Week 2 The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

I have continued reading “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter”.  I’m happy to say that things are picking up with the plot, although I am still unsure what the whole point of this story is. It’s clear by now that John Singer is the central character, even if he only appears for a short while he seems connected to every other person that the story focuses on in some way. Mr. Brannon’s part of the story ends with the drunk man (Mr. Blount) getting into a fight with someone on the street, many people are alarmed and he barely talks his way out of getting taken away by the cops. John Singer, the mute also makes an appearance by offering the man a place to stay. I wonder why John takes in this man without much thought, it seems like an incredibly considerate thing to do. Maybe John is just lonely now that his only friend is gone? Or is John simply that nice of a person that he would invite a random and very drunk stranger to stay with him? Maybe he has more sympathy for people than most because of his condition.

Once again the book decides to split off into someone else's point of view. This time focusing on Mick, a young girl who lives in the same building as John Singer. Mick to me is a very interesting character. She is young, although it never says her age I would guess she is at least 13 years old. Mick seems to a quite a tomboy, wearing shorts and keeping her hair short, and she seems quite immature yet at the same time smart. Her section starts with Mick taking care of her two younger brothers and taking them outside so she could explore a house that was being built. She starts by leaving her brothers outside and smoking a cigarette, writing swear words on the walls of the house and then finishing with writing the names of composers like Mozart. To me this part seemed really important to Mick’s character. This girl is young, trying to be rebellious and yet she loves classical music, even to the point of trying to make her own instruments so she can play. Throughout the whole section I noticed there was no mention whatsoever of Mick’s parents, I’m guessing this has a lot to do with her rebellious attitude. I was disappointed when the her section came to an end with still no mention of her parents...or why she is living in a house that is rented out to many other people as well. Mick’s section ends with her watching John Singer go up to his room, it seems she is curious about him and wants to be friends...but I’m not sure why this is.

For now I wonder how long this book will go on switching characters, will I get to read about someone again or with it go to third person after everyone has been covered? What will be the connection between everyone and will it be dramatic or just a simple friendship between them all? I will continue reading this simply because I am curious as to why this story has even been written, what was the point that the author was trying to get across?