I read the Book THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER when it was first published by Manners Books, (in 1994). It was written by Carson McCullers. I have the Paperback Book that was issued on the 60th Anniversary of when it was first Published. It has 488 pages.
This Book is about events that take place in the Southern United States in 1940.
THE CHARACTERS:
John Singer has neither the gift of speaking nor hearing, but he does possess the gift of being a good ’’listener’’. He is a peaceful man who keeps to himself especially after his good friend is committed but he seems to draw people to him. He lives a very frugal life with no frills. He was not always deaf but lost his hearing at the age of nine. He can read lips and sign language.
Jake Blount is a stranger to town who turns up about the time Anonopolis leaves. He is first seen in the café known as the New York Café which is owned by Biff Brannon. Jake is a major blowhard who claims to be one of the few who knows. It takes several chapters before we find out that what Blount claims to know is the truth about Capitalism. McCullers shows Jake as a man who is always changing from one moment to the next. He can sound like a scholar or a completely uneducated fool and he has a violent temper. The first night he comes to town, he meets Singer and believes that Singer also ’’knows’’.
Biff Brandown owns and operates the New York Café which stays open 24 hours a day and is a bar as well as a cafe. As the novel opens, Brannon and his wife operate the café but after her death, Biff becomes a good friend to Singer. Much of the action in the book takes place in his cafe.
Mick Kelly ia a young and sad 12 year old Girl. Her Parents own a Boarding House that Singer moves to.
Dr.Bennedict Macy Copelans is an Afro-American Doctor. He is angry at the white People.
A TASTE OF THE BOOK:
The book starts with Dr. Copland. His has an aim in life and that is to convince other African-Americans that they need to improve their lives.
They should get rid of their life of being ’’semi-slaves’’ that still exists in the Southern part of the USA.
He makes Friends Winger even though he is white.
Dr. Copeland has for Children of his own, Two of them he doesn’t talk to.
One of his Sons becomes a victim of the racism he hate.
John Singer is both deaf and mute. He lives in Georgia in a small Southern Town in the United States. He works for a Jeweller.
Because he can’t hear or tell many Of the People who don’t fit in with the ’’normal’’ Population use him to tell their secrets to. Some how he helps them solve their problems.
His best Friend is Spiros Antonapoulos, (is also a deaf-mute), who is of Greek descent.
Antonapoulos works for Charlie Parker, (who is his Cousin), in his Grocery Market.
Antonapoulos has is very slow with limited intelligence but he is Singer’s closest friend.
Several problems happen to Antonapoulos he becomes insane and he is sent away to a Mental Institution.
He was both Singer’s Roommate and this makes him very depressed. He is moved and will be living with the Kelly Family.
Mick Kelly loves Music because it helps her relax. She is very helpful to John.
The conflicts in the Book centre around the racist attitudes of many of the People who live in this Town.
Afro-Americans who are well educated are still treated as ’’second class Citizens.’’
This is exactly what happened in the United States from the time the Slaves were freed. Some People still feel this way today!
MY THOUGHTS:
I thought that Ms. Carson McClullers’ Book was brilliant. She gave each Character a lot of thought and it shows as you read about their lives.
She was only 23 years old when she wrote this Book in 1940 and she was very brave to write about this subject. The KKK Clans were still working across the USA and I’m surprised she didn’t find a burning Cross on her lawn one morning!
This Book should be read by everyone. In some way we are all ’’bigots’’ and find our self disliking people or things that we don’t know much about. The opposite of ’’Love’’ is not ’’Hate’’ but ’’Fear’’ and we all ’’Fear’’ the unknown.
Carson McCullers manages to reach the depths of the degradations of a People just because of the colour of their skin
Four individuals in particular make Singer the Person they told all of their secrets. Through these character’s stories and Singer’s, we get a very accurate view of what life was like in a small Southern town in the 40’s.
This Novel is written beautifully. It amazes me that any Person could have such great knowledge of human behaviour at age of 23.
Carlson McCullers Book shows a maturity that most of us never have while we were young.
I paid $25.00 CAD for this Book. ISBN# 0618084746
©LL2003