Carver, Altman and Short Cuts DVD

Just finished watching Short Cuts. And it comes to me that in Japan, in the 90s, the girl I was dating at the time was wild about Carver. Said I should read, What We Talk about When We Talk About Love. Read it. Totally didn't get. Wasn't ready for it. Was not old enough, didn't have enough life experience for it.

Today I get it.

Now having watched Altman's movie, I know he did a good job, as well as he could with the medium and with the amazing cast. But.

The visual medium can only hint, point at the source. And direct one to read the Carver stories, and how great, and depressing and awesome they are.

Having read the stories, I know how much Altman couldn't cover. How much he left off the table. Do yourself a favor. Read the short stories.

What i talk about when i talk about Ray Carver

Ray Carver short stories.

How long does it take to write like Ray Carver?

I read "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," in my 20s. Totally didn't get it. Wasn't ready for it. And now in my 40s and I am just blown away and depressed by his stories.

Just finished "Short Cuts," and in the middle of "Cathedral."

Just. Quiet desperation. General unease. Characters who should be happy, but are not. And can't put a finger on why not. As if to ask, "Is this it? Is this all there is?"

As Walter Mosley says in his novel writing book, great stories are about transcendence and about us. Carver stories are that and more. And that's why it's so depressing and good. And they are all so similar and they just linger, too.

Gotta go the "Short Cuts" DVD, too.