Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories by Robert Fitzgerald, Flannery O'Connor

3 reviews

fluffernutter's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I read about 3/4 of the stories, skipping the ones that were too racist and n-word using. Parker's Back and The Enduring Chill were my favorites. O'Connor doesn't present likable protagonists or simple scenarios, and I definitely didn't grow up Catholic. What writing of hers I appreciate I do so whole heartedly. 
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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This was my first O'Connor, and I'm not sure that I'll return. Ms. O'Connor wrote well - there's no denying that. But it comes to that question where if one writes nine stories about horrible, classist, cruel bigots, does that mean that one might have much in common with those bigots? I guess in the past, because the writing was good, Lit Folks saw the stories as extreme on purpose to give a moral message. But that's a little harder to argue alongside the letters from Ms. O'Connor that have been more recently made public. Maybe one day, I'll have a more nuanced reading of this work, but currently I'm not finding it either fun nor thought-provoking. And it's just CHOCK full of racial slurs. Sooooo no thanks.
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another_dahlia's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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