Clock Without Hands

Clock Without Hands is another fine example of McCullers' ability to quietly yet intensely probe into the mystery of the human psyche. Her work reminds me of Tennessee Williams at times. This novel deals with an old judge, his grandson and the presence of his dead son, a young Black man, and a pharmacist who is dying of leukemia. There is a revelation near the end of the story concerning the link between most of the characters, but it seems odd considering the Judge's personality and value systems. The last chapter, however, which concerns the pharmacist's worsening illness, is transcendant. An uneven McCullers tale is certainly better than none at all.

Written in 1953, this book explores the racial tensions in a small southern town. The winds of integration are in the air and the Old South is dying. The story is told through several characters. There's a pharmacist dying of leukemia who struggles with the diagnosis. There's a elderly judge who's a former congressman who really believes that the confederate money hoarded in his attic will some day bring him riches. There's the judge's grandson who sees changes coming. And then there's a young blue-eyed Negro who tries to be accepted. Carson McCullers is a master of setting the stage for this disturbing tale which is certainly not comfortable to read. Each of the characters is exaggerated but that is her intent. She lays out the conflict with surgical precision and creates a world that doesn't exist any more. It's a brutal world and all the sugar coated Southern niceties just don't help. There's violence in the air. I felt it coming throughout and hoped it wouldn't happen. But the conclusion is inevitable.Fine book. Fine writing. Recommended.

Geez...what can I say about this book? Well...I could start by saying that is was an excellent novel. Being 16 years old and all, this book really explained to me how some of the old southerners thought. They still had pride in the "old south" and it fascinated me that the old judge wanted Confederate money to be made redeemable into US dollars. I just could believe it. It portrayed racist, economic, and political issues in a very believable way. It was, all in all, emotional and it really had every emotion contained within it. At times it was funny. At times is was serious. Sometimes it was happy. Sometimes it was sad. It really gets you going once you read the first 10 pages. I liked it very much and do recommend it to everyone -- regardless of age.

Not as well known as "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", this is a beautiful story about small town politics and emotions in the South. McCullers has a talent for describing the dark side of humanity, what drives us and why. Emotions run high in this book where conservative judge, African-American piano player, local pharmacist, and others are connected to one another by unusual ties. It is a difficult book to find, highly recommended.