Anyone familiar with academic administration, departmental politics, or faculty committee dynamics knows that scholars tend to have an immunity to effectively accomplishing anything.
In Flannery O’Connor’s short story “The Comforts of Home,” Thomas, the main character, is such a person. He’s a historian faced with a serious domestic dilemma that requires shrewd relational navigation. It becomes increasingly clear that he isn’t up to it.
I had to laugh at the following lines in which O’Connor nails the academic type:
Thomas had inherited his father’s reason without his ruthlessness and his mother’s love of good without her tendency to pursue it. His plan for all practical action was to wait and see what developed.
Faith Improvised 
lamehousewife
love the Flannery…she had such a wonderful sense of humor…thank you and God bless…
timgombis
I love her honest depiction of human nature–it’s a bit dark, but it’s exactly how we are. Her dark humor is indeed wonderful.
lamehousewife
I have been reading a collection of her letters and my respect for her deepens with each page. The book is called “The Habit of Being” collected by Sally Fitzgerald. It is has been interesting to learn about what she thought about her own short stories, writing, books, life, and other things…