Nice introduction to contemporary writing: I am a hopeless lit. snob. I read only classics. When new books are presented to me, especially books with works published less than 40 years ago, I tend to be very cautious. Raymond Carver's collection may have just changed that. He's accessible to a wide array of readers, from hardcore English majors to "the working man" about whom he so often writes. Stories vary in length from a few pages to over ten, and while some seem to have impenetrable depth of thought, many are easily enjoyed without thinking TOO hard :)

Whether you aren't much of a reader or have books upon books that you've read and loved, this collection has something you can enjoy.

My favourites:

The Student's Wife
They're Not Your Husband
Neighbors
Put Yourself In My Shoes
Collectors
Why, Honey?
Little Things
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
Distance
The Third Thing That Killed My Father Off
So Much Water So Close to Home
Vitamins
Where I'm Calling From
Chef's House
Fever
A Small, Good Thing
Whoever Was Using This Bed
Elephant
Blackbird Pie ( )

that was fantastic

Gripping and gorgeous like no other. ( )

The first collection of shorts that I've ever read all the way through, in order, from front to back. ( )