short stories

I cannot praise Flannery O'Connor enough. Though I have read a couple of her novels, I find her most effective in her short stories. This collection of short stories by Flannery O'Connor is one of my favorite books. She is unquestionably one of the best American authors of the twentieth century.

Each story gives insight to another of humanity's secrets. O'Connor investigates the very nature of humans and paints a disturbing picture. Her stories look at what makes us tick, what haunts us, and how we give meaning to our lives. Each account gives another glimpse into O'Connor's mind. Some stories, particularly "A Good Man is Hard to Find" make me shiver to even think about.

A highly recommended book that contains memorable stories and a beautiful writing style.

I was lucky enough during one semester in college to be forced to read several works by Flannery O'Connor. After hearing her stories, I fell in love with her, so I read this collection. This is probably the most amazing collection of short stories I have ever read. O'Connor presents Southern people at their best and worst. Adding a hint of religion, O'Connor conveys the idea of salvation and how life affects those who do and do not have this. My favorite stories include: "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," a shocking story about a criminal and an unusual family; "Revelation," a humorous work about people who view themselves as superior to others; "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," another hilarious and shocking piece describing how a woman decides to seduce a Christian man; and "Good Country People," a story describing how people fulfill their wants and desires at others cost. These stories are easy to read and fairly short! Highly recommended.

You'd think that with the short story really being and "American" form, like Jazz and baseball, that more writers would come by it naturally---not so. And of these, the truly great ones are Southern. Welty comes to mind, as does McCrae and Faulkner. Capote and then, of course, O'Connor. Of all of these though, O'Connor is the reigning queen, for her stories are like no others in the canon. True, they're Gothic to the 'inth degree, and if you know anything about the poor woman's life, you'll understand why. She ended up raising peacocks on her mother's farm due to a long illness and even before that she wasn't the model of "normal." But all of that and more is what makes her a true Southerner---one of those wonderful characters that themselves could be IN their own short story collection. So many owe a debt to this woman--McCuller, McCrae, Capote. And yet so few have come up to her level. I just can't recommend these well-written stories enough.

Would also recommend the short stories of Eudora Welty, McCrae's "Bark of the Dogwood--A Tour of Southern Homes and Gardens" and the short stories of William Faulkner.