Editorial Reviews. 'When one puts [this book] down, it is with... A feeling of having. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. File Size: 773 KB; Print Length: 371 pages; Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 1st Mariner Books Ed edition (August 1, 2010); Publication Date:.
Some 68 years have passed since the publication of 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter'. At first I noticed the rather 'old-style' writing where, for instance, in introducing a character every physical detail about that character is set forth directly, a style we seldom see in current fiction. I soon stopped noticing that though, and fell into the rhythm of this superb writer's attentive prose and her insightful and haunting depiction of the misfits and outcasts of the American South during the depres Some 68 years have passed since the publication of 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter'. At first I noticed the rather 'old-style' writing where, for instance, in introducing a character every physical detail about that character is set forth directly, a style we seldom see in current fiction.
I soon stopped noticing that though, and fell into the rhythm of this superb writer's attentive prose and her insightful and haunting depiction of the misfits and outcasts of the American South during the depression era. These characters-John Singer, a deaf mute and the central figure in this story, Mick Kelly, a 14 year old free-spirited girl enthralled with music and the songs in her head, Jack Blount, a drunken drifter who espouses an unpopular communistic philosophy, Dr. Copeland, a well-educated and outspoken black man living with the disappointment of his children's lesser ambitions, and Biff Brannon, who owns and tends the New York Cafe where all come to eat, drink and mingle (though seldom communicate)-could be any of us living and struggling with our modern demons here in the 21st century. This is a story the encapsulates the conditions of the Depression Era in American history, with all its despair, upheaval and uncertainty. Yet it transcends that period in its social commentary on civil rights, politics, religion, family relations, physical disabilities, pending wars, spousal abuse, co-dependency, aging, loneliness, and the need to love and be loved. These issues are timeless, as are the character traits of self-absorption and isolation which these individuals embody in ample quantities.
This is not a sentimental story, nor is it particularly uplifting in its realistic perspective. It does not end on a happy note, or even a conclusive one. I found it a thoroughly satisfying read, but I know many might not. 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter' is an insightful, revealing, and unapologetic look at the innermost workings of disparate characters living as we all do, day-to-day. It is a reflection of life as it often is, with little adornment and much complexity. On the first page, this book promises to deliver a murder, which by itself would be a good enough reason to keep reading. I kept reading, though, for the characters.
Using an omniscient narrator, McCullers enters the heads of her five main characters-a Captain and a Major in the army, both of their wives, and a Private-all of whom are somehow broken. McCullers handles them all with stunning sympathy and love. This book delivers intrigue, sex, naked horseback riding, a fey little Filipino manse On the first page, this book promises to deliver a murder, which by itself would be a good enough reason to keep reading. I kept reading, though, for the characters. Using an omniscient narrator, McCullers enters the heads of her five main characters-a Captain and a Major in the army, both of their wives, and a Private-all of whom are somehow broken. McCullers handles them all with stunning sympathy and love.
This book delivers intrigue, sex, naked horseback riding, a fey little Filipino manservant, and yes, a murder, all within the confines of an army barracks, and all while making you care about these people as much as the author does. 'He waited for the black, terrible anger as though for some beast out of the night. But it did not come to him. His bowels seemed weighted with lead, and he walked slowly and lingered against fences and the cold, wet walls of buildings by the way.
Descent into the depths until at last there was no further chasm below. He touched the solid bottom of despair and there took ease.' - Read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and if you also fall in love with these characters - th 'He waited for the black, terrible anger as though for some beast out of the night.
But it did not come to him. His bowels seemed weighted with lead, and he walked slowly and lingered against fences and the cold, wet walls of buildings by the way. Descent into the depths until at last there was no further chasm below. He touched the solid bottom of despair and there took ease.'
- Read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, and if you also fall in love with these characters - the brilliant little imp-tomboys and the enraged, intelligent black men - then sit longer with these lesser-known works of McCullers. Her stories may be despairing, but the characters that she animates are complex and wonderful.
A joy to find an American book from the 40s with great instincts and ideas on gender, race, class, without being a self-consciously 'political work.' Carson McCullers is a literary genius, and THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER is a masterpiece. I haven't been so deeply moved by a novel in many a moon, and I'm so glad that I discovered this work in this particular period of life. In THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, McCullers' ability to get inside each of her characters' minds and motives is nothing short of amazing. Her characters are flawed, yet their humanity shines through on every page, as does their abiding sense of loneliness. A deep, troubling Carson McCullers is a literary genius, and THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER is a masterpiece.
I haven't been so deeply moved by a novel in many a moon, and I'm so glad that I discovered this work in this particular period of life. In THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, McCullers' ability to get inside each of her characters' minds and motives is nothing short of amazing. Her characters are flawed, yet their humanity shines through on every page, as does their abiding sense of loneliness. A deep, troubling, stirring piece of literature. THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE was very well-written but lacked the poignancy and relate-ability of THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER, whose characters were drawn with detailed, realistic strokes, not the unsympathetic caricatures of THE BALLAD OF THE SAD CAFE. I can't wait to read the other novels in this book.
