's more subtle than the film, more restrained, but it still hit me with a ton of bricks. I read it about four times: it's charming and bittersweet and romantic. It's the story of the relationship between high school seniors Barbara Anderson, "president of half the school offices and queen of the rest," and her lab partner, Keith Zetterstrom, "the window, wallpaper, woodwork. He'd been there for years and they'd never seen him." The friendship is extremely unlikely--the entire alphabet comes between them--and yet utterly destined.
There is a lot of telling in this story, which creates an emotional distance; simultaneously, there are subtle and quirky details--mainly having to do with physical objects (a trophy, a key, a valise, a pair of bowling balls)--that take on huge emotional weight. I'm frankly stunned with what Carlson was able to do in twenty pages.
You'd think, given my reaction to "Keith," that I'd be curious about the other stories in the collection. Try as I might, though, I couldn't read any of the others without drifting back to "Keith." It's like when I become single-repeat-obsessed with a song on an album: often it takes me years to listen to the other songs. But the book is due back to the library tomorrow, so I think I'll read "Keith" one last time and send it on its way.
July 16, 2016
Lovers of short fiction rejoice, for if you have yet to sample the wondrous writing of Ron Carlson, you are in for a treat.
There's not a mediocre story in this collection. Carlson channels many of my favorites: Vonnegut (Zanduce at Second), Carver (The Hotel Eden), Munro (Keith), Baxter (Down the Green River), Shepard (Mr. Slime). His characters are rich, stories polished and engaging, his prose taut and filled with deep meaning.
Highest recomendation.
There's not a mediocre story in this collection. Carlson channels many of my favorites: Vonnegut (Zanduce at Second), Carver (The Hotel Eden), Munro (Keith), Baxter (Down the Green River), Shepard (Mr. Slime). His characters are rich, stories polished and engaging, his prose taut and filled with deep meaning.
Highest recomendation.
August 3, 2017
Keith!
April 16, 2010
"The Hotel Eden" was my first reading by Ron Carlson and I found him only due strictly to the fact that I read a rave review for his new book, "The Signal" and wound up getting this one instead.
I love short stories and I have read several in the last few months, this book is right at the top as far as pure originality and stories that put you through the range of emotions. Ron Carlson could probably write about anything and make it so magical and interesting you couldn't put it down.
The book has twelve stories, all of which really, really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Mr. Carlson's short stories soon.
this outstanding collection includes:
Keith - a great story about unexpected, unusual friendship
(amazing story that has now been made into a movie)
The Prisoner of Bluestone - a man, a gas station and his ex wife (one of my favorites in the book, hard to describe without giving anything away)
Oxygen - a college student who takes a summer job as an oxygen delivery man, learns alot more about himself and the world
Dr. Slime - a man teamed up w/ his brothers actress girlfriend, are on a mission to find out where he's getting the money he's bringing home, why he's so bruised up and why their are so many pills over the house (one of those stories that doesn't quite make sense, then at a certain point, gives you that wonderful ah ha moment)
A Note On The Type - a criminal on the run, learns about respect in an unusual way
The Chromium Hook - a spooky, yet very well crafted tale told by several different characters
The House Goes Up - a woman has an all too flawless plan to make things go her way, everytime w/ men
What We Wanted To Do - they have a plan and its a good plan, but so far its just not working
The Hotel Eden - a young couple in London meet a new friend, who has all the wildest stories, all the right answers and knows all the right people/places, but who is he really
Zanduce At Second - a professional baseball player has killed eleven people now, by way of foul ball
Nightcap - a man has a fling, an unusual fling
Down The Green River - a man and an old friend and her son take a journey down the river in a raft, only to face a hole in the raft and nudists
I highly recommend this collection to anyone that likes short stories and great writing!
I love short stories and I have read several in the last few months, this book is right at the top as far as pure originality and stories that put you through the range of emotions. Ron Carlson could probably write about anything and make it so magical and interesting you couldn't put it down.
