Writer Flannery O’Connor published many short stories, but only two novels before her untimely death at age 39. Thanks to academic Jessica Hooten Wilson, readers now have access to fragments of O’Connor’s incomplete novel, Why Do the Heathen Rage? Hooten Wilson has interspersed these short sections with research, insight, and speculation for a unique, enjoyable read.
This is not an almost-finished novel; The extracts contained in this book have sat unpublished for decades. But I really enjoyed the small tastes of O’Connor’s work; there’s no denying she could create outstanding characters. I would love to have seen how the story unfolded with our young protagonist and his deceptions.
Equally as interesting as the story is Hooten Wilson’s research. As an O’Connor reader, I have struggled with the racial aspects of her writing; there is no doubt she was a product of Georgina, the state in which she lived. Hooten Wilson does not shy away from this, assessing the various aspects of this argument.
I am a huge fan of Flannery O’Connor. As such, I absolutely adored this book. I also enjoy biographies that contain stories and experiences of the biographer, especially when it comes to female writers, so I really enjoyed reading how Hooten Wilson became an O’Connor scholar.
Fans of O’Connor and classic literature in general will love this book.
Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage? is out now! Grab a copy from your local bookstore or library.
Thank you so much to Brazos Press for the ARC.
California Reading 