You make an interesting point. However Claire is starting to question not only her marriage to Stuart but her own identity. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Claire and it begins with Claire sitting at home with her husband Stuart who is eating his dinner. “. Bigger themes of race, and gender are added along side new characters and scenes, but the one thing that remains is an … I’m right in it, eyes open, face down, staring at the moss on the bottom, dead.’ Another incident involving water is when Claire is driving to the funeral. [5] Under the Sun was released in 1987 in Australia and in 1988 internationally. Some readers think he might be. When Stuart talks to Claire, for instance, he comes across as short-tempered and verbally abusive. Yes, I feel Like this sheds an entirely new light on the entire story and all resonates so much more than the way I was reading it. We do not know if Stuart was active or passive in the decision to continue with the fishing trip instead of reporting the death. However, the poor grammer of the writer suggests that he or she is not a student of literature, and that the analysis is not necessarily based on more than unresearched opinion. Water is also mentioned near the end of the story when Stuart is opening Claire’s blouse. The idea of isolation as a theme within the story is explored by way of the lack of communication between Claire and Stuart. ”. I would also agree with you that Claire can sense (or feel) Stuart’s guilt, worry and anxiety. Very auspicious. The good thing about Carver is that he is open to interpretation. Carver died in August 1988. Thank you for the reply. It is more of a feeling that she has been violated as well and that her own youth was in a way taken from her too. After this, he makes his move, hoping to finally sleep with her, but she once again refuses him, and this is the only time when he ACTUALLY becomes violent. When Stuart talks to Claire, for instance, he comes across as short-tempered and verbally abusive (ll. I would say, judging by their interaction here, that she obviously had a history of violent outbursts, which is why he predicted and asked her not to get worked up. [4][5] The title comes from a short story of the same name by author Raymond Carver. [4][5][11] For international releases from 1987 on, they used the name Paul Kelly and the Messengers to avoid possible racist interpretations. Dialogue plays an important role in the story, as it presents the dynamics between characters. I read the Italian version of the book so maybe I’m wrong but when the assassin has been caught he is described as a “boy”. Mirror could be a symbol of barrier between them, who seems like stranger to each other and not knowing each other anymore. By having sex and getting intimate again with her husband, she actually wants to make believe, and hopefully, make sure, that this is the man she knows as before and she wants that person back instead of just ditch him. Thanks for the comment Craig. She files this somewhere and begins repeating it aloud from time to time. What is also worth noting is that Claire tells Marnie in the hairdressers when discussing going to the funeral that ‘we weren’t all that close. I’m not sure if the actual rape occured though, but even if it did occur – his sobbing afterwards, and red eyes/tears just before the incidents, with those kind words he said to her, and all the efforts before and after – this all just doesn’t go with a distant, careless and cold personality she tries to pin on him. [9] The entire album was recorded in the U.S. with producer Scott Litt,[5] best known for his work with R.E.M.. Litt had re-mixed some of Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls' tracks from Gossip for its US release as by Paul Kelly and the Messengers. Until she can escape. I think it was also supposed to serve as evidence of his slight despondency and detachment from Claire and his immediate surroundings, the way his behavior while eating dinner was. Lish’s edits seem to guide the reader in one direction while Carver himself puts more meat onto the story. Though I’m not as sure that Claire might have had sex with the man by the roadside. Euphoric moments between melody and staccato are coined by lyrics written to the point. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The title comes from a short story of the same name by author Raymond Carver . I’m gonna take some space here, and I apologize for that. Followed by: “… you hadn’t better get worked up over this… Now let’s leave it alone. Like yourself the version of the story that I read (Vintage 2009) did not include this line. Thanks for the comment Carol. Claire had felt it before under the surface but it had never been so clear to her. Now, I’m more and more thinking here about The Shutter Island. That’s why Claire identifies so strongly with her. I think Stuart was having an affair, Claire finds out and hires someone to kill the mistress and leaves her body where Stuart goes fishing to find. This is emphasized in the text, ‘So Much Water So Close to Home’ a short story was written by Raymond Carver, depicting various aspects of discoveries as it explores the complications and repercussions involved after a group of men find a corpse whilst on a fishing trip and fail to report the incident immediately. I would also agree with you that Stuart could have been the culprit though as you state there’s no real clear motive. Carver was unhappy with the edit and after he died his wife Tess Gallagher posthumously published the collection Beginners which is described as being Carver’s original manuscript of the collection What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. [5] The album peaked at #10 on the ARIA album charts,[9] but none of its singles, "Sweet Guy", "Careless" and "Most Wanted Man in the World" had any Top 40 chart success. Also the girl’s body was found in water. I agree with you about Carver interpretation. