Wise Blood

This is the second book on the syllabus for the Open Course literature class I'm taking.  I have heard critics rave about Flannery O'Connor.  I read her short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and enjoyed it.  It was not something I expected from a female writer because it was about a family on a road trip that goes horribly wrong in a violent way. I shouldn't have preconceived notions about female writers, and I didn't really think I did until I read her and then realized I did.

At first when I started reading this book I was bored, then it picked up a little bit and I found myself enjoying it. The most compelling section of the book, for me, was the last thirty pages. Those last pages made the book.  None of the characters are likable and as I was reading I was hoping that maybe someone would do something nice, but nobody does anything worthy even though redemption is an ongoing theme.  This story drips with religious metaphors and discussion. The main character, Hazel Motes, is a young man trying to convince himself (and others) that he doesn't believe in Jesus anymore even though religion was a large part of his upbringing. Along the way he meets several individuals who pretend they believe in Jesus, but are really just hustling people for money. Meanwhile Hazel, who is fighting his belief in Jesus, is probably the strongest believer of them all.

I don't know who should read this book. It definitely strikes me as literature and not a leisure read. I think if you are interested in Southern literature and strong female writers you should give it a go.  I realize it's not for everyone, though and may take some time to appreciate.