Rating: 
Summary: Much ado about.....nothing?!
Review: A good filler, Reflections in a Golden Eye was kinda dissappointing to me. Though I liked McCullers' writing style the book just sort of ended without the story really coming together. I loved that she allows the reader to really get to know the characters, their past and present, but at closing I was left going "huh?". One minute you're riding along enjoying the scenery and the next minute you're the last man standing. At least it was short. I'll read more of McCullers works because I enjoyed her style, but if I could I would give this book 2 1/2 stars instead of 3. Maybe next time?
Rating: 
Summary: One of McCullers' masterworks
Review: Carson McCullers (a woman, by the way, despite another reviewer's assumption to the contrary) wrote much fiction involving the nature of love. She was never quite as romantic as that may sound: McCullers was one of the masters of the Southern Gothic genre, and Reflections in a Golden Eye is her best work. Her characters are stark and clear, her style crisp, and the action visible. While this is an easy novel to read in some senses, it is more of a prose poem in a novel form. The story deals with two couples on a drab and dull Army base and a young private's animalistic "awakening." His awakening coincides with those of the Captain and the Major's frail yet strong-willed, and bordering-on-insane, wife (whom McCullers seems to identify with most). McCullers dips in the consciousnesses of the five major characters and the result is chillingly beautiful. It's a shame this, McCuller's second novel and most unique of all her works, is out of print.
Rating:
Summary: One of McCullers' masterworks
Review: Carson McCullers is a great writer. She did not only write about love.In this novel she reflects some aspects of human condition and creates and atmosphere of individulity. why homosexuality? because she shows a character that has a internal conflic and does not know what to do with this feeling. Captain Penderton fall in love with private Williams and he can not express his desire towards him so the society where he lives is intoletant and it would not understand him. The army post in this case is a microcosm of that society.Carson McCullers was brave to write about this topic in the novel, where atmosphere and characters are related very close.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, But Too Short
Review: I was able to read this book in about two hours. The short read time is my only complaint about this extremely interesting and mind stimulating story.It deals with very interesting and complex characters. We have the two military couples, both of which have very bad marriages. The first because the husband (the Major) just shuts out his sickly wife. The second because the husband (the Captain) is an intellectual who seems to have married a fairly simple-minded woman whose only interests lie in material things and the carnal spirit. The four of them are drawn together in a weird relationship where the Major is having an affair with the Captain's wife. Both the Captain and the Major's wife know about the affair but seem to enjoy the get-togethers for Bridge and parties that the couples constantly happen together. Meanwhile, the Captain's wife is being watched by a very strange enlisted man, who the Captain both hates and seems to be attracted to at the same time. The enlisted man spends nights watching the Captain's house to get a glimpse of the Captain's wife. Eventually, he starts to regularly enter the house to watch over the sleeping form of the Captain's wife. The Major's wife seems to be worshipped by her Phillipino servant. Her additional confidante is an army lieutenant who she knits sweaters for. A great deal seems to be hinted at (ex. The sexuality of the Captain), but never fully explained, probably because most of the subject matter was considered very risque when the book was written. I really wish this book could be written in an expanded form. All the characters seemed very complex and the life and psyche of each could be greatly explored in a much larger book. I also think there is a lot of fodder to foster some really good University discussions on each of the characters. I wish we had explored this book when I was in college.
Rating:
Summary: Not her best
Review: Its a dream like EXPERIENCE of sadness and whats its like to be, REGRET REMORSE,internal inferno churning seein eyesclock tick marvelous suspense leading up build up suspence regret , EYE I CLICK TICK TICK, IN THE LITTLE WIERDLY BENEATH THE SURFACE PANARAMO THREE HUNDED DEGREES FLLEING MERRY GO ROUND EXHILIRATION in opposition to wierd whats in the world all told in a MORE real SENCE, SAD AUTUMN CRUETY MOMENTS OF CLEARTY THE HUMAN CONDITIONED ,cordinates scattered IN four directions MAP LIKE IN ITS UNfolding, VERY PRECISE TRAP ,LIE PRYIN OPEN, WITH NERVOUS FINGERS FIDGETY, MONSEROUS SHADES OF INFINITE IN FALLS ,SPRINGS OF MECHANISM COILED IN STILL NESS, FORCES OF domestic, placid , PLACEMATS,clearly described,rooms of comfort and rituals fossilized in ON THE SURFACE SIMPLE CLEAR WORDS THAT DANCE with meaning inexplicably , half way to insanity clear,just a tint of paganism barbed in diction flush cheeks of barbarism ,bathed in civility civil seville, SIN FORCES OF LOVE, LUST , CAGED AND BURNING,forces animal that cant be given their moments of flyght without consuming, or giving out and widing like CLOCKS NEEDING TO BE TURNED WIND UP TO awaken ALARMS,given their deeds done,CORRUPTION WE FOLLOW their footsteps, as they go where, all fallen all HALLOW, like a voyeour WE READ, AN ELABORATE LITERATE GAME OF CHESS,COMPOSED , from a genuis masterr story TELLER women CARSON MCcullers,
Rating:
Summary: smoldering story of lives in self-destruct mode...
