The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Signet Classical Books)

I think I added this book to my list when I saw @toddrobbins mark it was "to read," and I'm glad I did. After reading this, Mick and Mr. Singer became two of my favorite characters of all time. The depiction of queerness is really interesting and seems way ahead of its time for 1940, and the depiction of childhood is striking too (not to mention how the novel addresses both of these through the character of Mick).

Obviously had to read this after I read Jenn Shapland’s memoir, since I’d never read any McCullers, and holy hell is it good. Took me forever because it was so intense that I could only read it in bits.