Joel, you had me laughing out loud to your opening (actually read it to my youngest over breakfast too:)! I had started "All the Pretty Horses" a while ago but got side-tracked. Will be sure to take it off my shelf and ad it to the "active pile" after reading your piece here :)
I've only read two McCarthy books; The Road and No Country for Old Men. I enjoyed both. I've shyed away from these because I've never been much for the Western-like aesthetic. But, I think i'm just about convinced to give them ago.
All the Pretty Horses is fantastic. I know some have trouble with The Crossing; it’s long and grueling in places. Still great. Cities of the Plain is pretty fun, actually, though brutal by the end.
I love McCarthy and have read most of his books. Last year I thought I'd read through all of his books in the order he wrote them, but I only got through the first two (Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark) when the darkness and violence became too much, and I abandoned the task. Child of God and Suttree are still on my bedside table. Reading your review makes me want to get back into them.
Thanks, man! I read Horses over 15 years ago but when McCarthy died last summer I thought I might read it again, along with the rest of the trilogy. I bought them but wasn’t in the mood until just the other day and then I blitzed all three.
It does make me want to revisit The Road, Blood Meridian, and some others. And I haven’t even read the last two yet!
Nicely done, Joel. You wrestled with the central connection between these three novels—the interplay, not only between the characters and stories of John Grady and Billy, but between the interplay of God’s sovereignty and human volition. That is an issue worth wresting with.
Thanks, Derrick! Of course, there’s so much more that could be said about that just in terms of the novels. But then there are a hundred other avenues and pathways through these books: I was, for instance, taken by the neighborliness of people—particularly in Mexico where a villager would have every reason to be suspicious of John Grady or Billy but would go out of their way to help. Someone could write an entire piece (or more) on that alone. McCarthy’s vision encompasses so much.
Cormac traveled in Mexico, and as anyone knows who've been there, Mexicans are a familial and friendly people. There's a lesson to learn in this fact. I mentioned divine sovereignty/human volition, not merely because you brought it up in your piece (which I'm grateful you did), but because I believe these three novels are God haunted, challenging us to reach beyond our petty selves. And there's a lesson to learn in that fact as well.
If you want to be changed and challenged as a human being, have someon introduce you to Cormac. I still remember the first time this book was placed in my hands and I was told, "you've got to read this." July 1996.
I found All the Pretty Horses shortly after I thought I'd lost God in my life, then followed with The Crossing and Cities of the Plain. For near a decade these books tethered my faith until I slowly started returning to the church. Now that I'm fully in, even if maybe just inside the doorpost, McCarthy's faith as you've described anchored me from becoming completely lost.
The Passenger and Stella Maris are an amazing summary for his life's work and ultimately, maybe, of love overcoming doubt. Looking forward to your review.
Good overview and appraisal of the Border Trilogy — I’ve always had trouble with these books, maybe because I missed the spectacular violence of Blood Meridian, but now I want to go back and take another whack at it — thanks and keep up the good work!
All the Pretty Horses was my introduction to McCarthy, so that might have set the stage for me. But each book is its own bird. I find Horses to be a nearly perfect novel. The Crossing less so. It’s excellent, but I had to drag myself through some passages. He lets his characters monologues roll on too long for my taste; then again, many love it. I heard from several readers that The Crossing was superior to Horses. What I wasn’t prepared for? The humor of Cities of the Plain.
Not an easy thing to do, neatly summarizing McCarthy’s trilogy, but you pulled it off. Only read the first book, found it enjoyable but dense. You’ve given reason to plow on.
The Crossing is even more dense but worth it. Cities of the Plain, while somber and heartrending in places, is surprisingly light—definitely not dense.
Joel, you had me laughing out loud to your opening (actually read it to my youngest over breakfast too:)! I had started "All the Pretty Horses" a while ago but got side-tracked. Will be sure to take it off my shelf and ad it to the "active pile" after reading your piece here :)
Ha! I hoped that would work.
Agree good opener!
I've only read two McCarthy books; The Road and No Country for Old Men. I enjoyed both. I've shyed away from these because I've never been much for the Western-like aesthetic. But, I think i'm just about convinced to give them ago.
All the Pretty Horses is fantastic. I know some have trouble with The Crossing; it’s long and grueling in places. Still great. Cities of the Plain is pretty fun, actually, though brutal by the end.
