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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
McCullers certainly has a knack for writing the tenuous threads of solitary human feeling. There is something about each of her characters in the titular work and the additional short stories that is deeply alone. The threads of feeling seem to reach out just beyond the individual and fall short of true, lasting connection. To be able to write this is masterful. To read this is too melancholic and off-putting of a worldview to be a favorite for me though.
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: southern gothic parable/dark fairytale with the ever fascinating semi-mythical imp of Cousin Lymon, told almost in the style of an oral tradition. Found certain parts of the story very enjoyable to pay attention to, but overall, there seemed to be something lacking to me.
I enjoyed the shorter stories more (though still some more than others). Wunderkind: can feel the growing talent as it was written when she was 17, and there is a feel of that. The Jockey: one of the best of the bunch. Really shows her power for scene setting. Madame Zilensky: she seems to start playing around with the unreliable narrator concept but not in a way that is quite as developed as I’ve seen in other works.
Then we have the powerhouse three to end the book —
The Sojourner: a perfect character and concept for McCullers’s style which really shown through well in this one. The primary focus in this piece is how we feel about lost lives, lost loves, and the people who were once deeply important that have faded away. It’s the sadness of the current multiverse timeline rave but without the chaos, a more solemn attitude.
A Domestic Dilemma: again, an idea well-suited for McCullers with a lonely father working to protect his young, young children from his alcoholic wife. Tender love and deep loneliness. But not an ending I loved much. She should’ve cut that last line instead of explaining away the story.
A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud: probably my favorite. Good main characters and a significant amount of dialogue (the latter a bit rare in McCullers it seems). Something magnetic about this one (though again, not my fav ending).
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: southern gothic parable/dark fairytale with the ever fascinating semi-mythical imp of Cousin Lymon, told almost in the style of an oral tradition. Found certain parts of the story very enjoyable to pay attention to, but overall, there seemed to be something lacking to me.
I enjoyed the shorter stories more (though still some more than others). Wunderkind: can feel the growing talent as it was written when she was 17, and there is a feel of that. The Jockey: one of the best of the bunch. Really shows her power for scene setting. Madame Zilensky: she seems to start playing around with the unreliable narrator concept but not in a way that is quite as developed as I’ve seen in other works.
Then we have the powerhouse three to end the book —
The Sojourner: a perfect character and concept for McCullers’s style which really shown through well in this one. The primary focus in this piece is how we feel about lost lives, lost loves, and the people who were once deeply important that have faded away. It’s the sadness of the current multiverse timeline rave but without the chaos, a more solemn attitude.
A Domestic Dilemma: again, an idea well-suited for McCullers with a lonely father working to protect his young, young children from his alcoholic wife. Tender love and deep loneliness. But not an ending I loved much. She should’ve cut that last line instead of explaining away the story.
A Tree, A Rock, A Cloud: probably my favorite. Good main characters and a significant amount of dialogue (the latter a bit rare in McCullers it seems). Something magnetic about this one (though again, not my fav ending).
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
some of the most beautiful single sentences i've ever read
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rightly a classic these feel less like stories and more like snapshots of other lives. The stories are rarely predictable and McCullers ability to create characters in only a few words is amazing. In the novella the Ballad of the Sad Cafe where she has slightly more space the creations of Miss Amelia & Cousin Lymon are fabulous - I really loathed Cousin L! Hugely recommended
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Complex characters in nostalgic settings.
NOTE: Read only the tititular story (for book club).
Thought it had potential based on the set-up, but the set-up seemed to span about 90% of the story. The "climax" was anticlimactic and I was left with more questions by the end than I had started with. The characters interested me and I found the setting to be quite lifelike and captivating, but the plot just didn't deliver.
Thought it had potential based on the set-up, but the set-up seemed to span about 90% of the story. The "climax" was anticlimactic and I was left with more questions by the end than I had started with. The characters interested me and I found the setting to be quite lifelike and captivating, but the plot just didn't deliver.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-paced