Awesome book. Most impressive was the writing, the character interaction, the narrative structure and the insight of Carson McCullers into her people. Theme: Hopelessness of dreams coming true and the feeling of isolation in seeking a soulmate.
While I’ve since scanned some reviews, the main objections to the novel seem to be the lack of dramatic action and the unhappy ending for all the main characters. For me, the internal longings and turmoil of each character’s personal strife and their connections with each were plenty dramatic enough. Nor am I a fan of happy endings. In books anyway.
There were a lot of intertwining themes that lay beneath the surface: the racial issue in a 1940’s south; the growing gap between wealthy and very poor that came with the industrial revolution; the impending war in Europe; a young girl’s growing from tomboy to her first sexual experience to the rut of salesclerk that destroys her desires for a life of music; a loving homosexual relationship; the loneliness within a crowd, and many more. One of the biggest tragedies on display is the false belief fostered on hope that someone else cares about what one can be so passionate about.
I loved this novel and will seek out at least one of McCullers’ other works despite reading that this was the best of all.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology