Everything That Rises Must Converge – Flannery O’Connor

Rating: 3/5

Lost References:

Jacob is reading this book as Anthony Cooper pushes Locke out a window.

Thoughts:

This collection of short stories (named for one of the stories within) recycles a few recurring themes. Primarily, O’Connor deals with family issues, racism (especially in the Deep South), and ungratefulness. She also fixates on religion, a very specific kind that turns up in other works of hers, such as The Violent Bear it Away. This brand of religion is not one that most people would be familiar with – it’s basically crazy people with occasional violent deeds throwing stock religious phrases into conversations and yelling a lot. None of her characters are particularly appealing, but some are insightful cross-sections of major human flaws, usually the main protagonists. It makes sense for Lost, though. Obviously, everyone in the show has family issues, including Jacob. Lost also has frequent references to many religions, including various forms of Christianity.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain

Rating: 3/5

Lost References:

Anthony Cooper took the alias Sawyer because “Huck Finn had already been taken.” James Ford then stole the name from him.

Thoughts:

This story is about an all-American boy with an imagination, mischief, and adventures. Perhaps because I can’t relate, I don’t find it particularly exciting. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not a page-turner.