Take a photo of a barcode or cover
justinsdrown 's review for:
The Orchard Keeper
by Cormac McCarthy
The Orchard Keeper doesn't get read enough. Readers must have apprehension because it's McCarthy's first book. No need to worry. Cormac arrived on the scene as good as any author in the world. While writing this he had a chip on his shoulder. A traumatic childhood with his father drove him to prove his worth with this first work. Because of these factors McCarthy is straightforward compared to his later novels.
That straightforwardness is a treat for long time readers. Cormac’s exact meanings are often buried in the text or esoteric symbolism. In The Orchard Keeper he puts the meaning right up front. With a final few sentences driving that meaning home. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot to chew on here. This is the author at his most descriptive.
Even more so than All the Pretty Horses. You get lush, poetic descriptions of the outdoors that will have you stopping to reread. I dare you to read this and not want to take a long hike. The Orchard Keeper’s nature writing is reminiscent of John Muir. It’s in this novel you get a full understanding for McCarthy’s love for the outdoors and men of the mountains. And his disdain and apocalyptic messaging for modern technology.
That straightforwardness is a treat for long time readers. Cormac’s exact meanings are often buried in the text or esoteric symbolism. In The Orchard Keeper he puts the meaning right up front. With a final few sentences driving that meaning home. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a lot to chew on here. This is the author at his most descriptive.
Even more so than All the Pretty Horses. You get lush, poetic descriptions of the outdoors that will have you stopping to reread. I dare you to read this and not want to take a long hike. The Orchard Keeper’s nature writing is reminiscent of John Muir. It’s in this novel you get a full understanding for McCarthy’s love for the outdoors and men of the mountains. And his disdain and apocalyptic messaging for modern technology.