Review 
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
A very thoughtful provocative novel. Nothing like I expected and yet I don’t know what it was I expected. I could swear somewhere I read this was some kind of feminist yarn, but that isn’t what I got from it.
I did get a lot of racist attitude exploration, some political theory (communism, fascism, evil-faceless capitalism), love and devotion, and one more reminder that the ”good ol’ days” weren’t always good.
Interview Style Review:
Q: Care, why did you read this and why now?
A: This is a book that has been on my radar for so long and it has a catchy title… I was sitting at the bookmooch page trying to think up books to request and this POPPED into my head to search. It was available, so I mooched it. Chartroose has mentioned it a few times in her many posts with themes of alienation and quirky characters, so I added it to my “I’m Stalking Chartroose” Challenge that I made up.
(I expected this book to be on that list of 1001 Books To Read Before You Die, but it isn’t. Huh.)
Q: So, what is it about?
A: The book starts out following a couple of deaf mutes who live together and care for each other in a small town in the south. Eventually, one of these guys is committed to an institution and the other is left to fend for himself. In the course of setting a new routine and saving money for trips to visit his friend, other interesting characters befriend him as a sage, a great person who listens, and is ‘the only one who understands’. He, however, really has no clue why these people keep visiting him and talking to him.
SPOILERS!! When the deaf mute discovers that the other institutionalized deaf mute has died, he realizes that there is no one left who he can relate to, and he offs himself. The others, a young girl whose family is too poor to give her the education in music she desires – not that she has TOLD them what she wants and needs, a political rally-er who can’t get that no one else understands how evil capitalism is, a negro doctor with strong beliefs that scare his adult children, and a lonely restaurant owner, are devastated and drift off to their own bewildered lives.
The economy sucks, sad events occur that only cause more sadness and miscommunication and generally, that’s that. At least that’s all I can remember. I actually do not recall how it ends!
Perhaps, I missed the great lesson. Since this has been heaped with prizes and most likely talked ad nauseum in many an English Lit class, I will probably be vilified for not ‘getting it’. It’s just a sad book.
Q: OK, it’s a sad book. Did you enjoy the writing style?
A: Yes, the book is well written. The mood and tone most definitely weigh heavy and yet, again, this isn’t a preachy book. The reader feels the heat of summer and the cold in winter. But it’s the despair of our own creation that leaves us most cold. We know that something bad is going to happen and powerless to imagine how to stop it. Human misery happens. Shit happens. Can we legislate against guns? For worker’s rights? will this help? Yes, on some levels. But humans being humans, we always find a way to misunderstand each other and the tragedy has to play out. Carson McCullers nailed it.
Q: Have ‘they’ made a movie? Do you want to see it?
A: Yes and yes. I just looked up the movie made in 1968 on my fave movie database: IMDB. It stars Sandra Locke and Stacy Keach? NOT my favorite actors. But with Cicely Tyson in the role of Portia, I just might have to watch this. Alan Arkin was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar. (and eek! Locke for Best Supporting? I just can’t bear her in any of the Eastwood flicks…) But, yes, I will netflix this (yes, Netflix can be a verb) and I will make my own conclusions… This was also nominated for a Golden Globe Best Picture.
FOUR STARS 
* note: When I search for other reviews, I only get lists and lists and lists… So, please if you know of a review (including your own), please comment. AND I would love to know if you’ve seen the movie!
Hee hee…the I’m Stalking Chartroose Challenge sounds like a winner. I think you should make up a button and go for it!
Hmmmm, I’ll have to see what I can do!
I haven’t read this one, but I really enjoyed The Ballad of the Sad Cafe! I just love Southern writers…
I don’t really pay attention to where writers are from. I would have to guess that Harper Lee, and thus Truman Capote? is he a “southern writer”? and, of course, Faulkner are the only ones that come to mind.
I’m glad you liked it, and you DID get it. The entire novel is about how self-centered we are–to the point where we can’t see past our noses. People drained Mr. Singer dry, but when the time came for him to be a drain on someone else, nobody was there for him. His friend was the only person he could talk to even though the dude didn’t really care about him at all. Singer’s deafness is a symbol of our deafness–our lack of the ability to really connect and really hear what a person is saying (or feeling) because we’re so into ourselves. The grave scene at the end explains all this.
Yes, do rent the movie! I don’t think I have ever seen a better performance than Alan Arkin’s, and, believe it or not, Stacy Keach and Sondra Locke were brilliant, and Cicely Tyson’s anger was something to behold. It must have been the director that made it so good. Now I’m going to have to go to IMDB and see…
Later, gator.
Thanks Chartroose! You explained it very well. (I don’t even remember the grave scene! WT_? I gave my copy to Mom.) I think I really was most upset about how Singer’s friend was so ambivalent.
Thanks for reminding me of a great book. I didn’t know there was a movie! I may have to check it out. It’s funny that you lent your copy to your mom. My mom read it on my recommendation, but she thought it was too depressing.
My mom always has a slightly different reaction to books than ‘the crowd’. I would love to attend her book club meetings, but alas, I live 1000s of miles away.
I really liked the interview style review, very refreshing. I have heard a lot about this book but if you say its a very sad book, i might just give it more time. I am in no mood to read utterly depressing books.
Hmmm, interesting distinction… No, I don’t think I would call it depressing, exactly. Sad, yes. Oh, you’ve got me thinking now!
I had only been familiar with Sondra Locke from the Eastwood movies, so I was so shocked at how great she was in THIALH. Oh man…she could’ve had a Meryl Streep-like career if she’d just said no to Squint Eastwood.
WHAT!?!?!? you don’t like Clint!??!?! I lurve the Eastwoodman… Maybe that’s why I can’t stand Locke… (I’ve never heard him called Squint, but you have me laughing, just a bit…)