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. When I read this paragraph for the first time, it sounded like a threat, but reading it for the second time, I see that Carver is being very vague here, and doesn’t say whose violence would end this affair. The fact that she doesn’t remember what they were arguing about could mean that either they were arguing on a daily basis, or perhaps that it was simply one of the symptoms and manifestations of her psychosis – being overly obsessed with certain things, while remaing oblivious and detached from a large part of her own actions, behaviors and outbursts. so much water so close to home. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Claire and it begins with Claire sitting at home with her husband Stuart who is eating his dinner. And it is interesting how vague she remains about this place the doctor recommends. Raymond Carver’s short story “So Much Water So Close to Home” is written in a simple style. This is important as Claire is in essence re-evaluating not only her marriage to Stuart but Stuart himself (who he is, his identity). Captain Planet is not just writing lyrics that fit on the beat. M Y husband eats with a good appetite. [9] All tracks for the album were written by Kelly,[10] who provided vocals, guitar and harmonica and also co-produced with Litt. You make some excellent points 1990. I’m pretty sure that Claire was not just being hostile or afraid of her husband, which she subjectively obviously was, but rather that she was – objectively – insane. When they return home, she couldn’t sleep and she stayed in the bed distant from Stuart because that previous night has been a sort of revelation about the husband’s nature. A character like that wouldn’t be wasted by Carver. Watched It I've Watched This. Hi Pooja, according to my understanding / reading of the story, you come close to hitting the nail on the head. Listen to So Much Water (So Close to Home) from Captain Planet's Wasser Kommt Wasser Geht for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. It is also interesting that despite Claire finding out after the funeral that the girl’s killer has been found, she remains unsure, telling the woman outside the church that ‘they have friends, these killers.’ This might be important as it could signify that Claire still has doubts about her relationship with Stuart and remains suspicious of him and his friends. While others think the only thing he is guilty of is not reporting the crime when he first came across the girl’s body. Entry # 1, by Riley Krembil. I read the story yesterday for the first time and its been on my mind a lot. That he may be capable of murder. Style of language. As you say, Stuart is unaffectionate and insensitive. You make a valid point. She starts talking about Madoxx murders out of nowhere, and when Stuart stops her daydreaming about drowning, by saying: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you”, she slaps him (twice?). [6] The entire album was recorded in the U.S. with producer Scott Litt,[5] best known for his work with R.E.M.. "Careless" is the second single released by Australian rock group Paul Kelly and the Messengers from their 1989 studio album, So Much Water So Close to Home. 13-17). Regardless of an individual’s abilities when it comes to punctuation and grammar. i HATE HIM FOR THAT.”. ” “Stuart sits at the table with a drink in front of him. [4][11] They released Gossip in 1986 on Mushroom Records in Australia and in 1987 on A&M Records for international release. ... remain the sole copyright of the authors and may not be reproduced or re-purposed in whole or in part without their written permission. This is emphasized by the fact that Claire is staring at Stuart. So Much Water, So Close to Home is an album by Australian rock band Paul Kelly and the Messengers and was originally released in August 1989. I think Claire attended the victim’s funeral in order to gain further detachment from the public opinion of the husband. Raymond Carver’s short story “So Much Water So Close to Home” is written in a simple style. “Water” as the representation of fear, suspicion, death and loss leaves Claire disoriented and vulnerable. [ 5 ] I think that she wants to keep a distance from her husband because she’s only afraid he could have done something terrible and she doesn’t trust him any more. [6] Carver died in August 1988. This is not something I would subscribe to. 14 thoughts on “So Much Water, So Close to Home” Dave says: 18 Oct 2018 at 06:50. In So Much Water So Close to Home by Raymond Carver we have the theme of doubt, disconnection, conflict, identity and isolation. That is why she says at the end of the story: For God sake Stuart, she was just a child! There is also a sense at the end of the story that just as Claire has her doubts about Stuart likewise she appears to be unsure of who she is. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. I think that one also could reasonably infer from her roadside encounter that she had sex with the man in the truck. Let’s leave it alone. Thanks for the comment Matias, you make some valid points and you may possibly be right. And of course, once again she failes to retell a great deal of this conversation, just as she failed to remember what they were arguing about 5 years ago. Though some critics might think originality is over-rated. Maybe… She pulls over and a man knocks on her window. I would like to say thank you for the level of excellence on providing written works. Review very interesting but i disagree only about the future. ” a pretty line! Or unreasonable grammer the later version Pooja, according to my understanding / reading of the symbolism Carver! 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