Book Review
“And he was suspended between radiance and darkness. Between bitter irony and faith.”
“It was the small of her back and her face that got so tired. Their motto was supposed to be ‘Keep on your toes and smile.’ Once she was out of the store she had to frown a long time to get her face natural again.”
“Jake turned the globe again and pressed his blunt, grimy thumb on a carefully selected spot. ‘Here. These thirteen states. I know what I’m talking about. I read books and I go around. I been in every damn one of these thirteen states. I’ve worked in every one. And the reason I think like I do is this: We live in the richest country in the world. There’s plenty and to spare for no man, woman, or child to be in want. And in addition to this our country was founded on what should have been a great, true principle—the freedom, equality, and rights of each individual. Huh! And what has come of that start?”
“And in addition to this our country was founded on what should have been a great, true principle—the freedom, equality, and rights of each individual. Huh! And what has come of that start? There are corporations worth billions of dollars—and hundreds of thousands of people who don’t get to eat. And here in these thirteen states the exploitation of human beings is so that—that it’s a thing you got to take in with your own eyes. In my life I seen things that would make a man go crazy. At least one third of all Southerners live and die no better off than the lowest peasant in any European Fascist state.”
Why write about The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter?
I still find this novel from 1923 incredibly timely for all living in the United States. Why?
Because the author acutely, captures the ongoing and vividly shameful inequality of poor Americans compared to rich Americans. A chronic lack of justice for poor citizens, and poorly educated because they live in economically depressed areas, insults all who witness it.
Intelligent, reasoning adults should be shocked that inequality continues to be more the norm than a something rare.
Best regards,
Deborah Taylor-French
Author, Blogger, Dog Advocate

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