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Where I'm Calling From
new and selected stories
First published 1988 · 526 pages
A definitive, career-spanning collection that showcases the unmistakable and widely imitated voice of an American short story master.
What it feels like
Reading this expansive collection feels like taking a steady, contemplative journey through the evolution of a true master of the American short story. The mood is reflective, carrying the weight of a final, career-spanning overview assembled just before the author's early death. Across thirty-seven distinct pieces, including beloved classics and final, previously unpublished works, the prose remains unmistakably original, showcasing a voice so distinctive it has been widely imitated but never equaled. The emotional texture shifts from story to story, touching on themes of love, conversation, and the American experience, yet it is all held together by an authoritative, classic tone. It will deeply satisfy readers who crave a definitive, immersive encounter with a legendary literary voice.
- Mood
- reflective
- contemplative
- reverent
- Tone
- distinctive
- classic
- authoritative
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the American short story · love and conversation · life's work and legacy
- The writing
- A highly distinctive, widely imitated but never equaled voice that leaves a lasting imprint on the imagination.
- The arc
- A comprehensive journey through the evolving voice of a master storyteller, culminating in his final, previously unpublished works.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate masterful, classic American short fiction and want a definitive overview of a legendary author's career.
Content notes
- death of author
About the book
By the time of his early death in 1988, Raymond Carver had established himself as one of the great practitioners of the American short story, a writer who had not only found his own voice but imprinted it in the imaginations of thousands of readers. Where I’m Calling From, his last collection, encompasses classic stories from Cathedral, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, and earlier Carver volumes, along with seven new works previously unpublished in book form. Together, these 37 stories give us a superb overview of Carver’s life work and show us why he was so widely imitated but never equaled.
Description from Open Library.
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