Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

I'm reading Blood Meridian, and I can already tell McCarthy is going to be one of my favorite writers. It is a bit doom and gloom, as critics affirm, but the sentences remind me of pre-WWII realism. Though I enjoy a good plot, his vivid descriptions of the West come to life for me in this novel. I'm curious to find other fans or feedback of his work.

He's a favorite of mine. I've read Meridian -twice, The Road - twice, All the Pretty Horses - twice, and Child of God. And I have Outer Dark and No Country for Old Men at home waiting to be read. ;)

Read The Road. I've never read anything like it.

I had a writing teacher at college recommend Blood Meridian to me but I was unable at the time to get into it. My mom found it on my bookshelf at home and loved it.

I loved the Border Trilogy--which begins with All the Pretty Horses--and have recommended it to others.

Tony, you should read The Crossing and Cities of the Plain too.

Such beautiful language.

I will sometime get around to the others in the Border Trilogy. I loved "...Horses".

Does the Border Trilogy need to be read in order?

All the Pretty Horses was great. The characters, descriptions, and situations had a very well described western feel as did the dialog, "Yup, sure is." Just really good stuff.

Tyler wrote: "Does the Border Trilogy need to be read in order?"

Well, I think so, but I'd be interested to hear what others have to say.

I just finished The Road and enjoyed it. I want to read all of his other novels and thought the border trilogy would be a good place to start. I mostly go to thrift stores so I don't always get everything in order.

Tyler wrote: "I just finished The Road and enjoyed it. I want to read all of his other novels and thought the border trilogy would be a good place to start. I mostly go to thrift stores so I don't always get eve..."

It doesn't matter what order you read The Crossing and All The Pretty Horses but I would recommend not reading Cities Of The Plain until you've read both of those.

I've been trying to get into 'The Road', but I'm having some difficulties. I want to like it so bad! Did anyone else have this problem?

Ryan, it's not easy for everyone to get into McCarthy's style. You wouldn't be the first person to have a problem with it by a long shot.

I absolutely love him. I read The Road first, but Blood Meridian is now one of my all time favorite books. It's also one of those books that I'm hesitant to read again, just due to how unbelievably soul crushing it is. I work at a university and one of the T.A.s in our department was reading it. I was constantly bugging him to find out how he was enjoying it. He thought it was brilliant.

I can tell that I will need to read Blood Meridian again. The landscape descriptions need to be absorbed, but the subtle action pulls you forward. I found myself googling the landscape to get a better understanding of the surroundings. Obviously, this will slow you down, but its worth it to read this one slowly and appreciate each sentence, and I just had to see the landscape for myself, even if it was google images.

Interesting thing happened while reading this:

Toward the end of chapter 7, the kid & crew pass through the Mexican town of Janos. McCarthy describes "an ancient walled presidio composed wholly of mud". He goes on, "They road past the church where old spanish bells seagreen with age hung from a pole between low mud dolmens."

Curious, I googled "church in Janos" and came across this image:

http://tinyurl.com/yhcg42u

Notice the old spanish bells seagreen with age hanging from a pole between low mud dolmens.

McCarthy, quite obviously took this journey as well, which is so extremely fascinating to me. Can't wait to read all of his books.

Emma wrote: "Tyler wrote: "Does the Border Trilogy need to be read in order?"

Well, I think so, but I'd be interested to hear what others have to say." "Cities of the Plain" is the sequel (years later) of both of the first two, so I'd say you should read that after the first two. Of the first, they are independent of each other, so it doesn't matter which you read first.
Gerry

Ryan wrote: "I've been trying to get into 'The Road', but I'm having some difficulties. I want to like it so bad! Did anyone else have this problem?

"

The Road is one of my favorite novels ever. The first McCarthy I ever read was All The Pretty Horses and it took a while for me to get used to his writing style and dialogue but once I did he became one of my favorite authors.

I'm reading The Road, now. I will post my thoughts. Also, I just realized McCarthy is not listed in the 1001 Books, which is crazy to me. I hope this thread I started about the author is still OK.

He's on the list...Blood Meridian and I believe All the Pretty Horses are there. Possibly others, but off the top of my head...I remember checking those off. ;)

This is one of my favorite books of all time. The plot is so bleak, but the visual descriptions are stunning, despite the starkness.

You've gotten some amazing comments, but I'd just like to add that McCarthy transitions with this particular book into very interesting space... The Border Trilogy begins to show McCarthy version of optimism. I'm not saying it isn't bleak, but the heroes seem to be different, more aware of their connection to the Earth and Nature.

