Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: A boring book about lonely people and the things lonely people do (nothing). The photo on the cover of the book is perfect, and sums up the feeling through the entire book.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow going at first, rewarded at the end!
Review: After hearing everyone's glowing reviews, and being so excited to start reading this book- after reading Part 1 of this book, I was ready to give up. However, I'm glad I picked it up again a few days later & finished it. Still, the book was not quite what I envisioned, and it does not make my list of favorite books. But I realize I'm not much of a "classic novels" reader, so that probably had a lot to do with how I felt about this book. I enjoyed the premise of this town full of misfits; a drunk, a bar-keep, a teenage girl who's an outsider, a deaf mute and a repressed black doctor- all of which who made excellent characters. And once the stories of these people really got going, in part 2, I was enjoying the reading. It's just that part one really sets the stage for each of these characters, so it's not very exciting reading. And also, it took me a while to get into Carson's writing style, which is a bit unique- for instance, there were times when her sentence structure was kind of backwards. I'm not sure if this is because that's how they spoke in the 40's, or if it's McCullers's dialect. I will say that this book did have some very poetic thoughts and prose. There were several profound things, and it made the reading all the more worthwhile. I do recommend this book for reading- just with the warning that part 1 is slow going, but if you make it that far, you'll be rewarded in part 2 & 3. I don't want to give anything away about this story, so I'll leave it there.
Rating: 
Summary: many shades of gray
Review: Besides this book, I have read "A Member of the Wedding" by Carson McCullers. It is very striking to me that when I read each of these books, my mental images of the characters and settings were in black and white. Well, really, I saw it all play out in shades of gray. The people and places in this book are dark, often dirty, lowly, depressed, depressing and teetering on the verge of hopelessness.
The title aptly states the novel's theme; the overriding feeling of the book is stark loneliness. The characters cannot connect with one another - even when they are trying very hard to do so. They don't have authentic relationships even when they think that they have found a soul mate. Each of them wants to share his or her inner-most truths, and without exception they are impotent in their attempts. They each have things that they want to do, talents that they want to express. In each case, they can't or don't overcome their personal burdens to reach their goals or to achieve any sort of success. In the end, they are each alone with little hope for a more fullfilling life.
The book is very well written. Each chapter is written as a stream of consciousness of one of 4 main characters who each move the story forward a (very tiny) bit. This book is all about characters. It is definitely NOT about plot. McCullers remains stylistically consistent throughout, which seems to be quite an accomplishment in this very ambitious first novel.
For me, reading this book is a literary accomplishment. I can check off another classic from my list of books to read. However, it was not a book that I found enjoyable. I would suggest that ambitious readers should tackle it. Its style, mood and characters are very effectively created and sustained. On the other hand, if you prefer plot, uplifting or hopeful themes, happy endings or characters that grow or overcome their limitations, you may not want to spend your reading efforts on this book.
Rating:
Summary: I don't recommend that one.
Review: First of all, I would like to praise Carson McCullers for writing that such poise and character exposition but she labeled Deaf characters wrong. As a deaf invividual, I am a culturally and literally novel reader and a teacher of Deaf studies at a community college. I want to clear about real Deaf people in the United States and their perspectives. First, I want to present myths about deafness and its facts. Here is a lisdt of the following myths and facts below: Myth#1: Deaf people are sucidial. They tend to be lonely and uncommunicative among the majority of hearing people.
Fact: A very tiny percent of Deaf people are sucidial. They are basically happy human beings. Many of my friends have decent lives along with good jobs, houses, and even cars. In 1950's, there was the very same situations in which we live in today. They do usually communciate with hearing people by writing on pads, speeching, using thru interpreters, and gesturing. Myth#2: Deaf people are slow learners because they can't hear nor speak well.
Fact: There's no significent co-relation on intelligence between the hearing people and the deaf counterparts. Most of Deaf people can read and write in despite of any hearing loss and muteness. Again, there is a small minority of deaf people who have mental health histories or emotional disturbances. They do everything except hearing. Myth#3: All deaf people can lipread.
Fact: Not all deaf people can do it well. They can only master lipreading skills up to 30% of all words they can detect. The most skilled lipreader can detect up to 70%. Therefore, lipreading is not a very good communication strategy. The best way to communicate is to write on pads or using a certified interpreter. Myth#4: Many deaf people are somewhat lonesome or isolated because they don't like hearing people.
Fact: Most deaf people seek for another deaf people in big cities or towns that contain residential schools for the deaf. They can be lonely if you don't let them go what they want. It considers an act of oppression if you keep them at bay from interacting with other deaf people. They do like hearing people as long as they respect their independence and well-being. You can make friends if you are willing to learn sign language. They would appreciate if you show your efforts to talk with them. If they feel somewhat lonely, they would move to the communities where many deaf people work and live without question. I don't know why that such deaf characters decided to stay in that town and let it happened to them. Myth#5: Deaf people seek for your mercy or help.
