Books - What are you reading?

I just taught a course on Carver. He is amazing. The new collection Beginners is worth getting if you haven't already; some of the versions of the stories in earlier collections have been edited beyond recognition, which becomes apparent when you compare them. Beginners restores them to the versions that Carver originally wanted published.

Hey, thanks for the tip. I'm reading Where I'm Calling From so I'd love to get hold of the 'meatier' *Beginners, *but no joy yet finding a copy here in Amsterdam. Although there's something to be said for these earlier, edited versions. Of course I don't have the orginals to compare them to, but Carver's (Lish's?) brutal efficiency with language is a lesson that so many writers could learn from.

I did find a great little five-part documentary on YouTube last night, (1st part YouTube- Raymond Carver (1 of 5)
) which includes interviews with Carver and Tess Gallagher as well as short-film adaptations of 'Nobody Said Anything' and 'Why Don't You Dance?' among others. I've re-read these two stories again this morning, whilst drinking coffee, smoking, watching the snow. I should get drunk now.