The Haunted Boy

by Carson McCullers

His hand sought the adjacent flesh and sorrow paralleled desire in the immense complexity of love.

Contains: The Haunted Boy, The Sojourner, and A Domestic Dilemma
These moving stories by one of the great masters of Southern gothic portray love, sorrow and our search for happiness and understanding.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Modern Classics, Literary Fiction, The United States Of America, Gothic

60 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Carson McCullers was an American novelist, short-story writer, playwright, essayist, and poet. Her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1940), explores the spiritual isolation of misfits and outcasts in a small town of the Southern United States. Her other novels have similar themes. Most are set in the Deep South.
McCullers's work is often described as Southern Gothic and indicative of her Southern roots. Critics also describe her writing and eccentric characters as universal in scope. Her stories have been adapted to stage and film. A stage adaptation of her novel The Member of the Wedding (1946), which captures a young girl's feelings at her brother's wedding, made a successful Broadway run in 1950–51.

Reviews

[Lotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the best word to describe the three stories in this volume (The Haunted Boy, The Sojourner and A Domestic Dilemma) is "melancholic". In all their briefness, they each conveyed a certain emotional depth and the different struggles at the heart of these stories felt entirely graspable and real to me. Now I definitely want to read more by Carson McCullers!

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume contains three stories by Carson McCullers: “The Haunted Boy”, “The Sojourner” and “A Domestic Dilemma.” McCullers is, of course, one of the greatest American writers of the 20th Century. She manages in 20 pages or less to develop characters, create an intricate plot and evoke emotions that most writers cannot accomplish in 500 pages. This is a masterpiece which began my 2020 reading and I recommend it to everyone who appreciates great literature.

[Royce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson McCullers is my kind of writer. Three compelling short stories (The Haunted Boy, The Sojourner, and A Domestic Dilemma) written so long ago (1955, 1950, & 1951), but transcending time to appeal to a reader like me. Another Penguin Modern Classics’ book, introducing me to stories I would not otherwise have read. Highly recommended to fans of deep and intense stories of the human condition.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The forty-fifth publication on the Penguin Moderns list is one which I was particularly looking forward to - The Haunted Boy by Carson McCullers.  Whilst a huge fan of her fiction, and of the Southern Gothic genre in which she wrote, I have only read a handful of her short stories to date.  The blurb states that 'these moving stories portray love, sorrow and our search for happiness and understanding.'  All of the tales here - 'The Haunted Boy', 'The Sojourner', and 'A Domestic Dilemma' - were published between 1950 and 1955.

As with her longer works, McCullers' writing is fantastic - multilayered, perceptive, and admirable.  She captures moods particularly so well in the first story, 'The Haunted Boy': 'It was then, in the unanswering silence as they stood in the empty, wax-floored hall, that Hugh felt there was something wrong'.  McCullers also marvellously explores her characters and their psyches.  From the same story, she writes of young protagonist Hugh: 'Confession, the first deep-rooted words, opened the festered secrecy of the boy's heart, and he continued more rapidly, urgent and finding unforeseen relief.'  

McCullers also fantastically captures the essence of memory; from 'The Sojourner', for instance: 'The twilight border between sleep and waking was a Roman one this morning, splashing fountains and arched, narrow streets, the golden lavish city of blossoms and age-soft stone.  Sometimes in this semi-consciousness he sojourned again in Paris, or war German rubble, or Swiss ski-ing and a snow hotel.  Sometimes, also, in a fallow Georgia field at hunting dawn.  Rome it was this morning in the fearless region of dreams.'

McCullers writes of some very dark topics in this selection of her work, and contrasts this darkness with a series of glorious descriptions.  Her character portraits are always sharp and varied.  All three stories here are rich, thoughtful, and searching, and I enjoyed every single word of them.  I am very excited to read the rest of McCullers' short work at some point very soon.

[Nicola Balkind · Rating 5 out of 5]

All 3 of these stories were brilliant.

[Badar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson McCullers's brilliance in weaving melancholy and solitude into the lives of ordinary characters is unparalleled. Beautiful and moving stories!

[Simay Yildiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

These three stories are all about human condition. There’s anxiety and anger and loneliness and longing and grief and love and sadness. I’m always a huge fan of authors who can pass through so many emotions in so few words, and McCullers is definitely one of them. I bought this collection because it popped up while I was purchasing The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and now I cannot wait to read it. Already love the gothic-y, melancholic and somewhat magical writings from the American South and am excited for more.

[Lazaros Karavasilis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Πήρα σερί τα μικρά γιατί οι μεγάλες εποποιίες δεν είναι της παρούσης. Οπότε γνωριμία με Carson McCullers μέσα απο 3 μικρές ιστορίες.

