Reading the 20th Century discussion

I mentioned Raymond Carver in the Shorty September 2025 Nominations discussion


I remember being blown away by this collection having been given it by Mrs B. It's been a good 20 years since I picked it up. It's a mere 144 pages.....



What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981)

by

Raymond Carver


What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is a 1981 collection of short stories by American writer Raymond Carver, as well as the title of one of the stories in the collection. Considered by many one of American literature's most ambitious short-story collections, it was this collection that turned Raymond Carver into a household name in the publishing industr

Any Carver fans in the house?


Anyone else read What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981)?

Or other Carver books or stories?

Carver played a major role in reviving the American short story form in the 1980s, and he has been referred to as one of the “greatest modern short story writers” and as “the American Chekhov”, apparently

Your enthusiasm is infectious! I've read Carver's story 'Cathedral' and was sort of neutral on it. Happy to give him another try at some point.

Nigeyb wrote: "Any Carver fans in the house?


Anyone else read What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981)?

Or other Carver books or stories?

Carver played a major role in reviving the Ame..."

I like what I've read of Carver although not a fan of 'dirty realism' in general.

I have read a great deal of Raymond Carver, including his poetry. My favorite short story collection by him is: Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?. It was his first one and I think it was his best. Most of the stories were written when he was a struggling writer, and struggling with the bottle. Every story is one of grace.

Thanks John. I'm pretty sure I read that one too and have positive recollections about it


How long ago did you read it?

Another Carver fan here John and Nigelb. Chef's House and Where I'm calling from are two of my favourites . I also enjoyed Olivia Laing's exploration of his life and work , among others , in her The Trip to Echo Spring .

Thanks Hester


When I get a chance I'm going to revisit some RC - so those top tips are very helpful

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks John. I'm pretty sure I read that one too and have positive recollections about it


How long ago did you read it?"

I read it about five years ago.

Hester wrote: "Another Carver fan here John and Nigelb. Chef's House and Where I'm calling from are two of my favourites . I also enjoyed Olivia Laing's exploration of his life and work , among others , in her Th..."

Laing’s The Trip to Echo Spring is one of my favorite books. Beautifully written.

Thanks John - those memories are fresh then


Thanks for the Laing tip H&J

Is there a thought to a group read for Carver? If so, I will participate.

As an aside, I did like What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. But it was almost too polished, like an attempt to be artful. When you read Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?, you find the stories more jagged and less polished. There is a rawness to them that seems to have been smoothed out in his later works.

Thanks John. Not as yet but if there's more appetite then we can make a buddy read happen


And also feel free to nominate a Carver for a Group Read when the nomination cycle comes round and assuming it meets the criteria that month

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks for the Laing tip H&J"

I'm a Laing fan too - though just can't keep up with all the new books I want to read!

There are several stories of Carver's online or as downloadable .pdf's if you just want to nominate a story that is available, depending on what is accessible from your country. Do a search and you can find them.

Thanks Sam


I’ve nominated a Carver story for the Shorty September buddy read idea

I’m trying to resist reading (or rereading) a collection in a vain attempt to chip away at the hundreds of unread titles I already own 😬

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Sam


I’ve nominated a Carver story for the Shorty September buddy read idea

I’m trying to resist reading (or rereading) a collection in a vain attempt to chip away at the hundreds of unrea..."

I know the feeling but 2025 is becoming a year of short stories for me and I have been very pleased with the collections I have read or am presently reading. In recent releases, it is because the stories interrelate and I have enjoyed The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck and Canoes byMaylis de Kerangal. For classic reads, I am reading The Stories of John Cheever now and soon to read one of the collections from Mavis Gallant which are interesting as a whole because they were both frequent contributors to the literary magazine, The New Yorker, and it is like reading a history of the magazine. It is also intriguing to watch an author's development when reading collection compiled from various periods So I am thumbs up to collections as well as single reads.

That’s a great idea Sam

I would recommend any story by T. Corahessan Boyle. Try his first collection Descent of Man. Astonishing. Here is the blurb:

In seventeen slices of life that defy the expected and launch us into the absurd, T.C. Boyle offers his unique view of the world. A primate-center researcher becomes romantically involved with a chimp; a Norse poet overcomes bard-block; collectors compete to snare the ancient Aztec beer can, Quetzacoatl Lite; and Lassie abandons Timmy for a randy coyote. Dark humor, delirious fantasy, and surreal satire come together in this collection that brilliantly expresses just what the "evolution" of mankind has wrought.

Sounds fab


Thanks John

It’s been so long since I read Carver—probably around the time he died—that I can’t recall anything other than that it wasn’t what I’d expected. I’d be up for a group read or buddy read later in the year, by the way.

Great news G


Sounds as though John is interested too

I *might* be tempted

Nigeyb wrote: "Great news G


Sounds as though John is interested too

I *might* be tempted"

Count me in on any Carver read.