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611 reviews for:
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: Carson McCullers's Novella Adapted to the Stage
Carson McCullers
3.74 AVERAGE
611 reviews for:
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: Carson McCullers's Novella Adapted to the Stage
Carson McCullers
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I adore Carson McCullers. It took me a bit to get into this one, but she rights loneliness and unconventional love with such skill and nuance. I also loved the short stories, especially A Domestic Dilemma, and Madame Zilensky and the King of Finland.
Similar case as with the Jackson short stories. the title story is so unique and exciting, the characters so singular and charming in all their eccentricities and failings, the character of the town so descriptive and vivid. I really liked all these elements, liked the strangeness of every piece. it really did have its own charm, an endearing whimsicality. I think both McCullers and Jackson nail this combination of character and atmosphere, with plot in the supporting role, that makes for such a memorable story. the rest of the stories were completely fine, without really standing out or holding my attention, but that may be me. it's hard to stand out next to the title novella, the rest just seem flat and thin by comparison
‘the soul rots with boredom.’
the focal point of ‘the ballad of the sad café’ is miss amelia; an independent, headstrong woman. the town revolves around her and her actions. at first, she seems rather reclusive and lonely; she keeps herself to herself and takes no nonsense, yet all business comes from her— that is, until her 10-day marriage. in this short period of time, everything changes.
after the divorce, she is forced to be alone once again, and the trauma that came from her husband’s actions (towards the community, not towards herself) forces her to rethink her idea of love and companionship. the tough fact that people change and evolve, their attitudes always out of our own control, is a huge theme in this book.
one day, a hunchback appears at her door, claiming to be a family member. she takes on the role of a maternal figure and cares for the hunchback, as well as opening her doors to the wider community. starting a café, she quickly progresses from the town’s enigma to the town’s glue— she holds together all relations and gives the community, for the first time, a sense of purpose.
her evolving morals and attitudes towards closeness were heart-warming to read about, which is why the ending of this novella is so incredibly upsetting. the desire to be loved; to find your people and settle down with to no qualms, sometimes outweighs your conscience. often, you can tell when something isn’t meant for you, but you go along with it anyway because you have quite gotten used to the idea; even if you know it’ll end in heartbreak.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The titular novella is great— the prosaic asides especially— and in a style which reminds me of Steinbeck. Plot itself isn’t the most strong, in my opinion. The other stories in this collection are decent but nothing revolutionary.