Comments on: The Mortgaged Heart by Carson McCullers

By: john baker

john baker — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:40:10 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Michael. But do give McCullers another chance. Oh, and yes, I do love Flannery O’Conner, too.

By: Michael K. Gause

Michael K. Gause — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:30:30 +0000

I stumbled into Southern Gothic literature in a backward way. I started with contemporary TN native William Gay, then to Ron Rash, back to Flannery O’Connor, and now I am reading the short works of McCullers.

McCullers has a big following, but I must admit, I am not enjoying her writing. I can’t put my finger on why. Maybe it has something to do with her (too) straightforward earnestness, as if walking around with doe eyes is enough. I find her work trying to hard, in comparison to the balanced flow of O’Connnor’s craft. If I had to distill it into a single notion it is this: O’Connor tells a good joke. McCullers tells the joke, but only so she can follow it up with a full explanation of the joke and why it should be funny.

I look forward to reading more by her to see if my current opinion is supported or tossed out the window.

Cheers,
Michael

By: kids wall art

kids wall art — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:36:39 +0000

Wow…I really like her style of writing. It is so rich and full of great descriptions. I’ll have to read more of her work as well.
Thanks for the piece.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:43:01 +0000

I haven’t read anything by McCullers. Maybe I’ll take a look at her soon. Thanks for the extracts.

jb says: You won’t be disappointed. Start with Ballad of the Sad Cafe.

By: Dick

Dick — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:03:03 +0000

I got into Carson McCullers at school after seeing an extraordinarily haunting photograph of the author by Cecil Beaton. A true original.

jb says: Hi Dick. I’d like to see the photograph now.