Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
"Everyting that Rises Must Converge" is a collection of Flannery O'Connor's short stories. Some of these were familiar to me.... I know we read a few in high school and I've probably read some in short story collections over the years.
O'Connor's stories focus on the deep south and on questions of race. Her characters are all unlikeable and troubled, and the stories usually have a turning point where the characters basically get what's coming to them. Sometimes this is incredibly effective, other times it seems pretty obvious where the story is going.
I like her work, but often had a hard time discerning what the overall message is supposed to be. It was very uncomfortable to read so many stories with the n word uttered over and over... so perhaps they aren't aging well.
O'Connor's stories focus on the deep south and on questions of race. Her characters are all unlikeable and troubled, and the stories usually have a turning point where the characters basically get what's coming to them. Sometimes this is incredibly effective, other times it seems pretty obvious where the story is going.
I like her work, but often had a hard time discerning what the overall message is supposed to be. It was very uncomfortable to read so many stories with the n word uttered over and over... so perhaps they aren't aging well.
Flannery O’Connor was a white woman born in Georgia back in 1925, and my goodness, it really shows. It was incredibly difficult to push through and finish this book. I get the feeling she wanted to be progressive for her time, but every other line just felt racist or hypocritical. Perhaps this was a look into herself and the hypocrisy all around her.
It’s much debated on how to read her stories. Was she racist or not? I think she, much like in the title story, wanted not to be and thought herself above racism, only to still fall and hold prejudices. Honestly, only one story really captured my interest and didn’t make me cringe. At least I finished the book…
It’s much debated on how to read her stories. Was she racist or not? I think she, much like in the title story, wanted not to be and thought herself above racism, only to still fall and hold prejudices. Honestly, only one story really captured my interest and didn’t make me cringe. At least I finished the book…
I had read only bits and snatches from O'Connor before, but I knew her sterling reputation and wanted to read one of her books. Everything That Rises is a tremendous work of a brilliant author. I am thoroughly impressed (but not surprised).
Many of these stories share a similar structure, which I will not reveal here in detail, but they are all excellent. O'Connor is unparalleled in her ability to draw you into a specific situation, get you invested in the characters, and pull the rug from beneath you. Her characters are always complex and real. The characters in this book are believable, i.e. they are likable but flawed, and the events of a given story cause them to react suddenly and dramatically.
This is the best collection of short stories I've read since Hemingway's Collected Short Stores, which isn't really a collection in the proper sense. The situations, characters, settings, and style are top notch. I highly recommend this book, and I'll be back for more O'Connor.
Many of these stories share a similar structure, which I will not reveal here in detail, but they are all excellent. O'Connor is unparalleled in her ability to draw you into a specific situation, get you invested in the characters, and pull the rug from beneath you. Her characters are always complex and real. The characters in this book are believable, i.e. they are likable but flawed, and the events of a given story cause them to react suddenly and dramatically.
This is the best collection of short stories I've read since Hemingway's Collected Short Stores, which isn't really a collection in the proper sense. The situations, characters, settings, and style are top notch. I highly recommend this book, and I'll be back for more O'Connor.
I have finished this collection of short stories now. And I really don't know what to say.
I love her style of writing. And though the stories are grim they also have humour and are witty. But I don't think you should read them back to back because at times it felt a bit repetitive.
Race and racisim is a major theme in most stories. And it's hard to read at times because of that. Because of the views of these people in the stories. And I wish I could say, "thank god it's in the past", but it's not, is not?
And I'm not really sure what to think of all religious aspects either. I definitely think I need to read these stories 2-3 times more, to fully grasp them actually.
I love her style of writing. And though the stories are grim they also have humour and are witty. But I don't think you should read them back to back because at times it felt a bit repetitive.
Race and racisim is a major theme in most stories. And it's hard to read at times because of that. Because of the views of these people in the stories. And I wish I could say, "thank god it's in the past", but it's not, is not?
And I'm not really sure what to think of all religious aspects either. I definitely think I need to read these stories 2-3 times more, to fully grasp them actually.
dark
fast-paced
I thought this book was well written. It was my first Flannery O'conner and now I want to read more.