I highly recommend The Crossing. It should be required reading for all HS students. Fabulous exploration of the Classic Hero's Journey.

Wow. I thought no one could top William Faulkner, and then I discovered McCarthy. Blew my mind to watch him grow and mature as an author over the course of his life's work.

I agree, Victoria. I just finished The Road last night. This is the first time I have read an author back to back. I admitted to my wife this morning that I actually cried at the end of the novel.

I've got other books to get through right now, but I can't wait to read The Border Trilogy. I think after that, I will look at his earlier work. Not sure if I will make it to No Country For Old Men, as I have already seen the movie.

The point is, McCarthy is absorbing and awe-inspiring. Forget plot, character development, and setting. His use of prose will surely yield a legacy equal to Faulkner and others of his caliber.

Douglas wrote: "I agree, Victoria. I just finished The Road last night. This is the first time I have read an author back to back. I admitted to my wife this morning that I actually cried at the end of the nove..."My theory with No Country for Old Men is that McCarthy got tired of being thought of as strictly a difficult to read literary author and said to himself, Self, I think I'll write a movie for a change and make a little money. The result was No Country For Old Men which reads just like a movie and of course became a movie with basically no changes in plot or character. And McCarthy went happily to the bank with the movie money and went back to writing more literary novels. Don't get me wrong, I liked No Country, both the book and the movie, but I don't think it is among his finest work. Note that The Road, arguably his best book, was made into a movie and nobody went to see it!

Victoria wrote: "This is one of my favorite books of all time. The plot is so bleak, but the visual descriptions are stunning, despite the starkness."

Agreed. I thought it was beautiful in its construction and in its minimalist reveal of the relationship between the boy and the man.

I just wanted to mention that I saw the movie adaptation last week and thought it was very good. The minimalist feeling is retained very well and the film is very true to the book. Worth seeing, most definitely.

Douglas wrote: "I agree, Victoria. I just finished The Road last night. This is the first time I have read an author back to back. I admitted to my wife this morning that I actually cried at the end of the nove..."

Not only did I cry at the end of The Road, but I nearly had to start therapy after I read the first third of The Crossing. The journey with the female wolf into Mexico. I cried for days. I could not get the imagery and suffering out of my mind. In fact, I couldn't re-read the book for nearly three years.

McCarthy (even more than Faulkner) is something that you have to emotionally prepare for.

;)

"The Road" for me is a plot done so many times I just couldn't find anything new to recommend it. "All the Pretty Horses" is in my top five books of all time. I just think sometimes McCarthy is a lazy writer, he's solipsistic and does not make his narrative arc available to anyone but himself. "The Road" was easy enough in that area, but I found myself unmoved.

"Suttree" was a difficult read for me, but of all his novel's - it is the one that has stuck with me. The river, the decay, the humidity... I read it 10 years ago, but still can be right there on the river, fishing for catfish.

Yes, the plot of "The Road" has been done before, but it was more so the feeling I took away from the imagery. So human and violent, it was a book I could not shake for weeks. Same way I felt after reading "Crime and Punishment".

For me, The Road is simply amazing. I read it in one day, practically in one sitting. I fell in love with McCarthy's prose; it completely absorbed me.

Joy wrote: "For me, The Road is simply amazing. I read it in one day, practically in one sitting. I fell in love with McCarthy's prose; it completely absorbed me."

Pretty much describes my experience.

But his writing style is so ridiculous...
I don't understand how people can not get annoyed by his fake over-pretentious prose.

Love his style. To each his own, and all that jazz...

I neither love nor hate it. But it is different and no way disguises the fact that McCarthy is a great writer.

hmm... I never identified his prose as fake or over-pretentious; in fact, I think it is just the opposite. But I suppose it is meaningful that his writing incites strong feelings (either positive or negative).

The audiobook of The Road is great. I have "read" 3 of his books, and listened to them all as audiobooks. His prose makes for a very enjoyable listen. I love the description Jill used, "Soul-crushing". She was referring to Blood Meridian, but I think it also applies to The Road.

Totally off topic, but A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is one of my favorite books, but I would not recommend it to anyone because it is so tragically sad. I will now steal the term "soul-crushing" to describe this book too.

Greatest living author, IMO. He writes the exact type of fiction I want to read in the exact style I want to read it in. I can't wait for his next book.

Ryan wrote: "I've been trying to get into 'The Road', but I'm having some difficulties. I want to like it so bad! Did anyone else have this problem?

