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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BOOOO 🍅🍅🍅
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love a literary classic, in general. I’m a total sucker and I always enjoy O’Connor. Maybe it’s because I didn’t read this in the discussion and companionship of a school English class or I just missed stuff, but I felt like O’Connor was saying things that I hadn’t tuned into. But overall still a powerful read. Favorite moments include: The gorilla suit transformation and final scenes with Enoch were touching and heartbreaking; Hazel’s own transformation at the end; where individual moments of “wise blood” appear for the various characters; Enoch’s preparation of the bathroom cabinet for his mummy treasure/god; as a person who studied religion, the role of religion and belief and evangelizing was also generally interesting to me.
dark
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-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
An absurdist masterpiece, which is stone-cold deadpan at times to its detriment.
FIRST LINE REVIEW: "Hazel Motes sat at a forward angle on the green plush train seat, looking one minute at the window as if he might want to jump out of it, and the next down the aisle at the other end of the car." He should have jumped! I have to admit that this creeper of a southern gothic novel didn't work as well for me as O'Connor's short stories. Still, for her first book, you know that you're in the hands of a competent master artist. I just didn't click as well with where she was taking me on this particular ride.
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't put it down. I love Flannery O'Connor's short stories so it's no surprise that her novel drew me in. The protagonist, Hazel Motes, the son of a preacher, returns home from war. His finds his family homestead abandoned and he has no one left. Hazel struggles with his religious convictions, claiming to be an atheist. After trying to convert others to his "new church" - Church without Christ. He single-mindedly devotes his life to his unbelief.
In some ways this book reminded me of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - the father as minster, the prodigal son, the heavy themes of beliefs. But Wise Blood is much harsher and is told from the point of view of the prodigal son unlike Gilead which is told from the point of view of the minister. One with a loving family and one with no family.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy classics, southern literature, or Flannery O'Connor.
In some ways this book reminded me of Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - the father as minster, the prodigal son, the heavy themes of beliefs. But Wise Blood is much harsher and is told from the point of view of the prodigal son unlike Gilead which is told from the point of view of the minister. One with a loving family and one with no family.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy classics, southern literature, or Flannery O'Connor.
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Flannery is everything. Dark, funny, and deeply southern.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm
Moderate: Cursing, Violence