A Good Man is Hard to Find - Flannery O'Connor BOOK REVIEW

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[@xtusvincit5230]

You read the ending right. As she says, she is a Thomist. Aquinas was probably the greatest theologian the Catholic Church produced. For him, everything, even the most inconsequential has metaphysical important. And in a mystical way, we are all bound to one another and inter-related. Traditional Catholicism has a practice of regular meditation on death, especially on Fridays, as a way to sharpen ones conscience and see once again that life is a preparation for meeting God. You did a good job, for not being a Catholic and teasing out her points.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Well thank you for letting me know, I appreciate that very much.

[@elizabethd.838]

Joey Suggs You nailed it! Pax Christi!

[@meesalikeu]

newsflash most catholics would not know that 😂

[@Dade333311]

Excellent review! I think the Misfit has been transformed at the end of the story. His reaction to the grandmother's epiphany startles him. He shoots her in a panic and then immediately takes off his glasses and starts cleaning them, indicating that he realizes he hasn't been seeing things correctly. His last words in the story indicate that he has changed his ways. Earlier in the dialog, he told the grandmother there was "no pleasure but meanness," but at the end he reprimands his accomplice with the line "It's no real pleasure in life." He is on the path to redemption.

[@PolynomiaI]

Flannery O'Connor came up with some great titles for her short stories. "A good man is hard to find", "Everything that rises must converge", "The lame shall enter first", etc. Read more when you have time, even if they don't make it into a video!

[@boojbw]

Flannery O'Connor is hands down one of the greatest and darkest of the Southern gothic authors. Her novels "Wise Blood" and "The Violent Bear it Away" are both SPECTACULAR.

[@TheMightyPika]

The thing with Flannery O'Connor is that while her stories are amazing - powerful, intense, brilliant - I just can't understand what she's saying. I know something very, very deep and personally important is being communicated, some message or observation, but no matter how hard I try I just can't grasp it. It's like hearing a beautiful song in a language I can't understand but I cry anyway. So frustrating. Maybe it's because I'm Buddhist and not Catholic?

[@elizabethd.838]

Roman Jones Yes, you’re probably correct. Her stories are rich in symbolism of Christ, especially the Holy Eucharist. In short, I believe that she wanted to reveal Christ’s mercy and grace when her characters encounter a drastic, often shocking disaster, such as facing death. The grandmother is self concerned and focused on the material, rather than the spiritual although she’d like others to think vice versa of her. It’s not until she’s moments away from death that she extended genuine love and compassion for another, the Misfit. Basically she would have been able to do this more often if she contemplated her mortality. I was once told that life is never truly understood under death is deeply contemplated.

[@TheMightyPika]

@@elizabethd.838 Wow, that's an amazing explanation. Thank you!

[@elizabethd.838]

Roman Jones You are too kind, thank you. I don’t think that O’Connor wanted the revelation and mystery of Christ in her stories to be served quickly and predictably like a Big Mac. The reader must struggle, and try to strip himself of ordinary, humanly flawed perceptions, He has to dig patiently beyond the mere sequence of the story to discover the peace of Christ that she so adamantly desired to reveal. Maybe in creating this difficulty, she wanted to demonstrate that seeking Christ is not easy, it’s labor and hardship. However, the reward is sanctifying grace, pure and perfect.

[@morteniversen6109]

Man, this is becoming a great day. This video is like the cherry on my sunday. Thank you

[@ReadRemark]

Thanks for the link to listen! I saw the grandmother as more in denial. Denial of the realities of the world she was living in, and then of her family's fate. Almost like she was trying to convince herself and the man that his goodness was so. Great and haunting story.

[@ChillPill149]

Just discovered your channel and I love your content! Props for making literature cool again.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I'm not sure if it ever wasn't though I sincerely appreciate the support amigo.

