Horrible introduction to a writer. I hate his writing style and didn't read any of his others because of it.
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Horrible introduction to a writer. I hate his writing style and didn't read any of his others because of it.
I gave up on this one early last year, though it could have been how I was feeling as opposed to the writing. Then it didn't strike me as anything good though. I may give it another chance sometime again, but not just now.
Well, I don't have my copy in front of me (:D I'm glad you are enjoying it, blazeofglory!), but I adored this book. I put off reading it for a long time, then finally saw the movie this last spring. I love Viggo Mortensen, and thought the movie would be done well, and it was. I thought it would be to difficult for me to watch, but the relationship between the father and son was so tender that it made watching the movie bearable to me, even though they lived in such soul-destroying circumstances.
So then I had to read the book, which I had owned for awhile. I didn't think I would like McCarthy's style, but I found him gloriously readable.
The Road is not at all typical of his work. His earlier novels were very dense, some would say overwritten, more in the style of Faulkner or Herman Melville. Although he has remained a stylistic show-off the flavour of his prose has made a 180 degree turn over the course of his career.Quote:
Originally Posted by Butosai
It would be a shame to dismiss the rest of his novels on the strength of The Road.
As a newbie on the forum I've been rummaging in various threads to suss things out. One of the questions I've asked myself is how I'd respond if asked to nominate one only 'favourite book'. Not an easy question for any of us, I suppose, and one I'm not sure I could answer. However, I'm sure that 'The Road' would be in the final shootout, along with about three or four others.
Thanks to all for this interesting thread.
I just started this novel today and at first it was hard to get through, but after a bit I'm starting to get more into it.
worst book by McCarthy. In fact it was the first book I read by him and I almost never read another, but an English professor friend kept telling how great he was so then I read the Orchard keeper and fell in love, and then read Blood Meridian which is IMO one of the top 10 American Novels, then a few more. Felt it was based on the book of Isaiah, and that it would've accomplished just as much as a short story, and that its somber and terse tone was simply languid rather than eldritch or bemusing. as for the disaster, 4 theories come to mind- Super Volcano, brontolite, Polar inversion [when the magnetic poles reverse polarity] or nukes; but in my opinion i like to think it was a natural disaster, what with CM's usual take on- to phrase it insipidly- struggle of man and nature
I am sad to say I could not finish it..
Interesting thought on Blood Meridan. I agree with you, it's one of the top American novels ever. I just wish it wasn't so degrading and had some moments of salvation in it, but it is what it is. I disagree with you on The Road. It's not the "great American novel" but it's a damn good read. :wink5:Quote:
Originally Posted by arrytus
To make it clearer I almost put Blood Meridian down several times just because I found the content so repulsive and overwhelming. But his writing, and perhaps a tacit theory of both sociology and history submerged in the text, as well as the part when he's being chased by the Judge and the Fool through the desert is just amazing writing about terrible things, sort of like- in a very broad juxtaposition- Capote's In Cold Blood.Quote:
Originally Posted by Virgil
We had a lengthy discussion of Blood Meridian here:Quote:
Originally Posted by arrytus
http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=56406, if you're interested in looking through it.