Read, Share, Enjoy: Classics and More! discussion

I'm two chapters in and love the atmosphere and character development. I've learned a lot about Biff (good guy!). McCullers teases with less info on the other characters, just enough to keep us wondering. Mr Singer and Jake are mysteries! And Mick, the young girl is certainly going to play a key role in whatever is going to happen! (o:

I have more than 1st impressions, I've read 2/3 of the novel so far. I'll try to avoid writing any "spoilers" though.
I think the novel has a lot of strengths, perhaps the largest being the well-written characters whose inner thoughts are so well-portrayed. There seems to be enough of a plot to satisfy, though that's not the main focus.
How do the characters perceive one another? The others seem to project what they want to see onto Singer. I don't think Singer seems to have an accurate perception of his deaf friend Antonopolis. I'm curious to see how this plays out.
I think I read this novel maybe 30 or more years ago but my memory of it is thin. There was a film of it, I believe, but I don't think my memories are all from that.

I just tried to start a new topic in the discussion but am unable to, because for some reason I can't verify my email address as required- perhaps my mail server blocking it.
I am about 90% through the novel now and am very impressed with it. It seems more contemporary than 1940 (except for the references to Hitler and Mussolini). I hadn't realized that a lot of it is a coming of age story of the girl Mick. So our group gets 2 of these this year!
At this point I ask myself what is/ are the themes of the story? I think it's a story of the difficulties people face in trying to have a good life, and the difficulties in having caring relationships. As others have noted it's remarkable how young McCullers was when she wrote this.

One of the comments mentioned that part of the brilliance of this book is the stories of struggles and dysfunctionality but void of sentimentality. This is one of the characteristics I think of when considering whether something falls into the Southern Gothic genre.

I just finished Heart is Lonely Hunter. I thought I had read it before, but I had not. What I read was the Ballad of the Sad Cafe by her. Anyway I am so glad I read this. Such a remarkable book of insights into such different people - so very sad - amazing from someone so young!
The title says it so clearly. Each person tries so hard to communicate his or her passion to someone, but in the end no one is really a good listener or really understands any of the others, though at times there is the possibility of real communication. In the end it is for nought.

I just finished it too and felt the same way Janet. Interesting that everyone gravitated towards John Singer thinking him a great listener and supporter simply because he expressed agreement with each person. Eveeyone cherished his friendship yet despite his popularity, he felt he had only one true friend who he missed so dearly. My favorite character was Portia but every character was described so richly. I felt like I was acquainted with all of them. I'm still mulling over the ending.

I'm not that far into the book yet, but I'm very intrigued with the mute character. He accepts the shortcomings or foleys of his companions in order to have companions. He cares deeply and gives a lot of himself in ways that seem unnecessary. It is very refreshing how he is respectful and caring and willing to help when it is not his responsibility to do so.

I just finished this. This is a book that will stay with me for some time.

I know it has been said before, but I have to say it again.... it's hard to believe she was so young when she wrote this. McCullers has such insight into disparate characters and such empathy.

So true.

I wrote a comment an hour ago that seems to have disappeared. Anyway I said I wonder why Singer never tried to share his own thoughts and feelings with anyone other than his deaf friend. He certainly knew how to write when he chose to.

My impression of Singer was that he only envisioned himself in a friendship with Spiros. He played the part of good listener which is what all his fans needed but I couldn't put my finger on his motive. He didn't seem to benefit from the interactions other than having company. When he told Spiros about the desperate people in the mill town, he described them more as oddities than friends. He was really stuck on Spiros, perhaps because it was the only close friendship he had known and probably related to Spiros who was also a deaf/mute. Singer looked up to Spiros (rather strange) the way the mill town people looked up to Singer. Perfect in the eyes of those who could only see the characteristics that appealed to them....but there was so much more going on.

That is a good question, Janet. My impression is he probably never felt that a hearing/speaking person would be truly empathetic to his thoughts and feelings. It's interesting to me that Spiros never really communicated (much) with Singer either - it is like he took on role of silent 'listener' that Singer played for the other characters.

All of the main characters in this novel are complicated (as people tend to be!) and there is so much open to interpretation.

Good points, Beth and Valerie. I am recalling the brief time that Singer met some other deaf people after Spiro died. At first he seemed excited to meet them but soon had nothing to share and left without any attempt to meet again. I think he was afraid to try at this point in his life to really interact fully with anyone. I wonder what his life was like as a young person and where he learned to sign....so many open ended things...such a good book!