[@daneschneider5790]

yes man! yes! currently going through miss o'connor's collected stories, she is truly a great writer and I've been waiting to see if you would review her

[@jasdeepsingh1374]

Hey Cliff. In one of your older videos, the '10 hard lessons' one in particular you said that you were going to make a video on the benefits of reading and weightlifting and how it was a cure-all to almost all the problems in life. You still going to do that?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Been getting asked about that a lot recently. Guess I should get on it.

[@jasdeepsingh1374]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews It'll be great to know your thoughts haha. And I've been a fan for the past year. Great stuff man. Thanks for the content. :)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I really appreciate it man, thank you

[@michaelhourican1477]

For real. Your review of 'Sun and Steel' is why I began lifting. Shook me more than the essay, itself.

[@jasdeepsingh1374]

Michael Hourican SAME

[@TheCheweeRevolutions]

I find it interesting that you refer to the grandmother as 'detestable'. I kinda liked her

[@johnrankin7135]

I think that goes to show the nuance she had in writing the character

[@TomorrowWeLive]

Same. I related to her a lot (despite being a young man). She was just an ordinary old lady, with all an old lady's foibles. Don't know where this hatred people have for her comes from. Probably has a lot to do with their own prejudices.

[@SesameCake]

I really liked the idea of the Misfit being almost a kind of embodiment of an honest, visceral reaction against the Grandmother's hypocrisy, which was very Pharisee-like. His mindset reminded me of Dostoevsky's "Underground Man." "I have merely carried to an extreme in my life what you have not dared to carry even halfway.” It's like the Misfit is carrying his nihilistic views to an honest, logical conclusion, whereas the Grandmother may have been more scrupulous and well-behaved in light of society, but still malevolent, or at least at the seeds of malevolence within her. The Misfit was repelled by this. That's my take at least.

[@solovief]

Also, loved the live reading. Another you might enjoy is Thomas Merton's live reading of Faulkner's The Bear.

[@Harrisoncaan]

I love your reviews. I don't have any mates who read so this works out. Thanks

This is the highlight of the day..may be the whole week! and this short story is absolutely amazing!

[@Lollipopmorgue]

If you’re getting into southern lit and want a short read, I suggest my favorite author, Lewis Norman.

[@libiabrenda3148]

It's a GREAT short story. It seems that pain and fear are the elements that transforms the grandmother into a *real* human being before the eyes of The Misfit. Or that's one possible interpretation, I belive. If you know your are about to die, you just cut the bullshit. The detail of cleaning his glasses is a very elegant way to paint a disgusting picture of the facts. Flannery O'Connor was awesome. Great review, as usual :)

[@lattanzioval]

Just love your work from the early videos. Thank you for all!

[@zomgPANDi]

Love your videos! Would love to see more female authors on your channel

[@ItsVyy]

I know that your working through Gravity's Rainbow so it seems apt to recommend Pynchon's older short story 'The Secret Integration,' one of the better short stories I've read recently.

[@knl654]

Have you read The Blind Owl?, please do a video on it, it’s a short story.

[@PB-fi1qh]

Love your reviews man. Thank you!!

[@koreighlee]

The shifts of light in this video rejuvenated me

[@danofnostand3977]

You're almost at 100 reviews! Keep it up man!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks a bunch

[@ligray2436]

i thought this was going to be about the whole short story collection with the same title. was this your first time reading the story? i had always assumed that you had read everything i already knew about so i never even thought about possible suggestions. whoops! Good Country People is my favorite O'Connor story so wondering if you've read that. would definitely be interested in hearing you talk some Faulkner too since you mentioned it.

[@Ideennot]

Great short story, the ending really makes you think. Also Faulkner is great, I love "The Sound and the Fury". The characters are so memorable and the story is really dark, if you're into that.

[@gabrielam2743]

Thank you Cliff.

[@angrychocolaterabbit]

Yes! One of my favourites

[@Lucols4]

I don't know if you talked about you reading routine before, but do you have some sort of daily reading schedule?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Wherever/whenever/whatever it takes. I should get some sort of routine though!

