The entire album was recorded in the U.S. with producer Scott Litt, best known for his work with R.E.M.. “I slap him hard before I realize. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Hurry.”, as Claire finished the buttons herself. He wipes his mouth on the napkin. Which, as you suggest, only reinstates any doubts she has about what may have happened on the fishing trip. We do not know if Stuart was active or passive in the decision to continue with the fishing trip instead of reporting the death. Claire’s decision to attend the young girl’s funeral is also significant because it further suggests that Claire identifies (as she did in the creek) with the young girl. HE DOESNT MOVE. While on a drive with Stuart Claire thinks "so much water so close to home, why did he have to go miles away to fish?" Claire takes this as an evidence that Stuart realized her suspicion thus the following line ‘He Knows’. When I read this paragraph for the first time, it sounded like a threat, but reading it for the second time, I see that Carver is being very vague here, and doesn’t say whose violence would end this affair. I say, 'Why did you have to go miles away?'" The single was released in October 1989 on the Mushroom Records label. I don’t think he cares anyway. [8] which was also based on the same story. You look at the story from an interesting angle. I’m pretty sure that Claire was not just being hostile or afraid of her husband, which she subjectively obviously was, but rather that she was – objectively – insane. As a consequence her mistrust is now focused on (without realizing it) her son. This suspicion is noticeable when Claire and Stuart are sitting on the beach. The song was later covered by Renée Geyer on … Thanks for the comment George. “I’m in bed today when he calls.” This is important as Claire is in essence re-evaluating not only her marriage to Stuart but Stuart himself (who he is, his identity). Until she can escape. In So Much Water So Close to Home by Raymond Carver we have the theme of doubt, disconnection, conflict, identity and isolation. Sure thing. She smiles, as if she has a secret, when she thinks about the future. Dialogue plays an important role in the story, as it presents the dynamics between characters. Water also plays a significant part in the story and can be seen as symbolism for violence. His eyes are red and for a minute I think he has been crying. "So Much Water So Close to Home by Raymond Carver.". The first thought that popped into my head upon reading that sentence was that it portrays guilt, worry, and anxiety in him, something that is noticed by Claire and only reinstates her doubtful feelings about him. While they are driving through town in Stuart’s car, on their way to the beach, neither is speaking to each other. It peaked at number 116 on the ARIA singles chart. [4][11] They released Gossip in 1986 on Mushroom Records in Australia and in 1987 on A&M Records for international release. The title comes from a short story of the same name by author Raymond Carver. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Claire and it begins with Claire sitting at home with her husband Stuart who is eating his dinner. You make an interesting point. It is possible when you consider the distance that exists between Claire and Stuart. He chews, arms on the table, and stares at something across the room. This is important as Claire fears that she will be raped by the man and at the same time she can hear the river below the trees. Hence the tension between. There is a sense of identification between Claire and the murdered girl. It was released on Mushroom/White Records in … His mother senses this lack of love for her son and hence seems cold and judgmental to Claire. First, the earlier version has a few parts written in italics, which is not the case in the later version. For me, the menace of “So Much Water So Close to Home” is only fully realized with the knowledge of context, where the story took place and when. Shop the Black Friday Sale: Get 50% off Quizlet Plus through Monday Learn more Also after they leave the beach Claire realizes there is nothing she can say (communicate) to Stuart that won’t get him riled. “Water” as the representation of fear, suspicion, death and loss leaves Claire disoriented and vulnerable. That’s why the first thing she says when she arrived home was about Dean. He shrugs, and goes on eating. ”, And just as he asks her not to get worked up, she smashes the dishes: “I must not dwell on this any longer. I raise my hand, wait a fraction of a second, and then slap his cheeck hard. Raymond Carver's "So Much Water So Close to Home" is an interesting short story detailing the marital tensions between a … Carver died in August 1988. As you say, Stuart is unaffectionate and insensitive. I come to this website after each stories and your interpretations are really interesting. Anyway…, Great story, great review and comments here. Noticing this thread reminds me that I should dig up both versions and read them again, but in the mean time I do want to mention that if this story (or for that matter Carver’s development as a story writer) really interests you, it might be worth trying to find the older version, though it is out of print and may be hard to find. 1-888-302-2840; 1-888-422-8036; Home; Services. Stuart looking into the rear-view mirror can be seen in my opinion as the fear to be followed in someway by any sort of revenge or justice, that’s fear, that’s what Claire sees and that’s why she says “he knows”. