Cathedral by Raymond Carver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Cathedral” was Raymond Carver’s third collection of stories. It was first published in 1983. It was the last collection of Carver’s short fiction to be published before the author’s death in 1988. “Cathedral” was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. The story “A Small, Good Thing” won an O. Henry Award.

What can one say about Raymond Carver that has not already been said? His work has had a lasting impact on the craft of short story writing. Among the likes of J.D. Salinger, Truman Capote, and Ray Bradbury, he is one of the most important short story writers in modern American literature. One of the stories in this collection, “The Train,” is dedicated to the great short story writer John Cheever. Carver’s influence is still to be seen in such wonderful writers as Jhumpa Lhirii.

Carver’s short stories deal with life’s possibilities, both bad and good. His vision into the workings of the frailty of human beings is astonishing. In clear, concise prose, Carver delves into the darkness and light of what it means to suffer, weather, or overcome the tribulations of the lives that we lead.

I have read and treasured Raymond Carver’s work for as long as I can remember. While I very much enjoy his stories, I also do not want to find myself a character in one of them. These are tales of people going through hard times, through darkness and despair. That is not to say that these are stories without redemption, but the redemption is often hard-bought.

The collection opens with the story “Feathers.” The hope and reality of relationships are juxtaposed as one couple makes an attempt to partake in the seeming happiness of another. “Chef’s House” chronicles the inevitability of alcoholism waiting in the wings, a reoccurring theme in Carver’s writings and in his own life. “Preservation” deals with the slow decline into nothingness when the purpose for life has been removed. These are the three hard stories that open the book.

Before the reader gives up hope, however, there comes a tale of redemption. “The Compartment” tells the story of an unwanted journey that becomes an unexpected journey. This is a story about unintended redemption. A man misses one connection on a train through Europe, only to make a new connection with himself. “A Small, Good Thing” is the heartbreaking story of the death of a child, a random tragedy offset with unexpected acts of small kindness. It is another story of redemption, although hard and dark.

Two more tales of alcoholism follow: “Vitamins” and “Careful.” The first is a classic hard tale by Carver, complete with booze and adultery. The second is another story of alcoholism and the on man’s vain attempts to cope with it.

“Where I’m Calling From” is one of the author’s best known stories. Two men befriend each other in a treatment center. The story revolves around a chimney sweep, the threat of true love lost, and the possibility of redemption. It is a magical and wonderful story, worth the price of the book on its own.

“The Train” is one of Carver’s most inexplicable stories. There is only the barest of narratives, stitched together with the chance meeting of three people in an empty train station. There is so much going on outside the framework of the narrative that the reader is left wondering what in the hell just happened, and diving back in to read it again.

“Fever” is another story of redemption, and of coming to clarity with life as it is. Carver follows this up with “The Bridle,” a story hard enough to make the reader question his or her life choices. Hard times, bad decisions, and the remnants of bad luck take their inevitable toll.

Which brings us to the title story: “Cathedral.” What would you give for the opportunity to see through another person’s eyes, even if those eyes are blind? This amazing story allows one character, and not a likable character, the rarest of gifts. Through a plot device that is truly brilliant, the author allows us to look inside another human being, to truly see the universe with new eyes; their eyes.

I cannot recommend the works of Raymond Carver highly enough. To say that he is an American Master is an understatement, and one made may times before. Carver captures the human struggle in a way that few authors can match. His prose is concise, biting, and at the same time sympathetic to his characters. He portrays human beings struggling with the darkness of life, but he is never mean or petty. Do yourself a favor as a reader. If you read only one collection of short stories this year, choose this one.


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