The book has twelve stories, all of which really, really impressed me. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Mr. Carlson's short stories soon.
this outstanding collection includes:
Keith - a great story about unexpected, unusual friendship
(amazing story that has now been made into a movie)
The Prisoner of Bluestone - a man, a gas station and his ex wife (one of my favorites in the book, hard to describe without giving anything away)
Oxygen - a college student who takes a summer job as an oxygen delivery man, learns alot more about himself and the world
Dr. Slime - a man teamed up w/ his brothers actress girlfriend, are on a mission to find out where he's getting the money he's bringing home, why he's so bruised up and why their are so many pills over the house (one of those stories that doesn't quite make sense, then at a certain point, gives you that wonderful ah ha moment)
A Note On The Type - a criminal on the run, learns about respect in an unusual way
The Chromium Hook - a spooky, yet very well crafted tale told by several different characters
The House Goes Up - a woman has an all too flawless plan to make things go her way, everytime w/ men
What We Wanted To Do - they have a plan and its a good plan, but so far its just not working
The Hotel Eden - a young couple in London meet a new friend, who has all the wildest stories, all the right answers and knows all the right people/places, but who is he really
Zanduce At Second - a professional baseball player has killed eleven people now, by way of foul ball
Nightcap - a man has a fling, an unusual fling
Down The Green River - a man and an old friend and her son take a journey down the river in a raft, only to face a hole in the raft and nudists
I highly recommend this collection to anyone that likes short stories and great writing!
May 11, 2013
The rating is based on only one short story: Keith
Twenty pages. Just twenty paged short story and it still hit me like a huge bowling ball. The author is simply amazing, with his skills to connect us with the character with succint words. Truly beautiful.
The movie, based on this short story, broke my heart but to see Keith in his element, in words that the author chose to bring him to life with, it was phenomenal. I'd deffo read this over and over again.
"Haven't lied to you this far, not gonna start now."
Twenty pages. Just twenty paged short story and it still hit me like a huge bowling ball. The author is simply amazing, with his skills to connect us with the character with succint words. Truly beautiful.
The movie, based on this short story, broke my heart but to see Keith in his element, in words that the author chose to bring him to life with, it was phenomenal. I'd deffo read this over and over again.
"Haven't lied to you this far, not gonna start now."
December 9, 2012
Okay so I really only read Keith. But that was why I bought the book. Keith is an amazing story and its only 20 pages long! I will probably read the rest sometime. But for now I am living a life inspired by Keith.
June 4, 2016
4.5 Stars.
A few years ago I stumbled in to an Independent Movie called 'Keith' , which got stuck in my memory from the second the end credits started rolling. That movie haunted me for some time and made me find out more about it.
That's when I stumbled in to Ron Carlson's short story collection called ' The Hotel Eden".
'Keith' was just one story out of a dozen.
Recently , a memory down the lane incident triggered me in to picking up the book and giving it a go. More accurately , finding the link and reading it on my Tab.
Ron Carlson has a nice way of relating his stories. They were mostly set in the 70's and flowed along unhurried with enough description to conjure up the scenes in your head. No matter how quirky the tales are, you really needed to find out what happened next.
His narrative wrapped me up in a Nostalgic blanket and made me miss the good old days which didn't have mobile phones, Internet and Apps.
Most of the stories in the collection could be used as good material for Indie Movies. The title story which is first in line , will make it or break it for you. If you loved 'The Hotel Eden', the chances are high that you'll finish the book in one sitting.
My favorites are Keith (but of course), Down the Green River, Oxygen, The Hotel Eden,Chromium Hook and The House Goes Up. Actually the remaining six stories are good too, but he could've still been a memorable author with the aforementioned six.
This book is best enjoyed on a rainy day, with a hot cuppa by your side , while the stereo softly plays the most nostalgia inducing music.
Recommended to anyone in search of good stories.
A few years ago I stumbled in to an Independent Movie called 'Keith' , which got stuck in my memory from the second the end credits started rolling. That movie haunted me for some time and made me find out more about it.
That's when I stumbled in to Ron Carlson's short story collection called ' The Hotel Eden".
'Keith' was just one story out of a dozen.
Recently , a memory down the lane incident triggered me in to picking up the book and giving it a go. More accurately , finding the link and reading it on my Tab.
Ron Carlson has a nice way of relating his stories. They were mostly set in the 70's and flowed along unhurried with enough description to conjure up the scenes in your head. No matter how quirky the tales are, you really needed to find out what happened next.
His narrative wrapped me up in a Nostalgic blanket and made me miss the good old days which didn't have mobile phones, Internet and Apps.