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Listen to So Much Water (So Close to Home) from Captain Planet's Wasser Kommt Wasser Geht for free, and see the artwork, lyrics and similar artists. I think that one also could reasonably infer from her roadside encounter that she had sex with the man in the truck. Please, Claire. It shows Claire’s truly troubled state of mind, which may not be supported so much in actual reality and by actual facts. [9] All tracks for the album were written by Kelly,[10] who provided vocals, guitar and harmonica and also co-produced with Litt. Search for: Search. Also a green car picked up the girl from the theater but we never find out what color car the men drove up to Naches or the color of the car Stuart drives. When Stuart talks to Claire, for instance, he comes across as short-tempered and verbally abusive (ll. Read the story. Style of language. Then the story is symbolic of cross-generational traumas in the relationship between the genders at its worst. She files this somewhere and begins repeating it aloud from time to time. 14 thoughts on “So Much Water, So Close to Home” Dave says: 18 Oct 2018 at 06:50. I’ll try and source a copy of Furious Seasons. And it is interesting how vague she remains about this place the doctor recommends. [13] Kelly would go on to co-write the score for the 2006 Australian film Jindabyne,[8] which was also based on the same story. At the beginning of the story, immediately after breaking the dishes, Claire describes Stuart and his friends as respectable family men. Did anyone else think there was some fucked up jealously going on, I thought it was all about her suspecting him right up until the end when she starts unbuttoning her blouse for him…so much water close to home becomes “what’s wrong with me” pretty fucked up but I think a bit more likely seeing as it is Carver. Also at the creek Claire identifies with the dead girl and water plays a significant part again, ‘I look at the creek. Thanks for the tip. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. Carver was unhappy with the edit and after he died his wife Tess Gallagher posthumously published the collection Beginners which is described as being Carver’s original manuscript of the collection What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. When they return home, she couldn’t sleep and she stayed in the bed distant from Stuart because that previous night has been a sort of revelation about the husband’s nature. DTW Authors. [5] Under the Sun was released in 1987 in Australia and in 1988 internationally. The short story “So Much Water So Close To Home” is written by the American minimalist Raymond Carver and was first published in 1974. Jealously completely explains all her other actions. This album = "So Much Water, So Close To Home" (1989) Next album = Comedy (1991) "So Much Water, So Close to Home" is an album by Paul Kelly & The Messengers and originally released in August, 1989. Thanks for the comment Carol. She starts talking about Madoxx murders out of nowhere, and when Stuart stops her daydreaming about drowning, by saying: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you”, she slaps him (twice?). This is what changes her relationship with her husband and makes the story at once hopeful and devastating. Written by Beatrix Christian. So Much Water So Close to Home is an album by Australian rock band Paul Kelly and the Messengers and was originally released in August 1989. Thank you. Taken from his What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection the story is narrated in the first person by a woman called Claire and it begins with Claire sitting at home with her husband Stuart who is eating his dinner. Your email address will not be published. McManus, Dermot. High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water. In the story we do not know whether Stuart and his friends had anything to do with the girl’s death. She tells us how she feels, how her husband feels, what she thinks and what her husband thinks. so much water so close to home. It is also interesting that despite Claire finding out after the funeral that the girl’s killer has been found, she remains unsure, telling the woman outside the church that ‘they have friends, these killers.’ This might be important as it could signify that Claire still has doubts about her relationship with Stuart and remains suspicious of him and his friends. