The Violent Bear It Away

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away." Matthew 11:12

The Violent Bear It Away is one of the best books I have read in a while. Why is that? Probably because it was written by Flannery O'Connor and she rocks.

This is the story of Francis Marion Tarwater, a young boy destined to be a prophet. He is at once pulled towards that destiny and pushed away, as his Uncle Rayber tries to keep him from fulfilling what his great uncle Mason Tarwater said was his destiny, to baptize Rayber's developmentally disabled child, Bishop (born like this by God's will, he says, to keep Rayber from corrupting Bishop with his secular beliefs), and to "burn clean" Rayber's unbelieving eyes and mind. But it is a long road to destiny, and Tarwater is not about to be pushed into anything.

It is a dark story. Lots of religious imagery. It's masterfully written. One of those books which sets things up quickly and compels you through the rest with beautiful language and a desire to find out... Will Tarwater become a prophet? Will Bishop be baptized? Will Rayber be burned clean by the power and knowledge of God? It's excellent. A dark Southern story with enough humor to keep the story moving forward. It's a driving story. Everyone in it is so frightfully direct and delightfully purposeful. Yum.