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A Good Hard Look: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.04) - 701 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In Flannery O'Connor's hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia, reckless relationships lead to a tragedy that forever alters the town and the author herself.Crippled by lupus at twenty-five, celebrated author Flannery O'Connor was forced to leave New York City and return home to Andalusia, her family farm in Milledgeville, Georgia. Years later, as Flannery is finishing a novel and tending to her menagerie of peacocks, her mother drags her to the wedding of a family friend.Cookie Himmel embodies every facet of Southern womanhood that Flannery lacks: she is revered for her beauty and grace; she is at the helm of every ladies' organization in town; and she has returned from her time in Manhattan with a rich fiancé, Melvin Whiteson. Melvin has come to Milledgeville to begin a new chapter in his life, but it is not until he meets Flannery that he starts to take a good hard look at the choices he has made. Despite the limitations of her disease, Flannery seems to be more alive than other people, and Melvin is drawn to her like a moth to a candle flame.Melvin is not the only person in Milledgeville who starts to feel that life is passing him by. Lona Waters, the dutiful wife of a local policeman, is hired by Cookie to help create a perfect home. As Lona spends her days sewing curtains, she is given an opportunity to remember what it feels like to be truly alive, and she seizes it with both hands.Heartbreakingly beautiful and inescapably human, these ordinary and extraordinary people chart their own courses through life. In the aftermath of one tragic afternoon, they are all forced to look at themselves and face up to Flannery's observation that "the truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."
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"I guess I'm on a streak of reading fictional books about actual people. Flannery O'Connor is one of the main characters in this book, and she's just as strange as you imagine she would be. I liked the book... good, interesting characters. But like an O'Connor story, tragedy strikes quickly and pretty unexpectedly."
— Yancey (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Flannery O’Connor fans will be drawn to this fictionalized version of her later years as a strong-willed, deeply lonely genius.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“To brand this a quaint period piece…would be doing Napolitano’s evocative tale of friendship and community a disservice.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Napolitano makes no attempt to mimic O’Connor’s singular style, but she does succeed in creating a wholly believable world shaped by duty, small pleasures, and fateful choices.”
— O Magazine
Awards
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Selected for the July 2011 Indie Next List
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A 2011 NPR Best Book
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Recommended on Oprah’s Summer Reading List in 2011
A Good Hard Look Listener Reviews
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" Well-written; kept my attention; very picturesque telling of a thought-provoking story. Really intriguing way of bringing a real person into this novel as a key character. Look forward to discussing at our book club. "
— Cathy, 2/14/2014 -
" so many people loved this book. I did not. "
— Heatherherwig, 2/14/2014 -
" Good book about how life can change in a matter of minutes. Set in Milledgevile Ga and with Flannery OConner as a character, the well crafted story reminds me a little of Flannery's stories but the characters are able to redeem themselves in the end. Good read. "
— Carol, 2/9/2014 -
" Fictional account of the life of Flannery O'Connor, when she returns to Milledgeville, Georgia, from NYC. "
— Amy, 1/29/2014 -
" First book written by Ann Napolitano in Flannery O'Connor style that includes Flannery O'Connor as a character. Set in Milledgeville in the 1960s with quirky characters and a "typical" major plot twist half way through the book. Worth "A Good Hard Look!" "
— Shirley, 1/22/2014 -
" wonderfully written story centered around Flannery and Regina O'Connor - unclear how much is historical fiction and how much is just pure fiction. still researching... "
— Debby, 1/17/2014 -
" A wonderful book based on the lives of several people living in the same town as Flannery O'Connor. Great example of plots arcing and interweaving in a convincing and compelling way. I was drawn to care about each of the many characters, although especially O'Connor herself. "
— Susan, 1/15/2014 -
" Wasn't sure how I'd feel about Flannery O'Connor as a fictional character, but I enjoyed her place in this book. She was both outside of life but instigator of changes within the lives of an intriguing set of people. "
