Neighbors

Raymond Carver

I see minimalism as the bare bones in a writing style. Enough to keep your interest but without the clutter.  The story line seems to flow smoothly and I can follow along with ease. Everyone enjoys diufferent styles in literature I guess it would be a mix for me. My imagination can be carried way with detail but my mind can enjoy the rest in a simplistic view of Raymond Carver's minimalistic style demonstrated in Neighbors.

The examples are endless in this piece, Neighbors. One that overall stood out to me was how when Bill entered the Miller's home he would almost go into another enchanting land. He would look into drawers taking pill bottles that was not again mentioned and trying on both  Jim and Harriet's clothing just to return across the hall back into his life. This must have been exciting to some point for him because on page 138 after Bill left the Miller's feeding Kitty, Arlene asked him what took him so long he replied"Nothing. Playing with Kitty" he said, and went over to her and touched her breasts. "Let's go to bed, honey," he said. Then later on Bill cut some of his break short to be able to leave work a few minutes early only to suprise Arlene with something on his mind.

Another overall theme that caught my attention was how most of the descriptive text was used with describing the Miller's home. It was as if that was where the action was taking place so he devoted the labor of describing the items at he Miller's home. On page 138 he describes...." opening the cupboards and naming the canned goods, the cereals, the packaged foods, the cocktail and wine glasses,the china,the pots and pans." It was almost like he was taking inventory of the kitchen. We were not exposed to any details of Bill and Arlene's home.

 By the way, what happened to Kitty. I am not certain that the Miller's returned before Kitty famished. Remember these were the responsible neighbors it may be weeks before they return, poor Kitty. The ending allowed the reader many ways to end the story.