The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor - 3 stars (Subdue)

[Joy D]

The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor - 3* - My Review

Published in 1960, this grim Southern Gothic story is set in rural Georgia. It follows the men of the Tarwater family (the women have fled or been driven away). Mason Tarwater is an evangelist and self-proclaimed prophet. He rears his great-nephew, Francis to follow in his footsteps as a prophet. Mason asks Francis to bury him when he dies and ensure his grave is marked with a cross. He also asks Francis to baptize his mentally impaired cousin, Bishop. Bishop is the son of Rayber, who was kidnapped by Mason as a youth and has since become an atheist.

This is a character-driven tale of religious obsession. I think it also intends to comment on the bending of religion to fit a personal agenda. There are obvious references to the conflicts between secularism and religion, and plenty of symbolism. Parts of it are brutal. It is short and goes by quickly, but there are no likeable characters here and little hope. It is well-written but was difficult for me to become fully immersed in it – perhaps due to the central theme or possibly due to the dark content. I can see why it is considered a literary classic.

[Sue]

I've got this one on my subdue shelf too.

I love/hate this author - I just hope I'm in the mood for dark and weird when this one pops up on my subdue shelf this year!

[Joy D]

Sue wrote: "I've got this one on my subdue shelf too.

I love/hate this author - I just hope I'm in the mood for dark and weird when this one pops up on my subdue shelf this year!"

I knew it was going to be dark, which is probably why I had not read it before now and the reason I put it on my Subdue list. This was my first book by Flannery O'Connor. I was reading about her life, and it is too bad she died at age 39 (from lupus).