Posted by Cari on April 16, 2000 at 09:37:43:
In Reply to: Flannery ROCKS! posted by giveaway boy on April 09, 2000 at 12:34:20:
: : This message is mostly for Bill because I know he really enjoys O'Connor.
: : I just read "Wiseblood," and I'm almost finished with "The Violent Bear it Away."
: : Flannery has a unique style of characterization. I was simultaneously mesmerized and repulsed by
: : her characters. What is your favorite O'Connor novel?
: WISE BLOOD is great! It shows the bizarre characters and situations one can encounter in the Deep South. You know the Bible Belt produces some real crazies. I loved GONGA, and Enoch Emery was my favorite. Have you seen the movie? I've got it if you want to check it out. It's not as good as the book but it stays fairly close. I'll have to check out TVBA again. I forget what it's about. I liked her short story PARKER'S BACK. Another writer you might enjoy then, would be Walker Percy. Another cool Flannery O'Connor trivia fact is that Lint Hatcher, founder of WONDER Magazine was confirmed as a Catholic on Easter of 1998 (same night as me) at Flannery O'Connor's home church, Sacred Heart. He did his thesis on her, so it was only fitting that he enter the church under her mantle. It was she who I think led him that far. One cool thing was that in the fellowship hall there they have a big picture of her. She was rather fond of peacocks, and as I would surmise, most likely still is. Flannery kicked butt as a novelist. Throwing all of our ugliness and strangeness back in our face. She used to study Aquinas for hours before working on her novels. Flannery definitely rocks! Cari, you do too. Look at all the cool stuff you read. Later, Giveaway Boy
Sorry it took me so long to respond. Life devoured me and vomited me into a useless blob last
week :@ I've started to regain shape, though ;}
Both WISE BLOOD and THE VIOLENT BEAR IT AWAY are great books. The characters are so bizarre! I was curious about her religious background because she portrayed the religious in such a satirical light. Of course, who would be more cynical about the religious than someone who is involved in the church? I would love to see WISE BLOOD. Bring it with you next time you stop by. I'll have to read PARKER'S BACK. Have you read A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND? I was thinking about reading that sometime, but I'm checking out STORIES OF GOD by Rilke right now. I'll have to look into Walker Percy. I'm not sure if we have him on our bookshelves, but we might. Shalom! cArI