Review
McCarthy has created a whole universe of lost downtrodden souls and hopeless losers--criminals, prostitutes, and thieves down by the river and around Knoxville TN. All of them destroyed by alcohol, including Suttree himself, who most of the time, seems to be not such a bad human being—although, why he has deserted his wife and child is unknown. Suttree has come from a well-to-do family, but for some reason, not fully clear, chosen to live the life of a bum, living on a squalid, rat-infested houseboat, fishing for his meager living and drinking himself blind when funds or friends allow. The characters, sometimes in jail, or tangling with brutal police, are rich, funny and loveable. Raw, shocking, hilarious, entertaining, tragic. McCarthy’s writing is magnificent. The audiobook is beautifully narrated (and acted out) by Richard Poe, and its production excellent. I felt at a loose end when it came to end—the mark of great writing. But like most of McCarthy's work, not for the squeamish.