So Much Water so Close to Home - Class Notes
So Much Water So Close to Home
By Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver 1939-1988
Raymond Carver (United States) is one of the world’s most respected writers of short fiction.
The motto for his fiction might be: “I’ve seen some things.”
“So Much Water” was adapted to a screen play by Australian Andrew Bovill and then directed in an Australian film by Ray Lawrence (“Jindabyne”).
The Story
Four buddies – Stuart, the husband of the narrator Claire; Gordon Johnson; Mel Dorn; and Vern Williams – encounter more “wilderness” than they bargain for on a backcountry fishing trip along the Naches River in western Washington. Carrying camping and fishing gear, food, playing cards, and whiskey, they hike five miles to where they want to fish. Before they finish setting up their camp, Mel finds the naked body of a young woman wedged in branches in the river. One of the men suggests that they start back immediately, but the others want to stay because they are tired, the distance is great, and it is getting dark.
Late that night they tether the woman’s body by the wrist to keep it from drifting off. Through the next day and night, they drink, fish, play cards and clean their cooking utensils in the river near the woman’s body. On the second morning, they again fish and drink, finally leaving to hike out. On their way home, Stuart calls the sheriff and they wait for the authorities to arrive.
Most of the story occurs after Stuart returns home. Claire recounts his arrival late that same night after she is already asleep. She finds him in the kitchen drinking beer. Stuart seems upset, but he tells her nothing about his trip; instead he has silent sex with his wife.
The next morning, after abusive phone calls begin, Stuart finally tells Claire the story that she recounts for the reader. Claire’s narrative outlines the deterioration in her relationship with Stuart and her anger at his involvement in such a sordid event – which she learns involved rape and mutilation. She grows
By Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver 1939-1988
Raymond Carver (United States) is one of the world’s most respected writers of short fiction.
The motto for his fiction might be: “I’ve seen some things.”
“So Much Water” was adapted to a screen play by Australian Andrew Bovill and then directed in an Australian film by Ray Lawrence (“Jindabyne”).
The Story
Four buddies – Stuart, the husband of the narrator Claire; Gordon Johnson; Mel Dorn; and Vern Williams – encounter more “wilderness” than they bargain for on a backcountry fishing trip along the Naches River in western Washington. Carrying camping and fishing gear, food, playing cards, and whiskey, they hike five miles to where they want to fish. Before they finish setting up their camp, Mel finds the naked body of a young woman wedged in branches in the river. One of the men suggests that they start back immediately, but the others want to stay because they are tired, the distance is great, and it is getting dark.
Late that night they tether the woman’s body by the wrist to keep it from drifting off. Through the next day and night, they drink, fish, play cards and clean their cooking utensils in the river near the woman’s body. On the second morning, they again fish and drink, finally leaving to hike out. On their way home, Stuart calls the sheriff and they wait for the authorities to arrive.
Most of the story occurs after Stuart returns home. Claire recounts his arrival late that same night after she is already asleep. She finds him in the kitchen drinking beer. Stuart seems upset, but he tells her nothing about his trip; instead he has silent sex with his wife.
The next morning, after abusive phone calls begin, Stuart finally tells Claire the story that she recounts for the reader. Claire’s narrative outlines the deterioration in her relationship with Stuart and her anger at his involvement in such a sordid event – which she learns involved rape and mutilation. She grows