In the spring I was handed the ARC (advance reader’s copy) of a novel, yes, I did say “novel” starring Flannery O’Connor as a main character. Now, reread that previous sentence! For those English majors of us who have read and studied Flannery O’Connor’s shocking and provoking short stories for decades, I was fascinated. And, in my case, as an adjunct English instructor at area colleges, I have had the pleasure of introducing this controversial noteworthy Southern writer to inquiring students. So, I gave the book a cursory look. I was dubious at best; yet, I was intrigued enough to begin reading the first novel ever involving the character Flannery.
For those readers who have not yet had the pleasure of reading any of Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, you must read a couple before starting this novel. We have several good collections here at Lemuria. I would recommend your reading A Good Man is Hard to Find and Good Country People to start. Once you have read these, you are now ready to begin this newly released novel, A Good Hard Look, this title, cleverly being a “take-off” on the title of the first short story title above. (Of course, if you just want to jump right in on this novel, and then read O’Connor’s short stories afterwards, then that will work as well!)
The point that I’m making here is that Ann Napolitano refers to Flannery O’Connor’s short stories throughout this novel, and, for that matter, the plot and the characters themselves often reflect O’Connor’s plots and characters in a very clever way. Suffice it to say: the characters are flawed by life, by turmoil, by desire, by boredom, etc., etc., and their actions are often reactions to their current life status; therefore, all sorts of “escape” occur as an answer for them to run, run, run!
As A Good Hard Look begins, the reader is propelled into a Southern setting filled with glorious tailfeathers of numerous peacocks screaming their heads off on the eve of the wedding of two of the main characters, the to-be bride having grown up with, but not been on good terms with Flannery. The irony does not escape the reader for long as he or she learns that these squawking preening peacocks belong to Flannery and her mother who live down a country road from town.
The much awaited beautiful perfect Southern wedding is now blemished before it even begins because “Cookie”, the bride to be, falls from her bed and hits her face causing a black eye to emerge, due to the very startling terrific screams of the peacocks—-essentially the fault of Flannery not being able to control her birds. So, the animosity that Cookie has always felt toward Flannery is fueled again.
Jump forward a few chapters and the reader learns that Cookie’s new husband from New York, essentially a “trust-fund” boy who really doesn’t have to work, becomes fascinated with the town’s favorite eccentric author and not only begins to read her short stories, but also develops a close relationship with Flannery even going so far as to drive out to her house fairly often, but “in secret,” not daring to let on to his new wife who certainly would not like the idea at all.
Various sub-plots, such as a early middle-aged woman having an affair with a teenaged boy, plus various other controversial relationships, wind themselves throughout the plot. Tragedy strikes the novel, not once, but twice, both in a big horrific way. One does involve Flannery, her peacocks, her country house, and Cookie’s husband and his and Cookie’s new little baby girl.
The other involves a horrifying murder. “Shocking” should not be the operative word here, if one is in-tune with Flannery O’Connor’s short stories. As I mentioned earlier in this blog, the author Ann Napolitano, infuses this novel with hints of O’Connor’s stories. In other words, I would say that Napolitano has crafted a novel here which is “true” to the fine Southern author herself and her subject matter.
One last thing which struck me as noteworthy about this novel, and again, being familiar with O’Connor’s stories, enables me to make this observation: grace and redemption, maybe not in their full forms, but certainly in small doses, do ring true in A Good Hard Look, for some of the characters do find a way through their chaos to befriend and help their human, as well as animal friends.
Finally, I would also surmise that Napolitano also handles Flannery, the person, with respect, especially her debilitating bouts with the disease of lupus, which finally took her life in1962. This is a novel which Mississippians and other Southerners should read, for it does take “a good hard look” at one of our very most remarkable and talented Southern writers.
A Good Hard Look is our July First Editions Club Pick.
-Nan
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