55 σελίδες είναι όλο και όλο, 3 ιστορίες πολύ μετρημένες και ολοκληρωμένες με ενδιαφέρουσα γραφή που απεικονίζει τις ΗΠΑ του 1950 και ειδικά τις νότιες πολιτείες. Μια αίσθηση Mad Men την βγάζει και αυτό είναι καλό. Λίγο διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις, λίγο ταλαιπωρημένα νοικοκυριά, λίγο καταπίεση, λίγο πατριαρχία, λίγο αμερικάνικα προάστια.

Έχω βάλει και άλλα στο μάτι της συγκεκριμένης συγγραφέας, οπότε ξεκινήσαμε καλά.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sojourner and a domestic dilemma were good but the titular story almost made me cry. My girl Carson really knows how to make you sad af

[Noelia Alonso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the three stories included in this little book. Won't be my last McCullers

[Araceli.libros · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*
Me encantaron estas tres historias! Están llenas de entendimiento y empatía por las pequeñas tragedias de la vida doméstica, que tienen que ver con las complicaciones en las relaciones de pareja y entre padres e hijos. Son tres cuentos nostálgicos y dulces, con un pequeño rayo de esperanza al final.
Definitivamente quiero leer más trabajos de McCullers.

The hunted boy -5*
The sojourner -4*
A domestic dilemma -5*

[Tanaya Pandey (kitabiyatri) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[actuallymynamesssantiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Carson acudo. En realidad los leí de mi edición en español de sus cuentos completos, que no me animo a leer de un tirón, así que hago trampa.

I- "The Haunted Boy": Me quiero morir. Qué belleza. Me restauró un poco las blisses. La gracia de 'Haunted' en el título se pierde un poco con 'Obsesionado' en la traducción, porque McCullers acá de entrada juega un poco a lo gótico. Es genial.
5/5⭐️.
II- "The Sojourner": Observe, observe. Qué paz.
4/5⭐️.
III- "A Domestic Dilemma": Es como la tercera vez que me toca leerlo. Y nunca puedo terminarlo bien, casi siempre lo ponen al final. Creo que capaz boquea mucho y se pone medio trivial, pero le funciona, porque innegablemente mira el mundo con mucho cariño. Es bellísima. La amo. Me está costando mucho leer. Jesus.
4/5⭐️.

Amelia, was it just a false alarm?

[Rosamund Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, McCuller's prose is engaging, and she has a distinct narrative voice. I enjoyed these stories, but while they are atmospheric, they are not the best of her writing.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little collection features three short stories and I am amazed at how the author managed a plot with such strong character development in so few pages. These stories all relate or rely on human emotion and I am reminded as to why I loved The Ballad Of The Sad Cafe so much in high school. I will be on the hunt for more by Carson McCullers. I particularly enjoyed the first story The Haunted Boy.

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Haunted boy: ★★★★.5
grief and trauma

The Sojourner: ★★★
loneliness, sorrow and the search for happiness

A Domestic Dilemma: ★★★★
the complexities of love

all of the stories are exceptionally written ✨
*chef's kiss*

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Sojourner did give a bit of a warm feeling, otherwise nothing more than tedious domestic twaddle

[Hanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love me some melancholy.

[victoria marie]

this little blue book includes: The Haunted Boy, The Sojourner, & A Domestic Dilemma

[Callum McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This slim volume collects three short stories by McCullers, often described as a master of the Southern gothic. The prose throughout is sensitive and observant, yet highly readable, and though this was my first taste of her work, it certainly won’t be my last.

The title story, The Haunted Boy, was far and away my favourite. In it, a young boy arrives home from school with a friend. Unsettled by his mother’s inexplicable absence, he determines to keep his friend there as long as possible. What unfolds is an unbearably tense and poignant look at why the boy fears being alone, and why his mother’s disappearance causes so much anxiety. Exploring love, trauma, mental health, and the pain of things left unsaid, it’s a truly fantastic example of short fiction at its best. [5*]

The Sojourner is a melancholy though charmingly hopeful read about the unique nostalgia that comes from reconnecting with an ex-lover, and seeing them well established in their new life. far less impactful, but still a pleasant read. [3*]

A Domestic Dilemma is a snapshot of a family’s private crisis, unfolding behind closed doors. It explores a father’s fear for his children’s wellbeing and his own reputation as his wife slips into the grip of alcoholism. It’s a perceptive look at how fine the line between love and hate can be in domestic situations. [4*]

[Catalina Jiménez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considerando la poca información que manejo de Carson McCullers: principalmente que se la reconoce como una escritora de estilo gótico sureño (Southern gothic), no me pareció sentir que la estaba conociendo muy bien a través de estos tres cuentos. Los tres están bellamente escritos y podrían resultar interesantes para algunos tipos de lector, pero no me pareció ver absolutamente nada gótico en ellos. Los tres son bastante nostálgicos y emotivos, sí. También ocurren en espacios muy domésticos. Sin embargo, me pareció que todos los conflictos – principalmente emocionales - se resolvían de una forma demasiado cursi y simplista, opacando la profundidad del resto de las emociones descritas. Me parecieron cuentos bonitos, pero no me removieron ninguna fibra en particular. El último me pareció incluso algo machista. Sin embargo, insisto en que no sentí haber leído bien a la autora. No descarto volver a leerla en alguna otra obra.

