Comparing Mine And Little Things By Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver’s “Mine” and “Little Things” seem no different when they are only read once and the history of the author is a mystery. During that first reading it is even possible to begin to question and wonder why the short story was printed three times, with three different titles: “Mine,” “Popular Mechanics,” and finally “Little Things”. The differences are between the first and second publications “Mine” and “Popular Mechanics.” The third publication “Little Things” is different from “Popular Mechanics” in title only, which again forces you to wonder why there was the need to print the same basic story so many times. Like with many other things in life, if you take the time and learn a little about the history of the person behind the creation, the nuances will begin to define themselves.
The similarities between Raymond Carver’s parents’ relationship and the relationship between him and his first wife are very interesting. Carver
Words that provide emphasis are omitted and the tone is more that of despair. The parents almost appear as empty and going through motions and not actively in the moment. I have no doubt after reading this version that the parents cared more for themselves than the child itself. I was left with the feeling that the outcome was known before the first sentence was complete. It was easy to once again wonder if this was a moment in the author’s own life. With this edition of the story, had the intensity of the memory been lulled with the first publication? Because with the feeling removed, the story does not have the same effect that it did in the previous publication. The third edition had no changes except to the title, so it could even be possible that the final edition “Popular Mechanics,” was solely to say fare well to the memory all