A review by versmonesprit
The Haunted Boy by Carson McCullers
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
This was an immediate 0 on principle, after I had to read the extremely disgusting way McCullers wrote about two children’s bodies. She may be dead, but she still needs to be on an FBI watchlist for that.
It pains me that this was in the very last story too, because it was the only one close enough to Penguin’s back cover claim that the author is a master of Southern Gothic — not that it was, because none of the three stories present in this selection have anything to do with the genre.
All these stories rely too heavily on the plot, and don’t give time to build up atmosphere. Telling rather than showing is a theme. The stories are also too fast-paced to allow any semblance of immersion. They all fall too short.
This is the second Penguin mini that I regret having purchased. I will not be reading anything else written by this p*do either.
It pains me that this was in the very last story too, because it was the only one close enough to Penguin’s back cover claim that the author is a master of Southern Gothic — not that it was, because none of the three stories present in this selection have anything to do with the genre.
All these stories rely too heavily on the plot, and don’t give time to build up atmosphere. Telling rather than showing is a theme. The stories are also too fast-paced to allow any semblance of immersion. They all fall too short.
This is the second Penguin mini that I regret having purchased. I will not be reading anything else written by this p*do either.