Review: One would expect a 20-something year old in 1940s southern USA to be all prim and nice, with no knowledge of such things as deep emotional trauma and burning homosexual desires. Well Carson McCullers defied conventional wisdom and not only was aware of such matters but deftly encapsulated it in a short, brutal novel. Reflections in a Golden Eye is a painful examination of the wrecked lives of two couples (, and other characters, ) on a military base in the South. There is little in the way of action or story per se, but it is her examination of characters which makes this novel such a winner. This novel is not for everyone. It is rather depressing, with everyone leading neurotic lives. No happy endings, and one has to wonder if there is moral to the story. But those who can tolerate looking at the world without wearing rose-colored glasses will appreciate this masterful work. PS - the novel is MUCH better than the film. And I enjoyed it better than her other famous novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Rating:
Summary: smoldering story of lives in self-destruct mode...
Review: One would expect a 20-something year old in 1940s southern USA to be all prim and nice, with no knowledge of such things as deep emotional trauma and burning homosexual desires. Well Carson McCullers defied conventional wisdom and not only was aware of such matters but deftly encapsulated it in a short, brutal novel. Reflections in a Golden Eye is a painful examination of the wrecked lives of two couples (, and other characters, ) on a military base in the South. There is little in the way of action or story per se, but it is her examination of characters which makes this novel such a winner. This novel is not for everyone. It is rather depressing, with everyone leading neurotic lives. No happy endings, and one has to wonder if there is moral to the story. But those who can tolerate looking at the world without wearing rose-colored glasses will appreciate this masterful work. PS - the novel is MUCH better than the film. And I enjoyed it better than her other famous novel The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
Rating:
Summary: AS DARK AS DARK CAN BE, I CERTAINLY MUST SAY...
Review: The edition of this novel that I own is the one with the introduction written by Tennessee Williams - and that introduction makes a lot of valid points about the novel itself, the darkness that it contains (or attempts to contain - this depth of darkness burns through boundaries), and the reception it received upon its original publication. On this last topic, it should be noted that the novel (her second) was not nearly as well received as McCullers' debut masterpiece, THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER. Williams points out - and rightly so - that `...in her second novel the veil of a subjective tenderness...was drawn away.' What readers and critics were left with was a chilling - and compelling - portrait of six people wrecking together at a fog-shrouded emotional intersection in their lives. It's not a pretty sight - but McCullers' incredible writing simply will not allow us (or her characters) to turn away. The characters slam together completely out of emotional control - mainly because none of them really know themselves deeply enough to understand what they're feeling or experiencing. It's excruciating - and fascinating - to watch. The book may not have been well received critically when it was new - but time has shown McCullers' talents to be long lasting. She is truly one of the giants of 20th century literature.
Rating:
Summary: Reflections in a Golden Eye Review
Review: The main character in this story is Private Ellgae Williams. It is set in an Army Post. Private Ellgae Williams is a shy but determined young man. He is very dedicated to the army and his assigned work. Even when not on duty the private likes to hang around the post. The antagonists in this story are Captain Penderton and his wife. Captain Penderton is a very hostile man. He comes off as a strong man, but in reality he is very weak. He is a coward in many ways, he never stood up for himself especially to his wife. Mrs. Penderton isn't a modest person at all. She is the strong person in the family and takes advantage of that in every way. She is the kind of person that runs around on her spouse and doesn't even think twice about it. Carson McCullers used flashbacks in this book as well as metaphors. She portrayed real problems that happen in real life. McCullers did a very good job on this piece of work. The way she described the characters, I could picture each one, vividly. McCullers did a very good job at proving that the world was not only all about the "American Dream" and the people's goals toward that, but also the ones that rebelled and were not afraid to do the unusual. If you like books with twists and turns from the usual plots then you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: Reflections in a Golden Eye Review
Review: The main character in this story is Private Ellgae Williams. It is set in an Army Post. Private Ellgae Williams is a shy but determined young man. He is very dedicated to the army and his assigned work. Even when not on duty the private likes to hang around the post. The antagonists in this story are Captain Penderton and his wife. Captain Penderton is a very hostile man. He comes off as a strong man, but in reality he is very weak. He is a coward in many ways, he never stood up for himself especially to his wife. Mrs. Penderton isn't a modest person at all. She is the strong person in the family and takes advantage of that in every way. She is the kind of person that runs around on her spouse and doesn't even think twice about it. Carson McCullers used flashbacks in this book as well as metaphors. She portrayed real problems that happen in real life. McCullers did a very good job on this piece of work. The way she described the characters, I could picture each one, vividly. McCullers did a very good job at proving that the world was not only all about the "American Dream" and the people's goals toward that, but also the ones that rebelled and were not afraid to do the unusual. If you like books with twists and turns from the usual plots then you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
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