Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

14 reviews

gladosisreading's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This collection was a real mixed bag that came together to paint one brilliant picture. Whilst I loved most of the short story concepts (and even their ordering as a collection, which I felt added to the overall portrait of the Northwest and the complexities of human relationship being painted), the writing style in some felt a bit repetitive and started to drag.

There were some stand out poignant moments across the collection, but other sections irked me for reasons I can't quite put my finger on. Maybe some of the stories just weren't for me!

That being said, I really loved 'After the Denim' and 'Everything Stuck to Him' in particular.

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uprightsleepy's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The book is a poignant reflection on how humans deal with and receive love. It’s a wonderful read that will leave you feeling a wide range of emotions for each passing character.

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delpoop's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

this is my favorite book in the entire world. i cannot tell you how many times that i have read it. i truly feel everyone should read this book.

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dilan11's review against another edition

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dark funny sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I have certainly read the title story in anthologies and I believe I may have read the entire book back in the 80s when it came out. I certainly didn't like it, not at all but I do recognize that Carver has a unique talent and certainly has been an influence on many writers over the last half century. I admire how his style accords with his material - raw, minimal, masculine. But all that drinking, that violence toward women, that despair was way too much for me. Also, the violent men, the accommodating women were just a bit too cliched for me much of the time. My favorite story was "After the Denim." That male character was still angry but he was older and I felt his sorrow and the woman's love for him in a way I didn't in many of the other stories.

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sxndaze's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I could hear my heart beating. I could hear everyone's heart. I could hear the human noise we sat there making, not one of us moving, not even when the room went dark.

for a period of about two years, i was obsessed with the movie stuck in love. it references the titular story and quotes the ending lines at the end of the film and from that moment, i had wanted to read this collection.

this collection is a lot. short stories still mystify me, and i’m working on my understanding of them. i enjoyed a few of them and felt like i glazed through the rest, but the title story really spoke to me. is it because i tried more? who knows. but im glad i read it.

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babelfish's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Carver is a genius. If you have never read any minimalistic writing this is an excellent place to start. Made up of vingnettes about people in the American south, focusing on relationships, love, and loneliness. Sometimes almost feeling dystopian while feeling completely believable and mundane.

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