Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor

The overarching theme of Everything That Rises Must Converge is family, mostly parents and children and seemed to demonize either the parent or the child in each of the 9 short stories, with most ending in death.

While each story was unique and very well written, I’ve decided to review my top 1 of the 9.

A View of the Woods gave me a sense of being both participant and spectator. An unusual tale of truly dysfunctional family dynamics and a man’s open disdain for most of his family, save his granddaughter.

Mark Fortune is a wealthy 79-year-old landowner who loves to taunt his family by selling off parcels of land they live near. As he realizes his life is winding down, he spends his time with his 9-year-old namesake, Mary, who he has decided will be sole heir to his fortunes.

Both Mary and her grandfather are strongly opinionated and irascible, yet have an unspoken respect for one another. They spend time together watching the sold off parcels being excavated, watching eagle eyed to ensure no minor encroachments occur.

Believing they are one and the same person, Mark Fortune finds he is terribly mistaken when he decides to sell a parcel with a view of the woods from Mary’s home, much to Mary’s extreme objection.

Quotes (from other short stories):

Julian thought he could have stood his lot better if she had been selfish, if she had been an old hag who drank and screamed at him. He walked along, saturated in depression, as if in the midst of his martyrdom he had lost his faith.

Almost any fault would have been preferable to selfishness–a violent temper, even a tendency to lie.

Still unsure I’d want to meet with Ms. O’Connor. Her overt racism prevails throughout and actually became harder to swallow with each story. Perhaps a cup of bitter tea would melt the coldness of her heart and soul and reveal her deep seated intolerance for those different than herself.

Once again, putting aside my personal feelings…My rating for Everything That Rises Must Converge is a 9 out of 10.

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Next up (and apropos of the season), Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol…