The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor

Saturday, February 20th, 2010. I read pages 448 to 492. Perhaps my colleague is right and O'Connor is far too depressing, especially for February. Today's story was very dark. "The Lame Shall Enter First" is a devastating view of human beings at least the one in this story. I don't have the guts to be so powerful in my vision. I'm reminded of Margaret Atwood's comment about the democratization of writing classes. "Everyone," she wrote, "can dig a hole, but not everyone can be a gravedigger." In any case, I'm grateful and fortified by the courage it must have taken her to write the story. Quote of the day: "The question and the sight of Sheppard seemed to throw the boy into a fury. "To show up that big tin Jesus!" he hissed and kicked his leg out at Sheppard. "He thinks he's God. I'd rather be in the reformatory than in his house, I'd rather be in the pen! The Devil has him in his power. He don't know his left hand from his right, he don't have as much sense as his crazy kid!" He paused and then swept on to his fantastic conclusion. "He made suggestions to me!"