Everything That Rises Must Converge

By: Flannery O’Connor

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot, Karen White, Mark Bramhall, Lorna Raver

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

This collection of nine short stories by Flannery O'Connor was published posthumously in 1965. The flawed characters of each story are fully revealed in apocalyptic moments of conflict and violence that are presented with comic detachment.

The title story is a tragicomedy about social pride, racial bigotry, generational conflict, false liberalism, and filial dependence. The protagonist, Julian Chestny, is hypocritically disdainful of his mother's prejudices, but his smug selfishness is replaced with childish fear when she suffers a fatal stroke after being struck by a black woman she has insulted out of oblivious ignorance rather than malice.

Similarly, “The Comforts of Home” is about an intellectual son with an Oedipus complex. Driven by the voice of his dead father, the son accidentally kills his sentimental mother in an attempt to murder a harlot.

The other stories are “A View of the Woods”, “Parker's Back”, “The Enduring Chill”, “Greenleaf”, “The Lame Shall Enter First”, “Revelation”, and “Judgment Day”.

Flannery O'Connor was working on Everything That Rises Must Converge at the time of her death. This collection is an exquisite legacy from a genius of the American short story, in which she scrutinizes territory familiar to her readers: race, faith, and morality. The stories encompass the comic and the tragic, the beautiful and the grotesque; each carries her highly individual stamp and could have been written by no one else.

©1956 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965; renewed 1993 by the Estate of Mary Flannery O’Connor (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“The current volume of posthumous stories is the work of a master, a writer's writer—but a reader's too—an incomparable craftsman who wrote, let it be said, some of the finest stories in our language." ( Newsweek)

“All in all they comprise the best collection of shorter fiction to have been published in America during the past twenty years.” ( Book Week)

“When I read Flannery O'Connor, I do not think of Hemingway, or Katherine Anne Porter, or Sartre, but rather of someone like Sophocles. What more can you say for a writer? I write her name with honor, for all the truth and all the craft with which she shows man's fall and his dishonor.” (Thomas Merton)

Gut wrenching stories and compelling performances

If you are not familiar with O'Connor your life is not complete. If you know her work you will love these performances.

Flannery O'Connor is the best!!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Everything That Rises Must Converge to be better than the print version?

By Far, the audio edition is so much better. The stories are so well written, but the narrators made me feel like i was acttually there

What other book might you compare Everything That Rises Must Converge to and why?

I'm not sure. Ms. O'Connor's stories are so unique in the way they are written, I don't think I've ever read a book or story quite like hers before! But they are totally worth the time to read!!!! I LOVE HER STORIES!!!!

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The narrators really brought the characters to life! Each character had their own unique personality throughout the story!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Some stories I cried, some stories I gasped, some stories I was like "WHAT!!!!"

Any additional comments?

Bravissimo

Fallible human characters from the Deep South

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would certainly recommend this audiobook. The tales of Flannery O'Connor really do reveal the subtle hypocrisies and prejudices of even the best, most likeable people. All are too human in the O'Connor universe and none can escape the revelation or epiphany that she has planned for them.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the excellent work of all the voice artists. I was conveyed to the Deep South of the Fifties by their superb acting.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrators bring a sense of real live actual people by the way they speak. It was easy to visualize the characters.

If you could take any character from Everything That Rises Must Converge out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I would take the tattoo man out to dinner. I would want to understand his obsession with covering every inch of his body as well as why he chooses to stay with his plan, dull wife.

Masterful in writing and execution

I could go on and on about O'Connor's genius, how she is a modern titan of literature and whatnot; instead I will say she is a personal favorite of mine and heartily recommend this collection of short stories as an excellent starting ground for those looking to see her beauty and terror for the first time. The narration is, for the most part, near equal to the words in impeccable and gripping delivery, particularly on the title story.

Mark Bramhall steals the show

Bramhall's range is remarkable, his skill in deftly weaving from African American men to poor white men to women to kids is amazing. And his narrator is strong. Well done for the most part by the other three narrators.

This is my first stab at Flannery O'Connor who I've long heard is a writer's writer. I found that her language was exquisite but I wasn't taken by each of the stories. Overall enjoyed it.

Awesome reading

A wonderful performance from this wonderful civil rights era novelist. An essential read for Southern writers.

Incredible

Excellent stories, excellent narration, highly recommend, Flannery O’Connor is a great writer. Three thumbs up.

a good collection of short stories

This book was another choice off of my usual path. I was not dissapointwd, nor was I overly impressed. These stories were written in a time where ethnic diversity wasnt so translucent. The stories today wouldn't be as easily accepted as pointing out flaws of individual personalities. The stories would end up on shows like the "the view" being lambasted as hateful and demonstrating the most disdainful of personal opinions. The more educated type of persons will see these stories as something to learn, perhaps reflect upon and accept them as another piece of literary work. I hope you are the later and take a chance to read these for the experience of your reaction that you can learn from.

Brilliant Writing

Flannnery O'Connor is probably the best writer the South has ever produced. In this collection she draws unforgettable characters, with her masterful use of language and an ingenious ear for dialogue. The performances are wonderful, some of the best I've heard. This is not just entertainment, although it certainly entertains, but literature. Very much worth the listen.

Narration is a problem, stories are great

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The stories read by Karen White are unbearable, and I skipped them. The other narrators are wonderful and make the stories come to life.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book! Stories read by Karen White are difficult to listen to.