— Ashlea, 1/14/2014 -
" This story was as uncomfortable, perhaps more so, as one of Flannery O' Connor's. Although I will say the writing itself was good...I did not care for the story. "
— D, 1/1/2014 -
" Not gonna lie, I picked up this book solely for the peacock that adorns the cover. "
— Amanda, 10/23/2013 -
" Nice blend of history/ fiction "
— Lisa, 8/9/2013 -
" Although it took me a few chapters to get into it, this fictional tale about the small town where Flannery O'Connor lived is more than a great read--it's literature. "
— Alma, 8/8/2013 -
" I'm reading this for the BlogHer book review series, but am worried I won't finish in time! I do love me some Flanner O'Connor, though, even if she's just a character. "
— Jana, 6/14/2013 -
" this story sucks you in, while you feel like you know each character and can feel their emotions. You see everyone's point of view without judging them. Loved it. "
— Linda, 2/24/2013 -
" A Good Hard Look is on Oprah's summer reading list for July 2011. In addition, it has been selected as a July Indie Next List Pick and an Okra selection! "
— Cathy, 12/4/2012 -
" Fascinating how an author can weave a story around the life of another author. I enjoyed learning more about Flannery O'Connor. "
— Catherine, 6/25/2012 -
" THis is a fictional story based on the life of Flannery O'Connor. THe writing is beautiful and the story is well-crafted. I can't wait to read something else by her "
— Hollis, 2/12/2012 -
" Interesting premise, good story, overall a solid book. "
— Nancy, 2/3/2012 -
" I'd actually give this 3.5 stars. I liked it, and I disliked it. I liked the characters and the use of O'Connor's own themes, but there were elements that seemed "off" also. "
— Pattie, 12/17/2011 -
" This is a great book. The author beautifully channels Flannery O'Connor, and I'm inspired to read books by and about this Southern author. I was riveted. "
— Willow, 11/3/2011 -
" One of the best books I have read in a very long time. Thank you Erin. "
— Lois, 10/19/2011 -
" Characters are stark, story line melancholic, writing enjoyable. "
— Adelaide, 10/4/2011 -
" so many people loved this book. I did not. "
— Heatherherwig, 9/26/2011 -
" wonderfully written story centered around Flannery and Regina O'Connor - unclear how much is historical fiction and how much is just pure fiction. still researching... "
— Debby, 9/25/2011 -
" Wasn't sure how I'd feel about Flannery O'Connor as a fictional character, but I enjoyed her place in this book. She was both outside of life but instigator of changes within the lives of an intriguing set of people. "
— Ashlea, 9/17/2011 -
" It's well written, but at one point it gets real depressing very suddenly, and then never climbs back out of that ditch (at least, not far enough to really be satisfying). "
— Stephen, 9/15/2011 -
" Of the three fictional literary histories I've stumbled upon this year, this one featuring Flannery O'Connor is by far the most palatable and makes me want to re-read all her stories. Napolitano offers great insights on what motivated O'Connor to shed such a harsh light on her fellows. "
— Kathryn, 9/9/2011 -
" Liked these believable characters and the quick story. "
— Cathy, 9/8/2011 -
" Life in Milledgeville, in the early 1960's. Smoke pot, commit adultery, or get involved in local politics, take your pick. <br/> <br/>I do appreciate Mrs. Regina O'Connor much more and am interested in her life after reading this. "
— Melanie, 9/7/2011 -
" I love reading about authors, and this book with Flannery O'Connor as a main character prompted me to get out my copy of her collected stories. I enjoyed the way the author weaves O'Connor into this novel set in Milledgeville, Georgia. Very original. "
— Barbara, 9/5/2011
About Ann Napolitano
Ann Napolitano is the New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful, the 100th selection for Oprah Winfrey’s book club; Dear Edward, a Read with Jenna selection and an Apple TV+ series; A Good Hard Look; and Within Arm’s Reach. For seven years, she was the associate editor of the literary magazine One Story. She received an MFA from New York University. She has taught fiction writing at Brooklyn College’s MFA program, New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, and Gotham Writers Workshop.
About Debra Monk
Anne Rivers Siddons is a New York Times bestselling author who she has written works such as Sweetwater Creek, Islands, Nora Nora, Low Country, Up Island, Fault Lines, Downtown, Hill Towns, Colony, Outer Banks, King’s Oak, Peachtree Road, Homeplace, Fox’s Earth, and Heartbreak Hotel. Her novel The House Next Door was made into a made-for-television movie starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Colin Ferguson, and Lara Flynn Boyle. She and her husband, Heyward, split their time between their homes in South Carolina and Maine.