On The Hunt for Good Books
August 15th 2007 00:44
I own a lot of books but it is always exciting finding a title that you have been searching for. Anyone can go into a book store and order a book. But discovering a desired title among thousands of pre-owned books always gives me a buzz. (Sad, I know!)
I did a fare share of scrounging around used book stores while overseas, (there is an abundance of them in Canada) managing to come away with a few gems. One being a copy of Carson McCullers’ The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.
The Heart is a classic bit of American literature. Set in a time and space (small town southern USA -1930s) when just getting through another day is all anyone asks, the first chapter introduces John Singer and Spiros Antonapoulos, two mutes who are companions in their small, silent world. Then there is Biff Brannon, a local café owner, Mick Kelly the tom-boy daughter of a struggling, lower class family and Jake Blount a big mouth drifter with a passion for politics, and the drink.
And on the other side of town, the negro side, we have Dr. Copeland and his dysfunctional off-spring, daughter Portia and sons Buddy and Hamilton.
All from different corners of the stage, yet, it is not long before you recognise their similarities. They all move in their own orbit, searching their own truths … and at times coming so close to fulfilling each others needs, but never quite getting there. Sadly, the one thing that seems able to bind them, namely Singer, turns out to be as fragile as themselves.
This is such a clever weaving of characterisation and an absolute pleasure to read. By the time I was half way through, I adored Singer and Mick, felt great empathy for Biff, totally understood where Dr. Copeland and his family were coming from and simply felt sorry for Blount. And that’s just the surface! There is so much more, so many extenuating circumstances, hidden feelings and desires that at times your head just reels with these peoples lives. And of course, being a small town, all their lives are intertwined, even if they’re unaware of it.
After reading some biographical information on McCullers, it is easy to see where The Heart came from (She wrote this when she was 23!). Mick is without a doubt her alter-ego, and the separation and loneliness she felt as a sickly child found its way into all her characters. For that is what good writers do. They watch people, know people, understand people – understand themselves. And they write those people into their stories … and then, we have great literature!
I did a fare share of scrounging around used book stores while overseas, (there is an abundance of them in Canada) managing to come away with a few gems. One being a copy of Carson McCullers’ The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter.
Image: barnesandnoble.com
All from different corners of the stage, yet, it is not long before you recognise their similarities. They all move in their own orbit, searching their own truths … and at times coming so close to fulfilling each others needs, but never quite getting there. Sadly, the one thing that seems able to bind them, namely Singer, turns out to be as fragile as themselves.
This is such a clever weaving of characterisation and an absolute pleasure to read. By the time I was half way through, I adored Singer and Mick, felt great empathy for Biff, totally understood where Dr. Copeland and his family were coming from and simply felt sorry for Blount. And that’s just the surface! There is so much more, so many extenuating circumstances, hidden feelings and desires that at times your head just reels with these peoples lives. And of course, being a small town, all their lives are intertwined, even if they’re unaware of it.
After reading some biographical information on McCullers, it is easy to see where The Heart came from (She wrote this when she was 23!). Mick is without a doubt her alter-ego, and the separation and loneliness she felt as a sickly child found its way into all her characters. For that is what good writers do. They watch people, know people, understand people – understand themselves. And they write those people into their stories … and then, we have great literature!
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