Category: southern gothic

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“Everything Burns”: Facades and Identity in S.A. Cosby’s “King of Ashes”

Last year, I read three of S.A. Cosby’s novels (I still need to read Blacktop Wasteland), and I was instantly hooked. When I heard about his latest book, King of Ashes, I knew I had to pick up a copy and read it right away. Like My Darkest Prayer, Razorblade Tears, and All the Sinners Bleed, King of Ashes didn’t disappoint. As I read, I kept recalling why Cosby’s works engages … Read More “Everything Burns”: Facades and Identity in S.A. Cosby’s “King of Ashes”

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The Death of the Lost Cause in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Late Encounter With the Enemy”

Last post, I looked at the ways that Flannery O’Connor confronts the Lost Cause Narrative in “A Late Encounter With the Enemy.” Today, I want to expand upon that discussion some by looking, specifically, at the end of the story when we see Sally and George at her college graduation. In this scene, which takes up the latter quarter of the story, George sits … Read More The Death of the Lost Cause in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Late Encounter With the Enemy”

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“This ain’t us! We’re better than that!”: Denying Reality in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinners Bleed”

Inevitably, when some tragedy occurs, numerous voices rise up to proclaim, “This ain’t us! I can’t believe it — fill in the blank — happened here.” This line of thought requires blinders that work to shield individuals from the realities of the communities they inhabit. They see tragedies as happening elsewhere, outside of their own space. No matter what the tragedy, it’s always a … Read More “This ain’t us! We’re better than that!”: Denying Reality in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinners Bleed”

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“The devil can quote the Good Book”: Religious Bigotry in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinner’s Bleed”

A couple of years ago, I walked through the library looking for a book to read during the winter break. I kept seeing S.A. Cosby’s All the Sinners Bleed, and as I passed it, I thought, “Now is the time to give it a read since I’ll be able to read during the break.” I devoured the book on the way to Louisiana to visit … Read More “The devil can quote the Good Book”: Religious Bigotry in S.A. Cosby’s “All the Sinner’s Bleed”

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“I’ve always done what is right”

If you’ve been reading me for a while, you know that while I typically write essays, I occasionally write short stories. I’ve published “Paper,” “Adieu,” and “This Story is Continuing to Develop” here over the past few years. Today, I want to share another story that I wrote back in 2020. I’m not, really, a huge horror fan, but someone asked me to write … Read More “I’ve always done what is right”