Review: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the sad story of a deaf-mute set in a 1930s mill town. John Singer's best friend, another deaf-mute is taken away to an institution and he finds himself surrounded by a group of misfits at his boarding house. Mick is a young girl that dreams of being a musician. Portia is the housekeeper and cook, her father is a local doctor. Jake is a wild drunken guy who works at the local carnival. Each person and their family faces adversity that they simply can't overcome.

This book is indicative of life in depression-era mill towns in the south. Everyone is always struggling to get by and just never seem to get ahead. Everyone has a dream that never seems to be realized. Life was hard and family and friends are often what got you through each day. This is a sad book, but it gives the reader an idea of what life was like during the depression.

I do like McCullers writing. You tend to get attached to some of the characters, so their fates cause a bit of a sinking feeling toward the end of the book. I was hopeful throughout the book, but ultimately I was left heartbroken for a couple of the characters.

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