McTeague

[lexiegirl]

When my English class started reading McTeague, I had high hopes. This book started out okay, but the more I read, the more I became confused. What I did not like most about this book were the twisted characters. McTeague is not like most other books I have read where the main characters live happily ever after. Most of the characters die sooner or later. Just because I did not like this book does not mean it was not a good book. I just would not choose to read it again. I really do not understand what the point of this book was. The only thing I do like about this book was that it described everything in vivid detail. The detail was so extensive though, that over half the book could be deleated because it it unnecessary fluff.

[Shevek]

The description isn't unnecessary. It's directly connected to Norris's naturalism.

Whether the characters are "twisted" is an interesting question. I tend to think Norris portrays them as determined to act a certain way, given the mundane, dark, greedy environment they live in (hence the detailed description). But there are moments of spontaneity in the book, like McTeague's conscious decision not to ravish Trina, that challenge this interpretation.

[Emil Miller]

McTeague is essentially a book about where the USA was heading. The early idealism of gentle giant McTeague is corrupted by the pursuit of wealth (happiness?) as exemplified in the giant gold molar that he used as an advertisement for his dental parlours. The contented existence he led as a miner excavating gold is reversed by the filling of dental cavities with gold and the misery that befalls him as his lifestyle changes to that of a supposedly happily married self-made man.The work ethic and hoarding of gold that raised the USA to the forefront of the world's economies is reflected in Trina's tireless production of toy animals for her uncle's firm and her increasing cupidity that leads to her murder and McTeague's demise in Death Valley, handcuffed to the body of what had once been his best friend.
To my mind, McTeague is one of the best novels to have come out of America and it's a loss to those who appreciate great literature but haven't read it.

[The Comedian]

I read McTeague earlier this year and I loved it. I found no unnecessary fluff at all. And Emil's reply here has added even further to my initial reading of the text.

I was taken, in particular, with the descriptions of early California. Oh, and his critique of wealth: Trina, who has it, is made more miserable in the having of it. Her cousin is made miserable in the pursuit of it; and it leads McTeague to ruin.

[Emil Miller]

If you were impressed with Norris's descriptions of the Californian landscape, I can recommend, if you haven't read it already, The Octopus, Norris's novel about the struggle of Californian wheat farmers against the Southern Pacific Railroad. Beautifully descriptive of the lives of the farmers and the machinations of the railroad company that controls the shipment of wheat to the cities.

[jakebudd50]

I liked McTeague. i liked the fact that the book was real with real problems and real life situations. when books end with happily ever after it is boring because it normally goes according to every other boring romance book. this one was everywhere you got some happiness then it just went crazy. i liked the fact that the book was different.

[guardgrl]

McTeague, for me, was pretty good. I agree with jakebudd50 that I also liked the fact that the book had real problems. A lot of people still go through abusive relationships like the characters in the book. I enjoyed how you could see how the relationships of the characters were shifting and changing in different chapters. For example McTeague and Trina. I agree with you about the attention to detail. It helps me imagine and focus more on what I'm reading. I also liked the ending. The death of Trina really surprised me and it concluded the book well. I didn't love the book McTeague, but I personally think it was more interesting to keep up with than the books I've read in English classes in the past!