Ryan, The Road is one of my favorite books. I have read it three times, and I love it more each time. I see it as a story of unconditional love, and I think the writing is beautiful. However, I chose it for a book club I am in, and was shocked by the reaction. None of them liked it. Some had a hard time with McCarthy's writing style, and some were angry with me for putting such darkness in their heads.

Some of these book clubs get awfully picky about wanting to be entertained and not wanting to experience dark tales.

Wow, my book club loved The Road and we were all amazed we'd never discovered Cormac McCarthy sooner. I'll admit I'm usually to blame when they're subjected to dark and depressing books so I'm glad they're that receptive.

Hewhomustobey wrote: "Some of these book clubs get awfully picky about wanting to be entertained and not wanting to experience dark tales."

Ah, so true, so true...for way too many readers, in my opinion.

I loved "The Road" and "All the Pretty Horses". And I want to read everything McCarthy has written.

I'm with you, Judith. Being an author I dont know about the too many readers part.

I loved this book and found it much easier a read than most Cormac novels. I have read them all and found all of the praise and the criticisms here equally valid; sometimes I read him and marvel at the beauty and wizardry of the language (and always have my dictionary nearby) and other times, I feel overwhelmed by the pretension and darkness. Which is why I never read two of his novels back to back. :)
Having said that, I think that too few people are exposed to him and he is still considered by many a hidden gem.... and the Road still haunts me sometimes as a mother of a young boy......

Hi, i read The Road a few years ago and loved it, i couldn't stop reading it. To me, his writing is so spare and brutal but still addictive. He's pretty old now so i worry there won't be much time to him to write much more. What would be a good McCarthey to read next?
kerem.

www.keremmermutlu.tumblr.com

Lina wrote: "Wow, my book club loved The Road and we were all amazed we'd never discovered Cormac McCarthy sooner. I'll admit I'm usually to blame when they're subjected to dark and depressing books so I'm glad..."

hi, i wouldn't say it was depressing, in the end o think the book is very hopeful. but yes, i wish i discovered Cormac earlier. I've onlt read the road but his other books are on my list.

www.keremmermutlu.tumblr.com

Tony wrote: "Joy wrote: "For me, The Road is simply amazing. I read it in one day, practically in one sitting. I fell in love with McCarthy's prose; it completely absorbed me."

Pretty much describes my experie..."

I agree, i couldn't stop reading it. He is a great writer.

www.keremmermutlu.tumblr.com

Kerem wrote: "Hi, i read The Road a few years ago and loved it, i couldn't stop reading it. To me, his writing is so spare and brutal but still addictive. He's pretty old now so i worry there won't be much time ..."

All the Pretty Horses is good, and it is the first in a trilogy, so if you enjoyed that then you could move on to the other two.

Joy wrote: "Kerem wrote: "Hi, i read The Road a few years ago and loved it, i couldn't stop reading it. To me, his writing is so spare and brutal but still addictive. He's pretty old now so i worry there won't..."

Thanks Joy, i keep hearing good things about all the pretty horses so im definitly going to get it. It was made into a movie too, right? thanks!

www.keremmermutlu.tumblr.com

Kerem wrote: "Thanks Joy, i keep hearing good things about all the pretty horses so im definitly going to get it. It was made into a movie too, right? thanks!..."

Yes it was, however, I haven't seen it and cannot vouch for it. I rarely think that a movie adaptation does a book justice, so definitely read the book first if you plan on seeing the movie!

Joy wrote: "Kerem wrote: "Thanks Joy, i keep hearing good things about all the pretty horses so im definitly going to get it. It was made into a movie too, right? thanks!..."

Yes it was, however, I haven't se..."

The only movie where the book was just as good as the movie is Wonderboys by micheal Chabon. Really amazing, the book and the movie go perfectly together.

www.keremmermutlu.tumblr.com

I thought Gone With the Wind did a pretty good job.

Atonement was probably the best book to movie adaptation that I have seen because it stayed so true to the novel.

I haven't yet read Gone with the Wind, but I plan to read it this summer so I can make a fair assessment then!

Good. Talk about characters, that tome has them in depth.

I was absolutely gripped by The Road - the first book in a long time that has kept a generally tired girl up until the early hours of the morning!

I also thought the film adaptation was pretty good, remaining pretty faithful to the novel. The tone and the constant menace were excellently portrayed. If anything, the film was slightly more optimistic than the book - I thought the live beetle was too much, and the ending was more definitively positive - in the novel I really wasn't sure. All in all, I was taken aback by both. What do you guys think?