A Good Man Is Hard to Find

December 22, 2009
Book of the Day: A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories, by Flannery O'Connor
Grade: A-
First published: 1955
1-word review: Salvation
7-word review: The rural South is a happy place.

Not many writers, even great ones, can write a good short story. There's something about condensing an idea to its very essence that a novelist can't handle. Flannery O'Connor was a great short story writer. Like a poet, she could communicate a complete idea in the fewest words required. Her characters are briefly described but fully fleshed out, and the reader becomes engulfed in each story's environment. The rural South is a scary place in her stories, yet there is always some sense of hope for salvation.

However, I've come to the conclusion that a short story collection should never be read in one day. A writer has certain themes and settings that she likes to repeatedly revisit, so reading all of her stories in such a short period makes it difficult to appreciate each one individually, since no matter how different they are from one another, they will run together a bit.

O'Connor was a Georgia native, and all her stories are set in the South. Why aren't more stories set in Idaho? Your assignment for today is to write a story based on the following representative Idaho photograph, taken by Joe Deaver.

Discussion Question:

Why doesn't the sign say "Rabbits & Meat Bunnies?"

Comments

Election

December 2, 2009 Book of the Day: Election , by Tom Perrotta Grade: B+ First published: 1998 1-word review: Ignominy 9-word review: High school and politics are both a bit ridiculous. You might be familiar with the movie based on this novel, starring Reese Witherspoon. I haven't seen it (I think I was camped out in the Ozarks, living on possum and moonshine, when it came out), but I hear it's pretty good. Here's a picture of Reese Witherspoon as Tracy Flick. Here's another picture of Reese Witherspoon. Here is a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. But it's late, and I digress. Let us discuss the novel. It's told in a unique first-person style that alternates between its main characters. In the year 1992 Tracy Flick squares off against Paul Warren for the office of student body president of Winwood High School. A teacher, Mr. M., recruits Paul, the Golden Boy, to run due to a misguided animosity aimed at Tracy. Paul's sister, Tammy, joins the race as the ec...

The Theory of the Leisure Class

December 30, 2009 Book of the Day: The Theory of the Leisure Class , by Thorstein Veblen Grade: A- First published: 1899 1-word review: Conspicuous 7-word review: It's all pecuniary conspicuity, you materialistic bastard. This is an interesting, sometimes funny, frequently profound, take on our consumer culture. There's a certain desire to achieve material success just to show others that we have achieved material success. Furthermore, our motivation comes from seeing the success of others. These factors lead to what Veblen calls "conspicuous consumption." We like other people to notice our stuff. Then there are those who try to try to wow you with their stuff when their stuff isn't all that impressive. Veblen refers to these people as "Boise State fans." Just a little love tap.

Freddy the Detective

December 11, 2009 Book of the Day: Freddy the Detective , by Walter R. Brooks Grade: A- First published: 1932 1-word review: Porcine 5-word review: Don't mess with the pig. Freddy the Pig awakes one morning to find Hambone, his best friend and longtime sty-mate, missing. He begins an investigation into the disappearance only to stumble upon the dismembered and eviscerated corpse of Hammy hanging in a meat locker. He proceeds to take revenge on those he deems responsible, doing to them what was done to his buddy. Blood flows as Freddy self-destructs in an orgy of violence. This is all rather surprising to find in a children's book. Warning to my more sensitive readers! Here's a gruesome picture of some of Hammy's remains, shown only in the interest of science. Here we have Idaho.

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