Wise Blood: A Novel by Flannery O'Connor Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Wise Blood: A Novel
Book Review: Haunting, Grim Apologetic
Summary: 5 Stars
A haunting book. Quasi-apologetic for Roman Catholicism, but it might be unrecognizable to most as such; like the characters in this book, many of us are haunted by Christ, but don't even really know who He is. Like Hazel Motes, we grow up in a society that does not understand Jesus, though we talk about Him all the time; like Motes, many of us claim to be above and beyond belief in Christ, yet our obsessions about Christianity and Jesus give the lie to incessant protestations that such things are for the ignorant, and not worth even talking about.
This book leaves you to your own conclusions about Jesus and Christianity. But it shows many characters who lead joyless, drab existences, and perhaps we see ourselves in them; one cannot help but wonder what, or perhaps Who, is missing from all their lives. The answer is to be found on almost every page of the book.
Book Review: Jesus Wins in the End
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow. Reading O'Connor is like taking a punch in the gut, but what a punch. WISE BLOOD is an uncomprising tale where you get the impression that not one single word is misplaced, that the story states exactly what O'Connor wanted to say. Admittedly, it takes a while to get the mote out of one's eye to see what she is doing, but it is a journey well worth taking for she lays waste to the secular world and its esteemed treasures. Consequently, what is seen is inferior to what is not seen.
Motes' redemption comes when he realizes this is the only truth.
Jesus does win in the end.
Book Review: Make your blood run cold with the wise satire of O'Connor
Summary: 5 Stars
O'Connor is one of my favorite authors and this novel is one of my favorite novels. O'Connor is simply brilliant; her stories are satirical portraits of a secular society that has blinded men and women from the truth and distanced them from God. O'Connor is known for her caustic tone, and this novel is no exception. Be prepared to laugh at the protagonist and to be shocked by his final action. Don't be quick to judge O'Connor's intentions and opinions. She's a tricky woman to understand, and I certainly do not pretend to understand her, but the more of her you read, the better you'll grasp her notions of faith, grace, country folk, and secularism.Book Review: Met Expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
I am very happy with this purchase. It arrived 4 days sooner than it was supposed to. The book is in the exact condition as it was described. I'm pleased!Book Review: Non sequiturs abound
Summary: 3 Stars
This book never drew me. Perhaps I'm too removed from southern goth? I didn't find it funny like some. I certainly don't care for religious struggles and the various non sequiturs where he'd bark out churchy comments were only disharmonious to me. I understand that she was showing its magnetic, fatalistic allure to him but instead it just seemed disconnected and without an overarching plot.