lknano's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
amynbell's review against another edition
2.0
These "short stories" are more like vignettes. It's like getting a small peek into someone's living room one afternoon and seeing how empty everyone's life is. She showcases child prodigies who just want to be normal, stay-at-home-wives that drink themselves silly out of boredom, suicidal stay-at-home-wives, and bored musicians and writers.
I first discovered McCullers in reading her short story, "The Sojourner". And, frankly, that's the best of all of the short stories in this book. It took me forever to force myself to read the last 3 stories.
Her novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, is a wonderful book. I hope the novellas included in this book match it in some way, but I'm saving them for later and considering them books unto themselves because feel they need to be judged as individual works and not as a part of these boring, boring short stories.
I first discovered McCullers in reading her short story, "The Sojourner". And, frankly, that's the best of all of the short stories in this book. It took me forever to force myself to read the last 3 stories.
Her novel, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, is a wonderful book. I hope the novellas included in this book match it in some way, but I'm saving them for later and considering them books unto themselves because feel they need to be judged as individual works and not as a part of these boring, boring short stories.
jenna0010's review against another edition
4.0
McCullers' prose is achingly honest. I loved the story "Haunted Boy" and the last two longer works in this collection - "Ballad of the Sad Cafe" and "Member of the Wedding" were sparse and sad. This was good. That is all.
cynthiaelyseeh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kathrynb03's review against another edition
4.0
The short stories didn’t start to get good for me until near the end. Of course Carson McCullers is a fabulous writer. Her prose is almost uncanny. It’s pure realism on the surface but the story is all underneath, in the subtext, the metaphor, the tone and the feeling you get. The Haunted Boy and The Sojourner were my favorites. And I really liked the second half of The Member of the Wedding.
Sucker 3.5
Court in the West Eighties 2.5
Poldi 2.5
Breath from the Sky 3
The Orphanage 3
Instant of the Hour After 4
Like That 3.25
Wunderkind 3
The Aliens 2
Untitled Piece 3.75
The Jockey 1 no I didn’t like this one
Madame Zilensky and the King of Finland 4
Correspondence 3ish
A Tree A Rock A Cloud 3
Art and Mr. Mahoney 4.5
The Sojourner 5!!!
A Domestic Dilemma 5
The Haunted Boy 5!!
Who Has Seen the Wind 4.5
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe 4.5
The Member of the Wedding 4.5
Sucker 3.5
Court in the West Eighties 2.5
Poldi 2.5
Breath from the Sky 3
The Orphanage 3
Instant of the Hour After 4
Like That 3.25
Wunderkind 3
The Aliens 2
Untitled Piece 3.75
The Jockey 1 no I didn’t like this one
Madame Zilensky and the King of Finland 4
Correspondence 3ish
A Tree A Rock A Cloud 3
Art and Mr. Mahoney 4.5
The Sojourner 5!!!
A Domestic Dilemma 5
The Haunted Boy 5!!
Who Has Seen the Wind 4.5
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe 4.5
The Member of the Wedding 4.5
ladyfromthemixedupdesk's review against another edition
3.0
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and The Member of the Wedding are easily 4/5.
Everything else is a 2.
Everything else is a 2.
libraryfairyrachel's review against another edition
4.0
A tough collection to judge. Though her stories are all chock-full of unique details, some are more memorable than others. I really loved some stories, but there were a few that I was just trying to get through so I could read the next. All in all, though, a worthwhile book.
tesschair's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ster
Favoriete verhalen:
The haunted boy
The ballad of the sad cafe
The member of the wedding
Favoriete verhalen:
The haunted boy
The ballad of the sad cafe
The member of the wedding
fromthemixedupdesk's review against another edition
3.0
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and The Member of the Wedding are easily 4/5.
Everything else is a 2.
Everything else is a 2.