She is a tough writer, and sometimes the material is hard to read.
It is difficult sometimes to read the views on African Americans, and I wonder if we all should?
She sometimes makes humans seem insufferable.
She is a tough writer, and sometimes the material is hard to read.
It is difficult sometimes to read the views on African Americans, and I wonder if we all should?
She sometimes makes humans seem insufferable.
I like Southern Gothic, and I like Flannery O'Connor. This is a relatively short collection of short stories - 9 of them. All exploring race, faith and hypocrisy in the wonderful way Southern Gothic authors expose it.
challenging
dark
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Every Bookish friend has said "you have to read this one". So I dutifully put this on my tbr because when they say "you have to read it" you have to read it. But like all good literature, it generally takes me a few years to get around to it (I have a backlog due to my persistence in reading books that belong on the "just want to read it" list.)
Then an Audible sale came along and Bronson Pinchot narrates and *boom* suddenly this skyrocketed up my reading list. And then I turned it on and Bronson Pinchot doesn't sound like Bronson Pinchot. And I don't mean he doesn't sound like Balki Bartokomous, which he doesn't. But he doesn't sound like Bronson Pinchot. And the first five minutes made no sense to me and so I shut it off. I picked at it a few more times, each time not getting into more than 5 minutes of it before I realized my mind was wandering and I wasn't listening at all. I read the synopsis, which I loathe to do, and my heart sank. It's a collection of short stories. I am so screwed.
But then I was clearing out my audiobooks, telling myself I cannot get a pile of unread audiobooks on top of all the tree books and ebooks I have. So I was determined to just grit and bear it.
And once I got over that Bronson Pinchot won't sound like I think he should sound like, I settled into the first story...and was promptly blown away. And as each story progressed, I felt the rawness of history bleeding into my life. If ever I wanted to understand the race relations of my country today, the first thing to do is understand where it was yesterday. The good intentions, the well meanings, the "live and let live as long as you live on your side", the seething rage that is never really allowed to boil over, the misunderstandings, the fear. What existed then continues to exist today and the words and thoughts said then, are repeated almost word-for-word today.
This is one of those books I am so grateful I have the kind of friends who would read it and tell me "you have to read this".
Some of the stories are better than others. I enjoyed all the narrators, even not-Bronson Pinchot (who ended up being my favorite). I only wish they had read the title of each story. I have no way of referring to which ones I really loved. The first one. The "spaceman". The lady with the bull. But each were well crafted. If all short stories were like this, I'd be a huge fan of the craft.
Then an Audible sale came along and Bronson Pinchot narrates and *boom* suddenly this skyrocketed up my reading list. And then I turned it on and Bronson Pinchot doesn't sound like Bronson Pinchot. And I don't mean he doesn't sound like Balki Bartokomous, which he doesn't. But he doesn't sound like Bronson Pinchot. And the first five minutes made no sense to me and so I shut it off. I picked at it a few more times, each time not getting into more than 5 minutes of it before I realized my mind was wandering and I wasn't listening at all. I read the synopsis, which I loathe to do, and my heart sank. It's a collection of short stories. I am so screwed.
But then I was clearing out my audiobooks, telling myself I cannot get a pile of unread audiobooks on top of all the tree books and ebooks I have. So I was determined to just grit and bear it.
And once I got over that Bronson Pinchot won't sound like I think he should sound like, I settled into the first story...and was promptly blown away. And as each story progressed, I felt the rawness of history bleeding into my life. If ever I wanted to understand the race relations of my country today, the first thing to do is understand where it was yesterday. The good intentions, the well meanings, the "live and let live as long as you live on your side", the seething rage that is never really allowed to boil over, the misunderstandings, the fear. What existed then continues to exist today and the words and thoughts said then, are repeated almost word-for-word today.
This is one of those books I am so grateful I have the kind of friends who would read it and tell me "you have to read this".
Some of the stories are better than others. I enjoyed all the narrators, even not-Bronson Pinchot (who ended up being my favorite). I only wish they had read the title of each story. I have no way of referring to which ones I really loved. The first one. The "spaceman". The lady with the bull. But each were well crafted. If all short stories were like this, I'd be a huge fan of the craft.