Likewise--thanks for this. I’m a huge fan of All the Pretty Horses and had figured I’d continue with the rest of the Border Trilogy. Though I may just pick up on his earlier books.
I love his work, and I fully understand where you're coming from when you talk about his early work versus the Border Trilogy and everything that came after. For me, though, the Border Trilogy had an emotional impact on me that his earlier - perhaps more beautifully written work - didn't. That said, the ending of Blood Meridian has haunted me for 20 years.
Oh, I understood that - definitely. For one thing, how could you not like the later stuff? Haha. But I also understand your difference in taste between his pared back later prose and the denser, more poetic older work. It's all incredible, it's just finding what's more incredible for you personally. I really enjoyed reading your take on it.
I've been reading/rereading all of McCarthy this year in publication order. Even finished reading Cities of the Plain about an hour before I heard he died. I've never been so immersed in someone's work when they died, so this news hit me very strangely.
One thing I think goes strangely unmentioned in every single thing I've read about McCarthy is how funny he is. Suttree is, in many ways, a hilarious backwoods Ulysses. Even Child of God, which is definitely not a comedic novel, spend its first half seemingly as the setup to a quixotic comedy novel. The way it twists away from that undelivered punchline is part of its magic.
But I think it's odd how tightly people focus on the darkness, the violence, but never ever seem to comment on how often McCarthy is telling jokes that can make you laugh out loud. Also, few writers have as good an ear for dialogue.
One of my favorite jokes from Suttree:
--Mr Suttree in what year did your greatuncle Jeffrey pass away?
It was in 1884.
Did he die by natural causes?
No sir.
And what were the circumstances surrounding his death?
He was taking part in a public function when the platform gave way.
Our information is that he was hanged for a homicide.--
I'd recommend Outer Dark over both of those as an intro! It's shorter than Blood Meridian and not as deeply fucked as either of them, though definitely not shying away from unpleasantness or darkness.
Also, his only female protagonist until his most recent novel.
Wonderful tribute. Thank you. I’ve read his trilogy and had decided not to go back to his earlier work until I read this. Will read Suttree. When you say it’s comedic and light, I’m wondering if it's anything like early Charles Portis, like his first novel Norwood. Btw, just checked—they were both born in 1933.
I have read only one book in my life which I wish had not read, which I wish was not still inside my imagination, which I would eject if I could. The book is "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. It damaged something.
I decided after finishing The Road that I wouldn't read any more Cormac McCarthy. But I do see those wasps in the laddered light, and there is definitely something essential in that orange soda pop at the end of a cord. So... maybe.
The Border Trilogy is the best of the book(s) I’ve read in the last five years. It’s right up there. His skill as a writer is amazing. And his fiction has given me the opportunity to escape into a different world.
Thanks for this. I'd tried No Country for Old Men and rather bounced off it (the spare prose is not my thing; it felt like an outline for the Cohen brothers movie, which I did like). Now I want to go try one of the earlier ones.
What a gorgeous tribute. Thanks for the recommendation of his earlier work, which I haven't sampled. it will spur me on to do so.
Likewise--thanks for this. I’m a huge fan of All the Pretty Horses and had figured I’d continue with the rest of the Border Trilogy. Though I may just pick up on his earlier books.
Those books are great too! Don't mean to sound like I dislike him. But good southern Gothic books are definitely worth a read
Just finished the Border Trilogy. I think All the Pretty Horses is probably the best of them, but all three are pretty great.
Picked up Blood Meridian again today for what must be my 5th read. A masterpiece from a true great. Perhaps the greatest writer of the last 100 years.
I love his work, and I fully understand where you're coming from when you talk about his early work versus the Border Trilogy and everything that came after. For me, though, the Border Trilogy had an emotional impact on me that his earlier - perhaps more beautifully written work - didn't. That said, the ending of Blood Meridian has haunted me for 20 years.
To be clear I like the later books too, especially the Border Trilogy!
Oh, I understood that - definitely. For one thing, how could you not like the later stuff? Haha. But I also understand your difference in taste between his pared back later prose and the denser, more poetic older work. It's all incredible, it's just finding what's more incredible for you personally. I really enjoyed reading your take on it.
This is absolutely beautiful, and puts into words so much that's felt nebulous before about his work. Thank you for this!
I've been reading/rereading all of McCarthy this year in publication order. Even finished reading Cities of the Plain about an hour before I heard he died. I've never been so immersed in someone's work when they died, so this news hit me very strangely.
One thing I think goes strangely unmentioned in every single thing I've read about McCarthy is how funny he is. Suttree is, in many ways, a hilarious backwoods Ulysses. Even Child of God, which is definitely not a comedic novel, spend its first half seemingly as the setup to a quixotic comedy novel. The way it twists away from that undelivered punchline is part of its magic.
But I think it's odd how tightly people focus on the darkness, the violence, but never ever seem to comment on how often McCarthy is telling jokes that can make you laugh out loud. Also, few writers have as good an ear for dialogue.
One of my favorite jokes from Suttree:
--Mr Suttree in what year did your greatuncle Jeffrey pass away?
It was in 1884.
Did he die by natural causes?
No sir.
And what were the circumstances surrounding his death?
He was taking part in a public function when the platform gave way.
Our information is that he was hanged for a homicide.--
Gorgeous, and thank you. "Laddered light" is just everything.
Excellent summation.
Beautiful.
Seems a continually reappearing rite of passage for authors as they mature--where precision and *brevity* come to dominate their prose.
I love reading and rereading late McCarthy and DeLillo. Whereas someone like Henry James can conjure an aneurism.
I haven’t read any of his books. Would you recommend Blood Meridian or Child of God first or it doesn’t matter?
They're both very dark and violent FWIW, but Child of God is shorter. I'll note in involves necrophilia though as a warning.
Suttree is more a more comedic and lighter book also great!
Shorter it is! Thanks!
I'd recommend Outer Dark over both of those as an intro! It's shorter than Blood Meridian and not as deeply fucked as either of them, though definitely not shying away from unpleasantness or darkness.
Also, his only female protagonist until his most recent novel.
I've been meaning to read Outer Dark for years. Might grab it myself now
Oh thanks! I appreciate the recommendation.
If you read nothing else read Blood Meridian
Wonderful tribute. Thank you. I’ve read his trilogy and had decided not to go back to his earlier work until I read this. Will read Suttree. When you say it’s comedic and light, I’m wondering if it's anything like early Charles Portis, like his first novel Norwood. Btw, just checked—they were both born in 1933.
I have read only one book in my life which I wish had not read, which I wish was not still inside my imagination, which I would eject if I could. The book is "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy. It damaged something.
I decided after finishing The Road that I wouldn't read any more Cormac McCarthy. But I do see those wasps in the laddered light, and there is definitely something essential in that orange soda pop at the end of a cord. So... maybe.
The Border Trilogy is the best of the book(s) I’ve read in the last five years. It’s right up there. His skill as a writer is amazing. And his fiction has given me the opportunity to escape into a different world.
So enjoyed your tribute.
Thanks for this. I'd tried No Country for Old Men and rather bounced off it (the spare prose is not my thing; it felt like an outline for the Cohen brothers movie, which I did like). Now I want to go try one of the earlier ones.