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Everything That Rises Must Converge: Stories (1965)

by Flannery O'Connor

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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2,267516,244 (4.19)196
This collection of nine short stories by Flannery O'Connor was published posthumously in 1965. The flawed characters of each story are fully revealed in apocalyptic moments of conflict and violence that are presented with comic detachment. The title story is a tragicomedy about social pride, racial bigotry, generational conflict, false liberalism, and filial dependence. The protagonist, Julian Chestny, is hypocritically disdainful of his mother's prejudices, but his smug selfishness is replaced with childish fear when she suffers a fatal stroke after being struck by a black woman she has insulted out of oblivious ignorance rather than malice. Similarly, "The Comforts of Home" is about an intellectual son with an Oedipus complex. Driven by the voice of his dead father, the son accidentally kills his sentimental mother in an attempt to murder a harlot. The other stories are "A View of the Woods," "Parker's Back," "The Enduring Chill," "Greenleaf," "The Lame Shall Enter First," "Revelation," and "Judgment Day." Flannery O'Connor was working on Everything That Rises Must Converge at the time of her death. This collection is an exquisite legacy from a genius of the American short story, in which she scrutinizes territory familiar to her readers: race, faith, and morality. The stories encompass the comic and the tragic, the beautiful and the grotesque; each carries her highly individual stamp and could have been written by no one else.… (more)
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» See also 196 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 49 (next | show all)
I have become interested in Southern writers so I listened to this on my afternoon commute. The stories were dark with deeply flawed characters. My mother has given me her collection of Flannery O'Connor books. I think I need to read a bit more to be able to provide any useful commentary. Interesting side note is that independently of this listen, my morning devotional reading has introduced me to the work of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin from whose work Omega Point" contains the following quote. "Remain true to yourself, but move ever upward toward greater consciousness and greater love! At the summit you will find yourselves united with all those who, from every direction, have made the same ascent. For everything that rises must converge." I am working to see the connection between this Chardin's and this collection of stories.

( )
  docsmith16 | Jan 16, 2023 |
Put down what you're doing and go read some Flannery O'Connor. ( )
  Chris.Wolak | Oct 13, 2022 |
Well, once again this a book full of damaged people and damaged relationships. It's like watching a train wreck but at the end O'Connor always manages to throw in a twist. ( )
  nbornstein | Mar 5, 2022 |
hmmmmmm ( )
  et.carole | Jan 21, 2022 |
Flannery O'Connor's short stories are like the crack of the whip dangerously close to your head. Sometimes humorous, sometimes peculiar, often times violent, but always breathtakingly true. Imagine the nervous laughter that bubbles up when you realize that whip has missed your face. You laugh because you want it to be a skillful miss as opposed to a clumsy mistake. Imagine the quirkiness of characters who are dangerously misunderstood. There is always something a little sinister about O'Connor. She enjoys the abrupt turn of events that take her readers by surprise. She holds us witness to the good, the bad, and the ugly of humanity.
Everything That Rises Must Converge is a compilation of nine short stories. ( )
  SeriousGrace | Sep 20, 2021 |
Showing 1-5 of 49 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (7 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
O'Connor, Flanneryprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Fitzgerald, RobertIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lee, HermioneIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Collection of nine short stories. Please do not combine with the eponymous short story. Contains:
  • Everything That Rises Must Converge
  • The Comforts of Home
  • A View of the Woods
  • Parker's Back
  • The Enduring Chill
  • Greenleaf
  • The Lame Shall Enter First
  • Revelation
  • Judgment Day
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This collection of nine short stories by Flannery O'Connor was published posthumously in 1965. The flawed characters of each story are fully revealed in apocalyptic moments of conflict and violence that are presented with comic detachment. The title story is a tragicomedy about social pride, racial bigotry, generational conflict, false liberalism, and filial dependence. The protagonist, Julian Chestny, is hypocritically disdainful of his mother's prejudices, but his smug selfishness is replaced with childish fear when she suffers a fatal stroke after being struck by a black woman she has insulted out of oblivious ignorance rather than malice. Similarly, "The Comforts of Home" is about an intellectual son with an Oedipus complex. Driven by the voice of his dead father, the son accidentally kills his sentimental mother in an attempt to murder a harlot. The other stories are "A View of the Woods," "Parker's Back," "The Enduring Chill," "Greenleaf," "The Lame Shall Enter First," "Revelation," and "Judgment Day." Flannery O'Connor was working on Everything That Rises Must Converge at the time of her death. This collection is an exquisite legacy from a genius of the American short story, in which she scrutinizes territory familiar to her readers: race, faith, and morality. The stories encompass the comic and the tragic, the beautiful and the grotesque; each carries her highly individual stamp and could have been written by no one else.

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