Most of the stories in the collection could be used as good material for Indie Movies. The title story which is first in line , will make it or break it for you. If you loved 'The Hotel Eden', the chances are high that you'll finish the book in one sitting.
My favorites are Keith (but of course), Down the Green River, Oxygen, The Hotel Eden,Chromium Hook and The House Goes Up. Actually the remaining six stories are good too, but he could've still been a memorable author with the aforementioned six.
This book is best enjoyed on a rainy day, with a hot cuppa by your side , while the stereo softly plays the most nostalgia inducing music.
Recommended to anyone in search of good stories.
Read
December 20, 2007I didn't give this book a star rating because I had complicated feelings about it. I think Carlson is a good writer, but sometimes his stories were too gimmicky for me. The stories I liked in this collection, I really liked; but I strongly disliked an equal number. How am I supposed to rate that?
December 29, 2017
Excellent literary short stories.
June 7, 2014
I read this as part of the #24hourbookclub in one day. I didn't have much in terms of expectations, except the trust in the team that chose it for the day. I thoroughly enjoyed each piece in turn, and loved it even more as details threaded through in subtle ways. The stories certainly stand on their own, but I think they do a lot as a set, which was a delightful surprise. I also started to enjoy the patterns of the form, the pivot point where something changes for the characters.
The voices are predominantly male, and the only piece written from a female perspective seems more unhinged and vindictive than the rest. That being said, these male voices, dabbling often between adolescence and adulthood, are compelling and vulnerable.
It is a good work of art that inspires you to play with its form and medium, and that's the impression I was left with after reading Carlson today. At the very least it will motivate me to pay more attention to the fiction in the New Yorkers that have been piling up on my coffee table.
This was a pleasure, and I'm itching to read more.
The voices are predominantly male, and the only piece written from a female perspective seems more unhinged and vindictive than the rest. That being said, these male voices, dabbling often between adolescence and adulthood, are compelling and vulnerable.
It is a good work of art that inspires you to play with its form and medium, and that's the impression I was left with after reading Carlson today. At the very least it will motivate me to pay more attention to the fiction in the New Yorkers that have been piling up on my coffee table.
This was a pleasure, and I'm itching to read more.
February 5, 2013
"Cooking, they say, uses a different part of your brain and I know which part, the good part that's not wired all screwy with your twelve sorry versions of your personal history and the four jillion second guesses, backward glances, forehead-slapping embarrassments. The cooking part is clean as a cutting board and fitted accurately with close measurements and easy-to-follow instructions, which, you always know, are going to result in something edible and nourishing, over which you could make real conversation with someone, maybe someone you've known since college." –page 181
January 18, 2015
Only read Keith, I'm obsessed with the Movie so I decided to give the book a whirl, it was good I wish it was longer. The writing style got me confused it seemed to intellectual same for the other stories I tried reading them but the writing just seemed to stiff and boring and more for adult readers than someone on my reading level and I think I would enjoy this if I re read it when I'm older and I'll understand it much more better.
June 8, 2013
One star for "Keith" and only Keith
July 5, 2023
About 10 years ago, when I was in high school, watched a movie and i was very impressed. Then I learned that this movie was based on a story in this book. So I wanted to read but I couldn't because I couldn't find the book anywhere but now I have come across it surprisingly.The stories are cliche a bit for me but saying hi to the old me wasn't bad at all :)
September 23, 2023
3,5. A mixed bag -what's new- but good enough to read more of his stuff
February 14, 2009
I admittedly didn't read the whole book. The content of some of the stories I just wasn't comfortable with. Others just didn't interest me. Of the stories I did read, I loved "Keith." I also found "The House Goes Up" and "Zanduce at Second" really well written and interesting. Carlson's writing style is amazing.
April 1, 2011
Given that I almost always like novels better than short stories, I very much enjoyed this set of short stories. Some were good, but most were fantastic. Carlson is an excellent writer, with a creative talent I really appreciate. If short stories are your literature of choice, this should be on your shelf. The only way it could have been better is if he had developed them into book length.
March 28, 2021
Although it's not fair to judge an entire collection by one story, that's exactly what I'm going to do here.