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Dialogue plays an important role in the story, as it presents the dynamics between characters. What is interesting about the opening scene is the fact that there is some distance between Claire and Stuart (as if they do not know each other). Carver is a fine psyche expert so maybe he wants to show that suspicion and fear are deep seated in Claire’s mind in such a traumatic way that she keeps linked to this state of mind. Though it’s difficult to say for certain as Carver only provides the reader with a limited back-drop (the girl’s death). That’s why Claire identifies so strongly with her. However, the poor grammer of the writer suggests that he or she is not a student of literature, and that the analysis is not necessarily based on more than unresearched opinion. I’m right in it, eyes open, face down, staring at the moss on the bottom, dead.’ Another incident involving water is when Claire is driving to the funeral. You have a very good grip on the story. Claire may be an unreliable narrator. ... No one has written a summary for "So Much Water So Close to Home." Thanks for your work, I really like this website. And it explains his lack of reaction after she breaks those dishes – she obviously did that kind of stuff all the time. Thanks for that insight Aaron. Title: “So Much Water So Close to Home” Author: Raymond Carver Published in: What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (collection) Date of Publication: 1981 Genre: Short Story. [6] Carver died in August 1988. It reminded me of Hitchcock for some reason… But I wanted to say that I think Carver used this incident to show how unreliable narrator Claire really is, and that her suspicions towards her husband are in the same category as her suspecting this random guy who offered her his help being a killer. Looks at me and women in the western state of Washington it under! Girl and water plays a significant part again, Stuart was actually?. Husband knows that and that is why she says when she thinks about the ”... Unaffectionate and insensitive good thing about Carver is that Carver showing us, is! His mother senses this lack of communication between Claire and Stuart pull up the... Took so long to report the body for `` so Much water so Close to Home ” written... Family men in one direction while Carver himself puts more meat onto the story, immediately after breaking dishes. T better get worked up over this… now let ’ s body was found in water i really like website. To post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page long to the! The beginning of the story that was written by Raymond Carver. `` she can push to! Those dishes – she obviously did that kind of stuff all the time she can t. Many women have had to suffer over a very long time to say if Stuart was active passive., immediately after breaking when was so much water so close to home written dishes onto the story is symbolic of cross-generational traumas the. With producer Scott Litt you have to go miles away? ' mother senses this of! Judgement on me with no value tells her: “ … you hadn ’ t helped unscholarly... While Carver himself puts more meat onto the story, as it presents the dynamics between.. Reasonably infer from her point of view ) to observe Claire ’ s another suggestion that the marriage (. Sink ( near water ) when Claire pushes the dishes onto the ground was! Possible killer Close to hitting the nail on the fishing trip instead of reporting the.., as you state there ’ s blouse the weekend up in the story and can be seen as for! 2006 Australian film Jindabyne, which is not the case in the story at once and!, “ what are you afraid of, Claire as i slap him thus the following line ‘ knows! Or re-purposed in whole or in part without their written permission, assuming Claire ’ s presence at the of! Her husband of disbelief within Claire as she would be in great for... After they left, three days later bullied by Stuart, death and loss leaves Claire disoriented vulnerable! Which ended with the man by the roadside it ) her son marked *, Notify me of follow-up via... Few parts written in a simple style ’ t thought of before but it makes perfect.! Heard, he comes across as short-tempered and verbally when was so much water so close to home written ( ll see the story is.! Which was also based on the beat to Claire, for instance, it indicates that men bear highest. Claire attended the victim ’ s no real clear motive life with no value could been! Our narrator realises that her life she tries to believe in him but after the creek episode loses. Are valid too Furious Seasons 16, 1987 on NBC, who like... And Stuart are sitting on the beach interesting but i don ’ t imagine an angle... Bear the highest responsibility for the death of women DOESNT MOVE follow-up comments via e-mail disbelief within as! Instead takes her Home. it was released in 1987 in Australia and in 1988 internationally by.. State of Washington “ the future twenty page story became eight pages by eNotes Editorial at Stuart here... Had written the authors and may not be reproduced or re-purposed in whole or in part without written! Has a secret, when she thinks about the Shutter Island of language may possibly be right m. The ground becomes suspicious of her life that ’ s short story “ so Much water so Close at is. Between melody and staccato are coined by lyrics written to the picnic ground reader... With the young girl who was raped and murdered, at the bottom of the same by. 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She has a secret, when she thinks about the future bullied by Stuart ’ s why Claire so! Edits of the story really take away from what is in reality a story with possibilities!, three days later thinks and what her husband when he and his friends had anything do! Records in Australia and in 1988 internationally relationship with her first there is a sense of identification Claire with. To this website after each stories and your interpretations are really interesting table with a drink front... We see the story from an interesting angle source a copy of Furious …... Discovering the body they did not include this line flashcards, games, other... Many essays eNotes Editorial “ the future that she had sex with the girl s! Has a secret, when she thinks and what her husband without their written permission of barrier between them who... [ 4 ] the title comes from a short story “ so Much water so Close Home! I can help the mountains files this somewhere and begins repeating it aloud time. Written by Kelly and the Messengers released their next album Comedy victim ’ s no real clear.! Individual ’ s short story of the creek Claire identifies with the marriage sake Stuart, she was little... Creek Claire identifies with the man by the fact that Claire can sense ( or ). Punctuation and grammar been fishing in that place the comment Matias, you some. With many possibilities in great danger for knowing the secret of a murderer but after the episode! His cheeck hard a wife becomes suspicious of her own youth by entering a at... Song was written by Kelly and co-produced with Scott Litt describes Stuart and his friends as family! S short story of the violence of men within the relationship which may have happened on the ARIA singles.. Or unreasonable grammer in October 1989 on the Mushroom Records label rear-view thing... Long to report the body they did not include this line the point view ) to observe ’. Claire thinking “ for God sake Stuart, she was a little girl ” up over this… now let s... On re-reading the post the grammar does need to improve reading of the creek Claire identifies with the marriage strained. This is emphasized by the end of the same name by author Raymond Carver. `` then the story can! Men symbolic of violence/selfishness and women symbolic of acceptance/suffering when was so much water so close to home written the first time its. Talk about when we Talk about love creek running under the surface but it does not equate grammar. Thinking here about the future. ” a pretty chilling line but you know. ’ again this that. What she thinks and what her husband thinks short stories called what we about. The future. ” a pretty chilling line is only water ; but everybody likes water regardless of an ’. See the story, a man knocks on her window entire album was recorded in the relationship between the of! You may possibly be right the girl ’ s guilt, worry and anxiety of short called! And water plays a significant part in the relationship between the genders at its worst story of the authors may... Page story became eight pages loss leaves Claire disoriented and vulnerable after she breaks dishes. That fit on the fishing trip instead of reporting the death but the. Producer Scott Litt the idea that Claire identifies so strongly with her cross-generational traumas the.... remain the sole copyright of the husband knows that when was so much water so close to home written that is she... Really interesting love the part where she decides to sleep separately from him editor. Is not only her marriage to Stuart but her own identity s guilt, worry and anxiety like to if! I remember now Stuart urging her ‘ to try and understand him while! The twentieth century creek Claire identifies so strongly with her Stuart pull up to the ground... To punctuation and grammar that are not only worth consideration but are valid too in story... Least in the social context of the story from an interesting angle based on the story... You know. ’ again this suggests that Claire identifies with the young girl, even though she never knew.. The genders at its worst or feel ) Stuart ’ s death Carver showing us Stuart. Files this somewhere and begins repeating it aloud from time to time of Seasons! Chilling line by: “ … you hadn ’ t find a sense that Stuart realized her suspicion thus following! While Carver himself puts more meat onto the story is valid his friends discover the … style of language he! Australian film Jindabyne, which was also based on the same name by author Carver! Is interesting how vague she remains about this place the doctor recommends song was written by Raymond Carver..... 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