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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
The same sparse prose punctuated by soaring poetic passages that define McCarthy’s writing is present here. This, the third and final book in the Border Trilogy was my favorite of the three.
It's easy to see how this book was first written as a screenplay. A lot more dialogue and plot make this novel a departure from "The Crossing" and closer to "All the Pretty Horses." McCarthy's trademark fatalist leanings, cowboy mentality and beautifully spare language are still intact. As for the Epilogue, I thought it was tacked on at the end to wrap everything up in a philosophical dream-state that seemed disjointed from the rest of the book. Otherwise, I felt it was an unsettling and thought-provoking end to the trilogy, true to McCarthy's style.
I think this is a much more balanced book than The Crossing
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted this to be as great as its predecessors, and it’s okay that The Crossing is the gold of the series, but the story really dragged until Part 4. The ending is classic McCarthy strong, but I’m not sure we needed this third entry. I felt JGC was one-dimensional and wanted more from him. Billy, however, was great. I love that we never hear how the two met. Subverts a lot of expectations.
A bloody and depressing end to this trilogy. Probably my least favorite of the three, but that might just be because the first two set the bar very very high. It hit all the beats of a Cormac McCarthy novel.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've read that he wrote this book before the first two books of the trilogy and it shows, feeling like a pared down McCarthy book. There are hints of the lyrical prose he is known for, but it doesn't feel similar. It's still a meticulously crafted book that is a slow burn to gripping final chapters.
There is significantly more dialogue (with the lack of punctuation) than any of his other books I've read. But this works in a way, with the previous two books doing most the heavy lifting. The other books need to be read before this. Also some familiarity with Spanish might be good.
[b:All the Pretty Horses|469571|All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1)|Cormac McCarthy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373229549s/469571.jpg|1907621] and [b:The Crossing|365990|The Crossing (The Border Trilogy, #2)|Cormac McCarthy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327197531s/365990.jpg|1930437] both seemed to do a decent enough job tying up the storylines for Cole and Parham respectively, so this book does seem a bit superfluous. However, McCarthy was not done with these characters and we get to see the end game for them. In true McCarthy fashion, it's dark and gut wrenching.
3.75 stars.
There is significantly more dialogue (with the lack of punctuation) than any of his other books I've read. But this works in a way, with the previous two books doing most the heavy lifting. The other books need to be read before this. Also some familiarity with Spanish might be good.
[b:All the Pretty Horses|469571|All the Pretty Horses (The Border Trilogy, #1)|Cormac McCarthy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373229549s/469571.jpg|1907621] and [b:The Crossing|365990|The Crossing (The Border Trilogy, #2)|Cormac McCarthy|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327197531s/365990.jpg|1930437] both seemed to do a decent enough job tying up the storylines for Cole and Parham respectively, so this book does seem a bit superfluous. However, McCarthy was not done with these characters and we get to see the end game for them. In true McCarthy fashion, it's dark and gut wrenching.
3.75 stars.
A brilliant ending to the trilogy. I think this was my favorite of the three.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm really glad I waited a few months to finish the trilogy. I don't think my heart could have taken this story immediately after the crossing.