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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
3.5 stars rounded down for a novel of ideas; a novel that I believe, once again, tried too hard to be deep. At times it was. At times it was spectacularly shallow. At times I don't know, because I don't have enough mathematical knowledge to understand if the author completely missed the point, or hit the nail squarely on the head.
I was worried after reading McCarthy's previous novels that I would struggle to connect with the female character. I needn't have anguished. I did struggle. Alicia was more a brain and a concept than a fully fleshed human being, and was most alive in her very few moments of vulnerability. Yes, the author did make me wish her incestuous love would have been fullfilled, mostly because he was able to create a longing that felt painfully real.
But the story is mostly philosophical, in the realms of "When We Cease to Understand the World"--and equally convinced that intelligence is linked to madness (I remain unconvinced). There were multiple points that made me pause, think, agree with the author. But also a lot of points I was dubious about, or felt they were plain wrong. I've heard so many interpretations of Pointcare's work from authors, I am convinced nobody in the literary scene has any bloody idea what the mathematician's work means. And for all the research the author obviously did, he also failed miserably in some areas. For e.g.
- The idea that music is a universal language has been at least partially refuted. There are recent studies suggesting there is a very strong cultural language necessary for understanding music. Certain arrangements that sound 'wrong' or false to a culture, sound exactly right to another. Minor scale compositions are not perceived at all the same way in cultures not familiar with them.
- The idea that mental illness is exclusively human is not supported by science. There is evidence of anti-social behavior in dolphins, of depression in other cetaceans. True that those animals are also likely to have a form of vocal language. But I was surprised to see that McCarthy's characters only discussed about written and auditory language as the only form of language. What about chemical language (feromones, etc). Visual language (some birds, underwater species). I think this was an oversimplification on the scale of calculus introduction vs complex differential equations--i.e. way out of the characters' (maybe also the authors'?) depth.
- The argument that children crying doesn't make evolutionary sense: I addressed why this is nonsense in the first (companion?) novel. No, it is not illogical. Dominant species, species at the top of the food chain, usually carnivorous but not only, give birth to offspring that can afford to be helpless and can afford to be loud. This was once again the author waxing poetically, and it felt as shallow in this iteration as it felt in "The Passenger."
I wish I could talk to a mathematician about this book. Or a physicist. It's worth revisiting.
I was worried after reading McCarthy's previous novels that I would struggle to connect with the female character. I needn't have anguished. I did struggle. Alicia was more a brain and a concept than a fully fleshed human being, and was most alive in her very few moments of vulnerability. Yes, the author did make me wish her incestuous love would have been fullfilled, mostly because he was able to create a longing that felt painfully real.
But the story is mostly philosophical, in the realms of "When We Cease to Understand the World"--and equally convinced that intelligence is linked to madness (I remain unconvinced). There were multiple points that made me pause, think, agree with the author. But also a lot of points I was dubious about, or felt they were plain wrong. I've heard so many interpretations of Pointcare's work from authors, I am convinced nobody in the literary scene has any bloody idea what the mathematician's work means. And for all the research the author obviously did, he also failed miserably in some areas. For e.g.
- The idea that music is a universal language has been at least partially refuted. There are recent studies suggesting there is a very strong cultural language necessary for understanding music. Certain arrangements that sound 'wrong' or false to a culture, sound exactly right to another. Minor scale compositions are not perceived at all the same way in cultures not familiar with them.
- The idea that mental illness is exclusively human is not supported by science. There is evidence of anti-social behavior in dolphins, of depression in other cetaceans. True that those animals are also likely to have a form of vocal language. But I was surprised to see that McCarthy's characters only discussed about written and auditory language as the only form of language. What about chemical language (feromones, etc). Visual language (some birds, underwater species). I think this was an oversimplification on the scale of calculus introduction vs complex differential equations--i.e. way out of the characters' (maybe also the authors'?) depth.