[@chance6341]

I always found it weird for people to make a "schedule" as if reading was work. It shouldn't feel like work, reading is supposed to be fun! We read for the mere desire to read.

[@Lucols4]

I meant as taking a specific period of the day, since he makes weekly reviews and needs to keep track. I also don't think having a reading routine takes the fun out of it (although I admit I don't have one).

[@timdaniels3776]

If you don't mind me asking, what camera do you use? I'm looking to do my own book reviews inspired by your channel.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Tim Daniels 5d Mark iii good luck!

[@timdaniels3776]

Thanks for your reply i am a big fan

[@mohamedmustafa2618]

I loved this review. Very good insights Cliff!

[@solovief]

Whoa, Ybor is right next to me. Love your videos!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Como le va neighbor, thanks for the support

[@elhermeneutico]

Please review Andrés Caicedo's *Liveforever* ("¡Qué Viva La Música!").

[@Gabrielcezar94]

Hey, please read and review One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez :)

[@EveForbiddenFruit]

A really terrific modern Southern Gothic novel is Lindsay Hunter's "Ugly Girls." Read it over winter break this year and was blown away. It's like Faulkner in a trailer park.

[@RB939393]

If you don't mind me asking, why did you move from LA to Florida?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Low overhead and family stuff.

[@mommyslittlegamer9667]

dude i have a test on this short story i didnt know the homie reviewed it

[@adamrbrewer1660]

look up the short story During the Dance by Mark Lawrence. it is a really good read and I recommend it to anyone

[@romankotas448]

I just read this story and wow...I don’t know what to say

[@Daniel-do2yj]

Awesome!!! May I suggest Our Lady of The Flowers from Genet, have a great day!

[@Gabrielcezar94]

I read the story A good man is hard to find. It's the only one of hers I've read so far. I loved it.

[@elizabethd.838]

Gabriel Cezar keep going! Read Revelation

[@hickorydcorry]

I have yet to read O'Connor but I'm on something of a southern gothic reading streak currently, finished 'the sound and the fury' and 'as i lay dying' there, would love to hear your thoughts on Faulkner. Have you read William Gay?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

No I haven't, should I?

[@hickorydcorry]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews I think you'd like his writing, he tells tales of life in tennessee from the 50s with beautiful poetic prose. Think along the lines of Suttree, though Gay has a clear, unique voice. As for McCarthy I recently read the Orchard keeper, very underrated, in it you really see the influence from Faulkner, mostly in structure. Anyway hope you enjoy Florida!

[@dakotahrivers6640]

Really appreciate the spoiler warnings in your reviews

[@originoflogos]

Hey, read a novel by William T. Vollmann, preferably Europe Central or one of his Seven Dreams novels.

[@alfonsojimenez8840]

Great review as always. I fell out of reading regularly, and was looking for a short story writer to help get back into reading regularly. I found your video and Professor Amy Hungerford's lectures - youtube her dude - instructive when reading A Good Man is Hard to Find.

[@alexandrahope8814]

I've been meaning to read Flannery O'Connor for a while. I'm getting on Amazon now 😀

[@danasheys9300]

Excellent review,, well done

[@maestro7058]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ANOTHER REVIEW!!!

[@harrybarrett9986]

"Hits like a bullet". Well, Mr Sargent it certainly did. Fantastic recommendation, a tragic cavalcade for a train ride home after graduating University. On another note, you have greatly promoted obscure and deeply thought provoking books to readers, like myself, that would not have picked them up. Whether it be that readers do not live in the states or have a poor access to book shops, that don't have the testicular fortitude to sell books that might produce a drop of critical thought. I would never have read Under the Volcano, Hecate and Her Dogs, Death in the Afternoon.... If I never would have read some of these gems, I would not have been able to tackle mammoths like Crime and Punishment, Beyond Good and Evil, and even Thus Spoke Zarathustra. I would simply like to say, thank you Sir, Regards, H

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

You're incredibly welcome. Thrilled you've gotten so much from it. Nietzsche and Dostoyevsky on the way.

