Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For a first novel, Flannery O'Connor comes through loud and clear with what seems like her favorite sorta character: a real misanthropic son of a bitch who avoids Providence so hard that they end up throttling themselves violently into Jesus's domain. Hazel Motes is not remotely likable, and is hellbent on making everyone around him as much of an atheist as possible. And seems awfully more obsessed with salvation, penance, and Jesus than even the street preachers.
I don't think I can say I *liked* reading it -- but the images of this mean little guy wandering the streets trying to wage war against spirituality, while a loony local teen waits to figure out which way his 'wise blood' is taking him, are sure to stick around for a long, long while
I don't think I can say I *liked* reading it -- but the images of this mean little guy wandering the streets trying to wage war against spirituality, while a loony local teen waits to figure out which way his 'wise blood' is taking him, are sure to stick around for a long, long while
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a strange world. During the intro to the second addition O'Conner bills it as a comic novel, and there are a couple perfectly executed scenes that prompt a laugh or smirk. What it really comes across as, though, is an eerie and mostly alienating existential novel. Characters who are alienated from themselves, the world, each other and the reader. And all of them rather unlikeable. Deeply unlikeable and difficult to relate to, even as humans. The writing is on point, of course, and I want to rate this higher- but there is just too much disturbing aftertaste oozing out of the story (in classic O'Conner style). Maybe I'll feel better once I have some distance between it and myself.
The destructive, insane power of a terrifying, relentless, false but popular vision of Jesus. Well conceived, masterfully accomplished, and terribly haunting. Stylized to perfection as a dark comedy with inhuman characters that nevertheless reveal something real in human nature.
I hesitated for a while to read this, and I don't know why. It's so short and so good and so complex. Not much longer than a clutch of Flannery's stories, so if you like those -- it's a no-brainer.
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Strange tale that got darker and odder as it went along. Ending left me scratching my head. For all the praise I've heard of O'Connor I expected a grand novel. I'm coming away wondering what I just read and why it is so praised.
This is a good one - the characters stick around long after the read. Probably the better of her two novels despite not being a perfect story. Who tells a story like O'Connor? The list is short.