The idea of of McCarthy writing anything laugh out loud funny is so brain twisting that I have no choice but to read it.
I love McCarthy and have read most of his books. Last year I thought I'd read through all of his books in the order he wrote them, but I only got through the first two (Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark) when the darkness and violence became too much, and I abandoned the task. Child of God and Suttree are still on my bedside table. Reading your review makes me want to get back into them.
Prepare thyself. Child of God is horrifying. Great but horrifying. Suttree is supposedly amazing. I need to read that one, too.
Yeah, I had heard about Child of God, which may have also contributed to my temporary respite. :)
Child of god is also in my list
It’s a doozy.
All the Pretty Horses is my favorite McCarthy novel. How about more about the others? Well done, you.
Thanks, man! I read Horses over 15 years ago but when McCarthy died last summer I thought I might read it again, along with the rest of the trilogy. I bought them but wasn’t in the mood until just the other day and then I blitzed all three.
It does make me want to revisit The Road, Blood Meridian, and some others. And I haven’t even read the last two yet!
Nicely done, Joel. You wrestled with the central connection between these three novels—the interplay, not only between the characters and stories of John Grady and Billy, but between the interplay of God’s sovereignty and human volition. That is an issue worth wresting with.
Thanks, Derrick! Of course, there’s so much more that could be said about that just in terms of the novels. But then there are a hundred other avenues and pathways through these books: I was, for instance, taken by the neighborliness of people—particularly in Mexico where a villager would have every reason to be suspicious of John Grady or Billy but would go out of their way to help. Someone could write an entire piece (or more) on that alone. McCarthy’s vision encompasses so much.
Cormac traveled in Mexico, and as anyone knows who've been there, Mexicans are a familial and friendly people. There's a lesson to learn in this fact. I mentioned divine sovereignty/human volition, not merely because you brought it up in your piece (which I'm grateful you did), but because I believe these three novels are God haunted, challenging us to reach beyond our petty selves. And there's a lesson to learn in that fact as well.
If you want to be changed and challenged as a human being, have someon introduce you to Cormac. I still remember the first time this book was placed in my hands and I was told, "you've got to read this." July 1996.
They’re amazing. All the Pretty Horses was my first, followed by The Road. I still remember my first time reading them; it’s been over 15 years.
Arrrgh!
So many good ones yet to read!
These bad boys go on the list … the hopeless, hopeless list …
I think people with a sense of purpose tend to live longer than those who don’t. Maybe that TBR will keep you alive!
Terrific reviews of a terrific series.
Thanks, Robert!
I haven't read any of McCarthy's books yet, but I have read so much about them. Now is the time. Thank you, Friendo.
You won’t regret it!
I found All the Pretty Horses shortly after I thought I'd lost God in my life, then followed with The Crossing and Cities of the Plain. For near a decade these books tethered my faith until I slowly started returning to the church. Now that I'm fully in, even if maybe just inside the doorpost, McCarthy's faith as you've described anchored me from becoming completely lost.
The Passenger and Stella Maris are an amazing summary for his life's work and ultimately, maybe, of love overcoming doubt. Looking forward to your review.
That’s powerful. It’s funny where God meets us sometimes. Several people have told me at this point I’ve got to read The Passenger and Stella Maris.
Good overview and appraisal of the Border Trilogy — I’ve always had trouble with these books, maybe because I missed the spectacular violence of Blood Meridian, but now I want to go back and take another whack at it — thanks and keep up the good work!
All the Pretty Horses was my introduction to McCarthy, so that might have set the stage for me. But each book is its own bird. I find Horses to be a nearly perfect novel. The Crossing less so. It’s excellent, but I had to drag myself through some passages. He lets his characters monologues roll on too long for my taste; then again, many love it. I heard from several readers that The Crossing was superior to Horses. What I wasn’t prepared for? The humor of Cities of the Plain.
Bravo
Thanks!
Not an easy thing to do, neatly summarizing McCarthy’s trilogy, but you pulled it off. Only read the first book, found it enjoyable but dense. You’ve given reason to plow on.
The Crossing is even more dense but worth it. Cities of the Plain, while somber and heartrending in places, is surprisingly light—definitely not dense.
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LOL
Juarez is no country for any man.
Crap?
I’m not sure I follow the question :)
Being cheeky with my one word description.
Lol. Got it.