[Chris Cloake · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are stories about finding a way to cope with the human experience. We all suffer loss in differing quantities and how we deal with that depends on our personalities. None of it is easy.

The characters in this book are haunted, so the title is appropriate. She offers no miracle transcendental solution. These people learn to live and accept their lives. In so doing, I got a bittersweet sensation and closed the cover with a knowing smile. Yes, I see. You have to carry on with what you have and get the problems into perspective. And there is nothing you can do to turn the clock back or freeze time in a happy moment.

Ultimately, it is reassuring to know you are not alone with these emotions and you need to remember that others you meet will have had the same stuff going on, however they cloud or hide this away.

[Omer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolute gem of a tiny book. I am mesmerized by the poetic beauty and quiet poignance of the writing. Cannot wait to read more from Ms. Carson McCullers.

A sample:

"The twilight border between sleep and waking was a Roman one this morning: splashing fountains and arched, narrow streets, the golden lavish city of blossoms and age-soft stone. Sometimes in this semi-consciousness he sojourned again in Paris, or war German rubble, or Swiss skiing and a snow hotel. Sometimes also, in a fallow Georgia field at hunting dawn. Rome it was this morning in the yearless region of dreams.”

[Laura Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"His hand sought the adjacent flesh and sorrow paralleled desire in the immense complexity of love."

This sentence is printed on the first page of this tiny collection as well as closing the final story. Something about its phrasing or intonation left me, on first reading, stumped. Fifty small pages later I understand it. So many of the pains and pleasures of human existence are distilled into this fifty small pages that reading this has sent me in all different directions. I love Carson McCullers, I just wish she had written more.

[hans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penceritaan emosi dan perasaan dalam tiga babak. Kisah-kisah berlatar hal kekeluargaan dan perhubungan. Dramatik dan sunyi-- penulisan McCullers yang buka cara hidup tiga keluarga dalam tiga konteks perhubungan.

The Haunted Boy antara paling saya suka sebab cara McCullers ceritakan perasaan dan trauma Hugh tentang insiden bunuh diri ibu dia sehingga beri impak terror dan perasaan takut kehilangan itu sangat deskriptif. Ia satu cerita tentang kasih-sayang yang bagus. The Sojourner pula lebih bermain dengan emosi dan mencari kegembiraan. Tentang Ferris yang datang ke kota New York menghadiri pengkebumian ayahnya dan tak sengaja terjumpa bekas isteri bersama keluarga barunya. Ia kisah santai macam drama tv yang biasa kita lihat. Saya suka bagaimana McCullers selami hati Ferris dan buat dia luahkan perasaan tanpa sedar dalam bait-bait plot. Kisah terakhir, A Domestic Dilemma tentang kehidupan satu keluarga dengan seorang ibu yang alkoholik. Agak dramatik dengan perangai Emily yang buat saya agak menyampah. Tapi Martin yang penyabar dan tabah itu salah satu watak kegemaran saya di buku ini.

Buku pertama McCullers yang saya baca. Mungkin akan cari buku tulisan beliau lagi.

[Fatima Sheriff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might just be my favourite little Modern Classic yet, very easy to follow but so vivid in such short pages. So much to unpack in book club about gender roles, perceptions of mental health issues and the ambiguity of these supposedly healing moments. 4 stars because sometimes the flashbacks felt disjointed and took me out of the story, but then again, especially in the first, it could just be the thought process of a young protagonist, will have to reread and consider. There are also moments of profundity that felt more nothing on closer examination but then others that felt so poignant, it's a mixed bag but an enjoyable one either way.

[Joe Maggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant collection of short stories told from differing family perspectives in each of the three, from child to divorcé to tense husband and wife, all with classic post-war 50s/60s American setting weaved in. The first and last stories were my favourites - the anxiety of the child that pierced through The Haunted Boy resonated with me and the scenes excellently played out in the final story were tragically heartfelt.

[Sheila Uthaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first short story that affected my feeling immensely.
I felt the taunting feeling of that little boy.
The despair of fleeting moment felt through the man of time.
Walked the path of the father with uncertainty and clarity.

Each author wanted to leave everlasting impact on their reader. And this author did; for me at least.

[Prachi Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of short stories this year and McCullers might just have become one of my favourites. The book contains three stories, all beautifully written and hard hitting.

The Haunted Boy: ☆☆☆☆☆
The Sourjourner: ☆☆☆☆☆
A Domestic Dilemma: ☆☆☆☆☆

[Ninbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice 3 short stories. This book is mostly around family and love themed.