What Do I Read Next?
- Flannery O'Connor's "Everything that Rises Must Converge," first published in 1964 and later included in the 1965 short story collection of the same name, explores themes such as cultural assimilation, aging, mortality, illness, and the African-American experience. Set in the newly integrated South of the 1960s, it follows Julian, a recent college graduate overly dependent on his mother. His prejudiced mother suffers a stroke during an encounter with a black woman, leaving Julian to grapple with the profound impact of his reliance on her.
- "The Lame Shall Enter First," another story in the Everything that Rises Must Converge collection, narrates a haunting tale of a father's misguided love and the tragic suicide of his son. The widowed father and his grieving son seek comfort outside their relationship, influenced by a troubled and disfigured young man who claims to be under Satan's influence.
- A Good Man is Hard to Find, the title story of O'Connor's 1955 short-story collection, was originally published in 1953. It centers on a selfish, conceited grandmother and her family as they travel through the South, where a murderer is rumored to be hiding. After a car accident, three men confront the family. The grandmother recognizes the murderer as "The Misfit." He kills the rest of the family before manipulating the grandmother's emotions and ultimately killing her.
- William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, published in 1930, had a significant influence on O'Connor's writing and thinking. Written in a stream-of-consciousness style with grotesque characterization, the novel delves into themes of mourning, community, family, and society.
- Nathaniel West's work also impacted Flannery O'Connor's thoughts and style. She particularly recommended Miss Lonelyhearts to her friends. Published in 1933, the novel tells the story of a male newspaper columnist who desperately tries to offer advice to the lovelorn. His involvement with one of his correspondents ultimately leads to his death.
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