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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read for Close Reads 2021. I was glad to glad to have some “assigned” Cormac McCarthy reading because I have an idea it would have taken me a long time to pick up one of his works on my own. I give this 4 stars for the craft of his writing and the sometimes-startlingly vivid descriptions of the Texas and Mexico landscapes. The friendship in the book is also poignant. (For the entire book I saw/heard Matt Saracen & Landry from Friday Night Lights as John Grady Cole & Rawlins…) However, I can’t say I particularly enjoyed this book and was never especially excited to pick it up and read it. The plot was not very interesting to me, and I never felt attached or overly invested in the characters.
Probably my favorite book of McCarthy's. And he is one of my favorite authors. One of few books I've read (listened to) twice. Too many great aspects to cover. Here are a few, not in any order.
1. Frank Muller is probably my favorite narrator. He does not disappoint here.
2. The main character, basically a high-school kid, seems to represent a recently-bygone age and culture of independence, self-reliance and precocious maturity.
3. The interweaving of life stories.
4. The use of untranslated Spanish was a tasty ingredient in the mix. My own knowledge of very few words plus the clever contextual setting was sufficient and way more satisfying than the alternatives (all English or Spanish-followed-by-direct translation).
5. Horses and wrangler culture conveyed beautifully. Descriptions of seemingly routine activities were never dull.
6. Plot was perfect. Length was perfect. Language and style was McCarthy (i.e., perfect). When he waxes poetic, I think he's making up words but if so, you know what they mean and they should be real words.
1. Frank Muller is probably my favorite narrator. He does not disappoint here.
2. The main character, basically a high-school kid, seems to represent a recently-bygone age and culture of independence, self-reliance and precocious maturity.
3. The interweaving of life stories.
4. The use of untranslated Spanish was a tasty ingredient in the mix. My own knowledge of very few words plus the clever contextual setting was sufficient and way more satisfying than the alternatives (all English or Spanish-followed-by-direct translation).
5. Horses and wrangler culture conveyed beautifully. Descriptions of seemingly routine activities were never dull.
6. Plot was perfect. Length was perfect. Language and style was McCarthy (i.e., perfect). When he waxes poetic, I think he's making up words but if so, you know what they mean and they should be real words.
Cormac McCarthy never fails to amaze me. If I ever met the gentleman I'd probably shake his hand and then wrestle him to the ground and devour his brain.
There's something in his writing that's good for the soul and I mean that in a very literal way. He's not usually thought of like that as his subject matter is dark and his world view is borderline nihilistic (though I think that Nihilism is too simplistic to contain McCarthy). Indeed Blood Meridian is probably the most thorough catalogue of human ugliness I've ever come across.
But there is something so true in his stories and so beautiful in his prose that ever one of his novels refreshes in me something primal. I love the fact that through away vignettes such as Blevin's story about lightning and the aunts back-story could serve as the basis for the greatest novel in most author's entire careers, and here serve as throw away vignettes.
If you've never read McCarthy, I urge you to do so, and as this is his most accessible book it's a good place to start.
Fantastic.
There's something in his writing that's good for the soul and I mean that in a very literal way. He's not usually thought of like that as his subject matter is dark and his world view is borderline nihilistic (though I think that Nihilism is too simplistic to contain McCarthy). Indeed Blood Meridian is probably the most thorough catalogue of human ugliness I've ever come across.
But there is something so true in his stories and so beautiful in his prose that ever one of his novels refreshes in me something primal. I love the fact that through away vignettes such as Blevin's story about lightning and the aunts back-story could serve as the basis for the greatest novel in most author's entire careers, and here serve as throw away vignettes.
If you've never read McCarthy, I urge you to do so, and as this is his most accessible book it's a good place to start.
Fantastic.
I think I liked it....it was so strange. it didn't seem plot driven, more like the author liked a character and decided to let him out to play.....It didn't seem like he intended for any of the adventures (or the end), only that there would be a journey.
The Spanish speaking through-out would have been MUCH better with some serious translation or without so much talking. There were whole sections of the book I know I would have enjoyed much more had I had any idea what they were talking about. And, the whole point of a book is to NOT be tied to a computer, so I didn't seem much point in looking up each part.
I don't know that I want to read another book by this author though. While I liked his writing style, I didn't like the aimless feeling of his plot.
The Spanish speaking through-out would have been MUCH better with some serious translation or without so much talking. There were whole sections of the book I know I would have enjoyed much more had I had any idea what they were talking about. And, the whole point of a book is to NOT be tied to a computer, so I didn't seem much point in looking up each part.
I don't know that I want to read another book by this author though. While I liked his writing style, I didn't like the aimless feeling of his plot.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
slow-paced