Carson McCullers works have always touched something in me, something deep. Maybe old wounds. The way she writes her characters, their anguish, the way they live their lives, the view of the world we see through their eyes is familiar. Her stories take place in small Georgia towns, far from my own experience in a Queens suburb, yet McCullers' novels explore the lives of those who don't feel peace, don't feel at home, don't belong. We live everywhere. I first saw the film 'Member of the Wedding' a Carson McCullers works have always touched something in me, something deep.
Maybe old wounds. The way she writes her characters, their anguish, the way they live their lives, the view of the world we see through their eyes is familiar.
Her stories take place in small Georgia towns, far from my own experience in a Queens suburb, yet McCullers' novels explore the lives of those who don't feel peace, don't feel at home, don't belong. We live everywhere. I first saw the film 'Member of the Wedding' as a child of twelve, the same age as Frankie Addams, before reading the book years later and felt the pain of her loneliness, her longing to belong, It is a beautifully written story. It is hard to say how this book affected me. I think its tone of desperation for the people living during this time was the main current for the author.
While her writing was able to depict characters and settings well, the overwhelming theme was one that offered little hope for the situations of racism, aloneness, and boredom. To be stuck in this reality that one had no ability to change one's life and that the only way out was through death was depressing. Perhaps the currents of that time fol It is hard to say how this book affected me.
I think its tone of desperation for the people living during this time was the main current for the author. While her writing was able to depict characters and settings well, the overwhelming theme was one that offered little hope for the situations of racism, aloneness, and boredom. To be stuck in this reality that one had no ability to change one's life and that the only way out was through death was depressing.
Perhaps the currents of that time following the depression and pre World War 2 produced this morose feeling for the author and her writing. This novella is set in a small town in Mississippi, before air conditioning and other modern conveniences.
The lead characters are quirky to the point of being unrealistic. The lead character is a mannish woman who is a shrewd business operator who shows her vulnerable side to an unlikely companion. I found the centrsl characters overdrawn, but the setting realisitc and the bit players believable. The plot and structure seemed artificial to me, at times, so I cannot give the book more than a thr This novella is set in a small town in Mississippi, before air conditioning and other modern conveniences. The lead characters are quirky to the point of being unrealistic.
The lead character is a mannish woman who is a shrewd business operator who shows her vulnerable side to an unlikely companion. I found the centrsl characters overdrawn, but the setting realisitc and the bit players believable. The plot and structure seemed artificial to me, at times, so I cannot give the book more than a three rating. A pleasant enough read, but not powerful art.
Carson McCullers was an American who wrote fiction, often described as Southern Gothic, that explores the spiritual isolation of misfits and outcasts of the South. From 1935 to 1937 she divided her time, as her studies and health dictated, between Columbus and New York and in September 1937 she married an ex-soldier and aspiring writer, Reeves McCullers. They began their married life in Charlotte, Carson McCullers was an American who wrote fiction, often described as Southern Gothic, that explores the spiritual isolation of misfits and outcasts of the South. From 1935 to 1937 she divided her time, as her studies and health dictated, between Columbus and New York and in September 1937 she married an ex-soldier and aspiring writer, Reeves McCullers. They began their married life in Charlotte, North Carolina where Reeves had found some work.
There, and in Fayetteville, North Carolina, she wrote her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, in the Southern Gothic tradition. The title, suggested by McCullers's editor, was taken from Fiona MacLeod's poem 'The Lonely Hunter.' However, many (including Carson McCullers) claim she wrote in the style of Southern Realism, a genre inspired by Russian Realism. The novel itself was interpreted as an anti-fascist book. Altogether she published eight books. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1940), written at the age of twenty-three, Reflections in a Golden Eye (1941), and The Member of the Wedding (1946), are the best-known.
The novella The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1951) also depicts loneliness and the pain of unrequited love. She was an alumna of Yaddo in Saratoga, New York.
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter was filmed in 1968 with Alan Arkin in the lead role. Reflections in a Golden Eye was directed by John Huston (1967), starring Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor. Some of the film was shot in New York City and on Long Island, where Huston was permitted to use an abandoned Army installation. Many of the interiors and some of the exteriors were done in Italy. 'I first met Carson McCullers during the war when I was visiting Paulette Goddard and Burgess Meredith in upstate New York,' said Huston in An Open Book (1980). 'Carson lived nearby, and one day when Buzz and I were out for a walk she hailed us from her doorway.
She was then in her early twenties, and had already suffered the first of a series of strokes. I remember her as a fragile thing with great shining eyes, and a tremor in her hand as she placed it in mine. It wasn't palsy, rather a quiver of animal timidity. But there was nothing timid or frail about the manner in which Carson McCullers faced life. And as her afflictions multiplied, she only grew stronger.' After lifelong health problems including severe alcoholism, McCullers died of brain hemorrhage.