SKU: 44392592289

Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life

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Description

Raymond Carver: A Writer's LifeWhen Raymond Carver died at age fifty, readers lost a distinctive voice in its prime. Carver was, the Times of London said, the Chekhov of middle America. His influence on a generation of writers and on the short story itself has been widely noted. Not so generally known are how Carver became a writer, how he suffered to achieve his art, and how his troubled and remarkable personality affected those around him. Carol Sklenicka's meticulous and

When Raymond Carver died at age fifty, readers lost a distinctive voice in its prime. Carver was, the Times of London said, the Chekhov of middle America. His influence on a generation of writers and on the short story itself has been widely noted. Not so generally known are how Carver became a writer, how he suffered to achieve his art, and how his troubled and remarkable personality affected those around him.

Carol Sklenicka's meticulous and absorbing biography re-creates Carver's early years in Yakima, Washington, where he was the nervous, overweight son of a kindly, alcohol-dependent lumbermill worker. By the time he was nineteen, Ray had married his high school sweetheart, Maryann Burk. From a basement apartment where they were raising their first child and expecting their second, they determined that Ray would become a writer. Despite the handicaps of an erratic education and utter lack of financial resources, he succeeded. Sklenicka describes Carver's entry into the literary world via little magazines and the Iowa Writers' Workshop; his publication by Esquire editor Gordon Lish and their ensuing relationship; his near-fatal alcoholism, which worsened even as he produced many of the unforgettable stories collected in Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. She examines the dissolution of his first marriage and his partnership with poet Tess Gallagher, who helped him enjoy the full measure of his success.

Carol Sklenicka draws on hundreds of interviews with people who knew Carver, prodigious research in libraries and private collections, and all of Carver's poems and stories for Raymond Carver. Her portrait is generous and wise without swerving from discordant issues in Carver's private affairs. Above all Sklenicka shows how Carver's quintessentially American life fostered the stories that knowing readers have cherished from their first publication until the present day.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
Published: 11/09/2010
ISBN: 9780743262460
Pages: 578
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 8.42h x 5.54w x 1.44d

Review Citations: New York Times Book Review 12/05/2010 pg. 62
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SKU: 44392592289

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Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
My dogs love these things
Color: 12 Tennis Ball
My dogs love these things. I think I bought it twice now.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2026
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TNEarthMAMA
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
Dog toy that lasts.
Size: 5 Pack
I've got a heavy chewer on my hands, so I've basically thrown money away on countless "durable" toys that get shredded in minutes. I was skeptical about these, but the "no stuffing" design caught my eye—at least there wouldn't be fluff all over my living room! I'm happy to report that these have actually lasted! My dog loves shaking them around and making them squeak. The crinkle sound is a huge bonus; it really keeps him engaged. The fact that they're lightweight makes them perfect for a game of fetch, and my dog can easily carry them around. For the price, getting a whole bundle of these is a great deal. If you're tired of cleaning up toy stuffing, I'd definitely recommend giving these a try.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2026
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Signof12
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Great toy that stands up to tough dogs
Size: 5 Pack
When these toys first arrived and I opened the box I was disappointed. They seemed a bit flimsy and were not what I was expecting Boy was I wrong! My dog lived his new toy and it’s has not left his side. Best of all, it’s a tough little toy that can take a beating and keep going. My dog usually tears through his toys in a matter of hours, and I tried numerous toys over the years. I’ve tried Kevlar toys, toy that claim to be very sturdy, he always destroyed them in a matter of hours. This toy looks flimsy, but it’s soft and strong
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Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2026
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Aaryn Ricucci-Hill
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Solid dog toys HOWEVER...
Size: 5 Pack
Got these toys for our collie-retriever. He loves them and plays with them a lot and will even get them out in the middle of the night to play with them. Since there's no stuffing you can't throw them very far but they are good for tug-of-war and really soft. The one downside, while they techically are durable and hold up to rigorous chewing, they are not impervious as our little man finally disembowled Mr. Lion after a few months of playing with him. (Serated the lining with his teeth.) Still highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2026
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TZ
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 4
Nice but not durable for Dobermans
Size: 5 Pack, Size: 5 Pack
They are cute and I like that there is no stuffing. But they are definitely not for large Dobermans. They ripped the head off within 10 minutes of playing. Which I expected be a no toy lasts longer than 30 minutes.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2025

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