[@harrybarrett9986]

Excellent. Definitely a strong Nietzschean tone in figures like H Rollins writings/speeches on weightlifting. I think FN's ideas would be greatly helpful for youth who are struggling with depression,nihilism, atheism or like myself to help find meaning in an era where to some, truth is malleable. Thanks for recommending Jordan Peterson in one of your (I think) earlier reviews. Good day, good Sir.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Absolutely - working on that review - coming soon

[@antigaia1817]

Crime and Punishment is much easier to read once u get past the russian names and the Russian titles as well as the annoyingly peppered exclamations . I guess Russia is so damn cold that performative entusiasm is necessary just to keep going. One thing that does come though is the sense of comraderie and fellowship the old Russians seem to have had. Friends are fairweather nowadays because the conditions in America are so cozy and posh

[@SuperStrangSshadow]

Many booktubers are trying so hard to be cool and funny. You don't even have to try cause it is a part of you. Never change. :) Ps: Do you use Goodreads?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

SuperStrange Shadow I'm on there yes, thanks a bunch

[@pjr5913]

damn brother your taste in lit is amazing. keep up the great work. By the way have you ever read You Can't Win by Jack Black?

[@castleburry]

I just recently discovered this channel and it's f'n great. I'd recommend the fisherman by John langan. great new horror reading.

[@christophersnyder8266]

you should do a review on "The Ocean at the End of the Lane". I know there are a ton of reviews on it already but I would love to hear your thoughts on it and I think it would be really interesting.

[@palodine1]

Redemption, violence and a cat named Pity-Song.Jesus, it doesn't get much better than that. Her other great work, Wise Blood seems very foreign and almost comical (though there are some intentional comical scenes in it) if you aren't from the South or anywhere in the Bible Belt. But believe me, it ain't too far fetched, especially in the time period it is set in. Check out filmmaker John Hughes's adaptation. Highly recommended.

[@palodine1]

AND... you mentioned Nick Cave!!! I gotta get over to Patrion- You rock!

[@Kyle-ys3cv]

Heat: a perfect film. Greatest film ever made. Not one flaw. Three hours long and perfectly tight.

[@thomasfranche6770]

Je suis catholique. J'ai toujours trouvé ça bizarre que O'Connor, une catholique croyante à l'époque d'avant le concile Vatican II, était dans les mêmes cercles sociaux d'Arthur Koestler. I wonder from what Protestant sect Clifford's family comes ?

[@ankitpal3615]

Southern Gothic check out Coleman Dowell

[@abdiawl736]

your Channel is amazing and i quite enjoying watching it too bad it is not everyday show

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thank you - Would you like it to be?

[@abdiawl736]

honestly yeah it will be amazing really there are not many Channels like yours where many books from many genre are reviewed i wonder why you didn't write a book about your travels in US or a novel i bet many will like it by the way

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I have no excuse other than time and money. I'll do my best to make more videos and write a book, again I sincerely appreciate the support, many thanks for watching Abdi.

[@AnandVenigalla]

Cool review. Now as for Shakespeare. I'd like you to review Troilus and Cressida, which many consider to be Shakespeare's most sophisticated play next to Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost. It's a strong satire of the Homeric heroes, mixed with a dark "love story". Also, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. The Iliad's majesty and the greatness of Homer's Achilles is brilliant and unparalleled, almost unmatched except by the oeuvre of Shakespeare and Milton. That's one of the timeless books for me, in its big, bold, bloody, grand, majestic glory.

[@user-mf1rz9mn3l]

do you write?

[@user-pr8fo2ml8i]

have you written anything???

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Soon :) Thanks for watching

[@user-pr8fo2ml8i]

what about your movie?? btw i think you got this incredible gift of making people feel emotion just by your words and you got a laid back charisma which is the most interesting thing in watching your videos

[@lizardpeoplepoetry]

the grandmother is every southern grandmother ever.

[@shaunnortje999]

SANCTION-THE BOOK