Fact: Again, the majority of Deaf people don't ask for your mercy or help. They are proud and fierce independents. They don't usually beg for money. Peddling is unacceptable today but in the past, they had good reasons to do that because they hardly find decent jobs everywhere. How can they support themselves if you don't offer them? During 1950's, they usually were skilled workers. They did printing newspapers, assembly lines, and driving deliveries. They earned decent wages and salaries, too. Overally, I want to make a clear and simple emphasis to you that not all Deaf people are lonely, unintelligent, uncommunicative, poor, or emotional. So I consider that novel is still invalid and stereotypical. I recommend that you should read other reading materials about Deaf culture and its history and arts which represent more positive and bright sides instead of that rubbish unrealistic novel. Carson, who is in a Heavenly place, I want to let you know that I do appreciate your writing style with good insights about other people in the South but you should have to study deaf people more carefully before starting writing. Sorry, Carson. Hugs.
Rating:
Summary: a master of words with nothing to say
Review: I bought this paperback--though I'd never heard of it--to occupy me when I was knocked off my feet, and was glad to find it very entertaining. I was very impressed with McCullers' keen observation of people and found myself laughing out loud more than once. Reading something written in the thirties and noticing what has changed and what hasn't was quite interesting. However, I mistakenly awaited finding out "the point" to it all. When I read the end of the book, I found there was no point. I don't believe, as some do, that this book is about communism (though one of the characters certainly is all about communism.) McCullers was so young when she wrote this book that I don't fault her for not having anything to say...who does at that age? She was an extremely talented writer, but I can't fathom that this book would become classic literature. Be prepared to read to the end and think, "That's it?" (Or just stop reading at any convenient point prior to the ending.)
On a side note, if you are looking for a feel-good book or a happy ending, keep looking.
Rating: 
Summary: Worthy of a place on your book shelf
Review: I consider The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter to be a classic novel. It certainly is a masterpiece. The setting of the story is down south in Georgia. The era is during the Great Depression. This was an era of racial tension especially in the south, but as is often the case in the novel, music proved to be a strong source of solace and passions are stirred to add vigor to the romantic side of things. Even though they lived in a delicate world of their times, the characters live their lives oblivious of the constraints around. The strength of spiritual isolation is strong and mirrors the reality of mankind. The novel portrays the purpose of man in his God-given role on earth. This is a novel that will be enjoyed by generations to come. Just like DISCIPLES OF FORTUNE, this book carries a deep message.
Also recommended: THE USURPER AND OTHER STORIES, THE IDIOT
Rating:
Summary: Starts out good, fizzles not even half way through
Review: I tried reading this book after hearing about all the hoopla on Oprah and was dissapointed. The book started out very interesting when it discussed the two mutes who were roommates and friends and then jumped to several other characters in some sort of boarding house... I stopped half way and moved on to something else. The book is not worth buying but maybe a good one to pick up at the local library...
Rating:
Summary: Art Takes Effort!
Review: I was disturbed to read so many negative reviews of Carson McCullers' The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter. This book is one of the finest works of literature in the American canon. Oprah's bookclub has lately been doing the admirable work of resurrecting old classics - McCullers WAS, in fact, quite the sensation among her contemporaries. I feel that Heart' is the book around which all of McCuller's other pieces orbit. I'll agree with a few other reviewers in saying that this is not an action book, it is not "funny train station" literature, and the impetus is psychological, and often quite intangible. As a master's degree student in writing at Sarah Lawrence College, I love this book. As a high school student, I adored it. People picking up something for fluffy entertainment value should probably not read this book. People looking to experience a different kind of life, to read a beautifully written social commentary, to experience psychological empathy pertaining to the human condition...those people should read this book. It's great writing. Don't bash it because it's not your type of reading material. To drive my point into the ground, people who enjoy authors in the vein of Flannery O'Connor, Katherine Anne Porter, Tennessee Williams, Anne Tyler, Annie Proulx, Katherine Dunn, William Faulkner, Harper Lee, possibly Jeanette Winterson...these readers, and readers looking for great literature, should sample Carson McCullers.
Rating:
Summary: I agree - its BORING
Review: I wish I would have read these reviews before I picked up the book at the local booksellers. I kept waiting for something good to happen, but alas... it never got to the level I expected. :(
Rating:
Summary: Garbage
Review: It's old communist propaganda. It didn't have any deep insight into anyone or anything. At the end we're supposed to feel something for the drama of a teenager who wanted to be a composer losing this nonexistent-never would have happened under the best scenerios "chance," and rather deadening creatively, because she had to go to work at a store.
I mean what? We're supposed to feel like we're losing great composers because some teen emotionally wants to be one? The ole "If *I* feel it than it must be a *big deal.*
I can't stand this old communist propaganda. A great it is not. A classic it is not.
You're supposed to find a deaf male especially "haunting." He is presented to us as this rather "poetic" and "surreal" deaf mute surrounded by stray people. He isn't.
I was bored stiff.
One of the strays is a doctor. His children are a bunch of scum that only communism could have saved. The "injustice of it all" theme. One goes on to being horribly mutilated and tortured in a prison. And he was lucky, because as we all know communists in power would have sent him to a death camp in Siberia. He'd have been one of those 40 million people along with the authoress, the wannabe composer, the deaf mute, the doctor etc.
Who is kidding who here trying to present this old communist book as anything other than what it is?
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