- The argument that children crying doesn't make evolutionary sense: I addressed why this is nonsense in the first (companion?) novel. No, it is not illogical. Dominant species, species at the top of the food chain, usually carnivorous but not only, give birth to offspring that can afford to be helpless and can afford to be loud. This was once again the author waxing poetically, and it felt as shallow in this iteration as it felt in "The Passenger."
I wish I could talk to a mathematician about this book. Or a physicist. It's worth revisiting.
3.5 stars***
A book following multiple therapy sessions is an extremely cool concept! I enjoyed the conversations around math, philosophy, and ideas around the root of mental health, but it’s sooooo wordy. I found myself spacing off multiple times and needing to reread sections. That being said, I didn’t read the sister book to this (The Passenger #1); reading that could very well change my mind. If I decide to read it, I’ll come back and edit this review.
If you’re able to get past the creepy and unethical sexual tension between the two main characters and want something that covers unique topics— give this one a go!
A book following multiple therapy sessions is an extremely cool concept! I enjoyed the conversations around math, philosophy, and ideas around the root of mental health, but it’s sooooo wordy. I found myself spacing off multiple times and needing to reread sections. That being said, I didn’t read the sister book to this (The Passenger #1); reading that could very well change my mind. If I decide to read it, I’ll come back and edit this review.
If you’re able to get past the creepy and unethical sexual tension between the two main characters and want something that covers unique topics— give this one a go!
Finishing this book and reading its final line the morning after Cormac McCarthy’s death is absolutely fucking gutting.
A great coda to The Passenger. I really loved reading Alicia's thoughts and perspectives on life, the universe and everything.
I am definitely not smart enough to have understood both these books. Need to look up a proper analysis.
My working hypothesis is that Alicia and Bobby are supposed to be fundamental particles made flesh.
Alicia is dark matter - not in any way willing to exist or have ever existed but still massively attractive for all around her, albeit highly troublesome.
Bobby is matter, still interesting but less so, smashed apart, probed, used and cast aside by the powers that be. He crashed a race car into a barrier - is that a particle accelerator? Afterwards all the mental bits of him come out and are explored by the other characters. Many of the characters he comes into contact with die - radiation poisoning? His energy is then entirely expended and he retires to a forgotten backwater.
Again, I could be a million miles off here but I feel like I'm within touching distance of something.
I am definitely not smart enough to have understood both these books. Need to look up a proper analysis.
My working hypothesis is that Alicia and Bobby are supposed to be fundamental particles made flesh.
Alicia is dark matter - not in any way willing to exist or have ever existed but still massively attractive for all around her, albeit highly troublesome.
Bobby is matter, still interesting but less so, smashed apart, probed, used and cast aside by the powers that be. He crashed a race car into a barrier - is that a particle accelerator? Afterwards all the mental bits of him come out and are explored by the other characters. Many of the characters he comes into contact with die - radiation poisoning? His energy is then entirely expended and he retires to a forgotten backwater.
Again, I could be a million miles off here but I feel like I'm within touching distance of something.
The second half of McCarthy Passenger series is a masterwork of Philosophical thought. Framed as a series of conversations between a patient that may be a danger to themselves and her assigned therapist, we see glimmers of the character we met in the first chapter of Passenger. What emerges is a brilliant but plagued portrait of a woman whose life has been a series of disappointments.
The question of who we are and what we mean to others is well explored, and filled with interesting facts and nuances of thought. Great wry wit as well!
If interested, I HIGHLY recommend the audio of this book, as the voice acting is sublime!
The question of who we are and what we mean to others is well explored, and filled with interesting facts and nuances of thought. Great wry wit as well!
If interested, I HIGHLY recommend the audio of this book, as the voice acting is sublime!
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even tho I knew what was coming, the end still managed to level me. I can’t put stars on this. Thank you Mr. McCarthy, this and its companion will be talking to me and peeling back their layers for years to come.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced