From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column will be underscoring and outlining various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and can serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week, we take a look at notable US fiction author Raymond Carver.
Carver was born on May 25, 1938, in Clatskanie, Oregon and died on August 2, 1988, in Port Angeles, Washington.
He is most known for his short stories and poetry. In particular, his “realistic writings about the working poor mirrored his own life.”
What
Some of Carver’s well-known texts include several short story collections, including Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?, Furious Seasons and Other Stories, and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.
Some of his poetry collections include Near Klamath, Winter Insomnia, and At Night The Salmon Move.
Where
Many of Carver’s works take place in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
When
These works are predominantly set in the 20th century.
Why
Carver’s works may be of interest to AU students interested in themes, such as socio-economic problems, divorce, and job loss.
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to the works of Raymond Carver are available in a variety of disciplines, including some that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ENGL 344: American Literature I, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces students to American literature, its history and development, and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (Please note that this course requires ENGL 211: Prose Forms and ENGL 212: Poetry and Prose as prerequisites.)
Students may also be interested in ENGL 345: American Literature II, a senior-level, three-credit course, which continues on from ENGL 344. In particular, this course, “continues the exploration of the history and development of American literature and its rich variety of forms and techniques.” (Similarly to ENGL 344, this course, requires ENGL 211 and ENGL 212 as prerequisites.) Happy reading!