I read only a few of the stories in this collection, but the story "Oxygen" is worth the entire price of the book. I read that story first based on posted reviews, and I agree that it is a brilliant work. It's a perfect example of what literary fiction can and should do—bring to life the truth of the human experience. Such stories should enthrall us, trouble us, and leave us questioning ourselves. This story does that perfectly.
I have put aside the book after reading two other stories that were perfectly fine but short of brilliant, and I've decided that it is unfair to keep going when my expectations are so high.
"Oxygen," though, that story resonates.
I read only a few of the stories in this collection, but the story "Oxygen" is worth the entire price of the book. I read that story first based on posted reviews, and I agree that it is a brilliant work. It's a perfect example of what literary fiction can and should do—bring to life the truth of the human experience. Such stories should enthrall us, trouble us, and leave us questioning ourselves. This story does that perfectly.
I have put aside the book after reading two other stories that were perfectly fine but short of brilliant, and I've decided that it is unfair to keep going when my expectations are so high.
"Oxygen," though, that story resonates.
December 11, 2020
Well three stars is about right I guess. Some of the stories were interesting, but I suppose by design, did not have satisfying endings. Keith seems to get all the attention due to the film (I have not seen) and it was four stars for me. The Prisoner of Bluestone was my favorite. I liked Oxygen a great deal until it fell apart for me in the last ten percent. Obviously these are simply MY opinions. If someone else loves the book I can see why they would. I just was not as satisfied with the majority of the stories as I would have liked.
February 21, 2025
This was an interesting short story collection. I don't think I'd say I loved it, simply because I'm a sucker for a twist ending at stories and these had none. But what I did like is the writing and how I found I just had to keep reading, even though some stories didn't really seem like they had a point to them. I know that sounds like a bad thing, but the point is the "telling" of the stories.
A couple of personal favorites are Oxygen and especially What We Wanted To Do. What We Wanted to Do was pretty funny.
A couple of personal favorites are Oxygen and especially What We Wanted To Do. What We Wanted to Do was pretty funny.
October 25, 2017
I'm being honest here. I only read "Keith". The movie touched me profoundly and the moment I knew it was based on a short story I had to read it. For me personally Barbara (Natalie) was incredibly relatable and this story helped me a lot during my last years of high school. Her planned out life resembled mine so much and Keith is so lovable that even now I still come back and read about them.
Read the story, watch the movie also. You won't regret it.
Read the story, watch the movie also. You won't regret it.
July 27, 2020
Average rating: 3,92/5
1. The Hotel Eden 3/5
2. Keith 3,5/5
3. The Prisoner of Bluestone 3/5
4. Zanduce at Second 4/5
5. The House Goes Up 4/5
6. What We Wanted to Do 4,5/5
7. The Chromium Hook 5/5
8. A Note on the Type 5/5
9. Nightcap 3/5
10. Dr. Slime 3,5/5
11. Down the Green River 4/5
12. Oxygen 4,5/5
1. The Hotel Eden 3/5
2. Keith 3,5/5
3. The Prisoner of Bluestone 3/5
4. Zanduce at Second 4/5
5. The House Goes Up 4/5
6. What We Wanted to Do 4,5/5
7. The Chromium Hook 5/5
8. A Note on the Type 5/5
9. Nightcap 3/5
10. Dr. Slime 3,5/5
11. Down the Green River 4/5
12. Oxygen 4,5/5
November 19, 2018
The Hotel Eden, Keith, The Prisoner of Bluestone, Zanduce at Second, The House Goes Up, What We Wanted To Do, A Note on the Type, Dr. Slime, Oxygen
March 9, 2020
I am a fan of Ron Carlson's short stories.
May 11, 2021
What a fabulous book of truly original short stories! I enjoyed all except the title story but I think it's because I wasn't yet used to the author's style. I would strongly recommend this book.
June 26, 2021
A treasure of a writer! Even Judy Christie would like these short stories!
May 12, 2022
Love, love, love.
January 6, 2023
An interesting collection of quirky short stories. I've loved every one!
March 11, 2025
Growing up as a young man this is necessary to read. Shows that life isn't always normal and easy. Also has some great weird moments that create levity and humor
April 30, 2022
The best ones (“Hotel Eden” , “Zanduce at Second”, “Oxygen”) are excellent, moody stories with an attitude. The misses are just that - misses.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews