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laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
A slow-starter, but after about Chapter 5 or so, it really picks up - the characters are so vivid and strange and the story is sadly fascinating.
reluctant_conversationalist's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
4.5
leelootay's review against another edition
4.0
The overall feel of this book reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird. A grittier version.
I've read others' reviews, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the main characters ... I'm not sure the author wanted us to love them. Art it supposed to make us feel strongly ... didn't she achieve that? I neither liked nor hated the characters. I wanted to hold them at arm's length, and they were each complex and interesting enough to keep me reading.
The story is cringe-worthy, for its intimate portrayal of selfishness, hedonism, struggle, ego and fear. Somehow being in the heads of these characters felt almost too invasive ... which I enjoyed.
Yes, I found myself a little confused at times, and the mysteries were solved by focused attention.
Read it. You won't be disappointed.
I've read others' reviews, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the main characters ... I'm not sure the author wanted us to love them. Art it supposed to make us feel strongly ... didn't she achieve that? I neither liked nor hated the characters. I wanted to hold them at arm's length, and they were each complex and interesting enough to keep me reading.
The story is cringe-worthy, for its intimate portrayal of selfishness, hedonism, struggle, ego and fear. Somehow being in the heads of these characters felt almost too invasive ... which I enjoyed.
Yes, I found myself a little confused at times, and the mysteries were solved by focused attention.
Read it. You won't be disappointed.
bdamokos's review against another edition
3.0
Well written book, but deeply disturbing and terrifying is the period of American history before racial equality that it describes .
beckydham's review against another edition
3.0
I liked/ believed some characters much more than others, or else I would've liked the whole book a lot more.
duffypratt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The reviews tend to say that this novel is a mess, and I suppose it is. Still, I liked it the best of her novels. The writing, as always, was quite beautiful and thoughtful. But where in her other books I always have the feeling that none of her characters were capable of communicating or creating connections, in this book I at least felt that was a possibility. Of course, it basically goes unrealized and what we have here (with apologies to Cool Hand Luke) is a failure to communicate.
It didn't bother me as much this time. The book centers around four characters, all of whom are loathsome to one degree or another. Worst is the Judge, and ex-Congressman who dreams of redeeming Confederate currency so that the South might be able to return to its former glory. Then there's his grandson, who is aimless and more than a little thoughtless. There is the local pharmicist, who is in denial about his diagnosis if leukemia, but doesn't really do much except endlessly seek second opinions. And finally, there is Sherman Pew, a black orphan who is understandably rude and haughty, but unlikeable all the same and is a compulsive liar.
The story, or what there is of one, is largely an exploration of existentialism. None of these characters actually holds any real beliefs or ideals, so they are all looking for them. The Judge finds his meaning in his own narcissism. He's a glutton and entirely self-satisfied. The grandson is looking for a calling in life, and thinks it might be in flying. He is also mightily confused about his sexual identity, and he confuses sexual longing with his need to rebel against his grandfather. Sherman takes his identity and his meaning of life from his conjecture about who is mother was. He is convinced that she must have been a great black woman, abused by some horrid white oppressor. The druggist takes his meaning from the denial of his own mortality.
It all sounds pretty grim, and for the most part it is. But the characters are fascinating, and here there at least seems to be some chance that they will find some human connection. Thus, I found this to be the most hopeful of her books. I also think it's pretty amazing that she can draw a character as thoroughly horrible as the judge, and still have him be more than a cartoon villain.
As for the book being a mess, from the standpoint of a story, it clearly is. But thematically, I think it worked quite well and I'm glad I read it.
It didn't bother me as much this time. The book centers around four characters, all of whom are loathsome to one degree or another. Worst is the Judge, and ex-Congressman who dreams of redeeming Confederate currency so that the South might be able to return to its former glory. Then there's his grandson, who is aimless and more than a little thoughtless. There is the local pharmicist, who is in denial about his diagnosis if leukemia, but doesn't really do much except endlessly seek second opinions. And finally, there is Sherman Pew, a black orphan who is understandably rude and haughty, but unlikeable all the same and is a compulsive liar.
The story, or what there is of one, is largely an exploration of existentialism. None of these characters actually holds any real beliefs or ideals, so they are all looking for them. The Judge finds his meaning in his own narcissism. He's a glutton and entirely self-satisfied. The grandson is looking for a calling in life, and thinks it might be in flying. He is also mightily confused about his sexual identity, and he confuses sexual longing with his need to rebel against his grandfather. Sherman takes his identity and his meaning of life from his conjecture about who is mother was. He is convinced that she must have been a great black woman, abused by some horrid white oppressor. The druggist takes his meaning from the denial of his own mortality.
It all sounds pretty grim, and for the most part it is. But the characters are fascinating, and here there at least seems to be some chance that they will find some human connection. Thus, I found this to be the most hopeful of her books. I also think it's pretty amazing that she can draw a character as thoroughly horrible as the judge, and still have him be more than a cartoon villain.
As for the book being a mess, from the standpoint of a story, it clearly is. But thematically, I think it worked quite well and I'm glad I read it.
alexiacambaling's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
kumipaul's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a good storyteller, and she gets to the heart of what drives our emotions and our prejudices. The judge is such a hateful guy, but unfortunately also pretty typical of the time and place.
theconstantreader's review against another edition
4.0
What a clever and thoughtful portrayal of life in the south following the American Civil War. How discrimination can be masked as moral and justified as duty.
I want to read more by McCullers after this book.
Each of the characters were so deeply displayed in such a short amount of pages. McCullers managed to beautifully illustrate both the humanness and inhumanness of each of them. You couldn't help but feel for each of them, even the Judge in his own wretched way.
This book is a poignant reminder of how far we have come but how far we still have to go. My only complaint is that I wish the ending finished with more of a sting.
I want to read more by McCullers after this book.
Each of the characters were so deeply displayed in such a short amount of pages. McCullers managed to beautifully illustrate both the humanness and inhumanness of each of them. You couldn't help but feel for each of them, even the Judge in his own wretched way.
This book is a poignant reminder of how far we have come but how far we still have to go. My only complaint is that I wish the ending finished with more of a sting.
modeste's review against another edition
2.0
* * Als het al ooit een hoogvlieger was dan heeft het naar mijn mening de tand des tijds niet doorstaan.