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Carver’s prose is almost more akin to a painting than most stories. Reading this collection felt like peeking through a series of windows I wasn't meant to peek through, an act of eavesdropping on an intimate moment between strangers. He captures snippets of humanity in a way that makes his characters so familiar, despite often knowing nothing about them outside what is happening in that moment. Each story is an illustration of a relationship between people, the way a great painting can be. It’s how I imagine being on the New Jersey Turnpike would be if I could hear the conversations inside the other cars.
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This is the one that pulled me into Carver’s world for good.
As much about death as about love. “Why Don’t You Dance?” and the title story are sublime.
For grown ups.
Apr 20, 2024
Mar 1, 2024
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I find his stories pretty great
Jul 24, 2024
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If you don’t know, a Fireball party bucket is a plastic bucket containing 20 bottles of miniature Fireball. You and a friend, or perhaps crush, can go to the liquor store and buy 1 each. Then go out and give the mini fireballs away. Share them with strangers. People love to be given a miniature fireball, even if they don’t like Fireball. They may have had a long day. Stop and drink one with a homeless person. Give some to the teenagers working at the ice rink and they might let you skate for free. Please drink responsibly and don’t drink too many mini Fireballs before ice skating.
Mar 8, 2023
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I travel the New Jersey Turnpike frequently, as it is the most direct way to get to New York City from Philadelphia, where I live. I enjoy being in transit. It’s simple. I get to concentrate solely on getting to where I’m going and quiet the rest of the noise. I like to stop and smell the roses, roses in this case being a Nathan’s hot dog or Starbucks coffee. There are so many people out there and they are all going somewhere. I feel small. I appreciate the people who do the less-than-glamorous jobs at the turnpike gas station or wherever it may be so that I can get to my gig. I might give some of them a mini Fireball.
Mar 8, 2023
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Mar 8, 2023