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gene_parmesan's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a fable, a retelling of Cain and Abel mixed with other biblical references and a huge helping of Appalachia. Reviews complaining about the characters not feeling realistic or the events being vague would be like complaining about Harry Potter because magic isn't actually real. You have to engage with the book on its level. McCarthy wrote this while deep in his early literary wunderkind stage. This isn't a thriller and has very little in common with something like The Road.
It's the one problem with a literary genius writing more accessible books later in life. People who are average general readers get to know the author late and then are shocked when their early books are more literary. You may just not like literary works, and that's totally fine. But to complain that a work of literature needs some thinking to "get it" is asinine.
"It makes no sense that she would still have milk 6 months later." It's a FABLE! An antiparable. It's not supposed to be read as literal truth. For goodness sake, her name is Rinthy as in coRINTHIans.
Anyway, great book. Much much darker than Orchard Keeper. His voice feels a bit more developed in this one too.
It's the one problem with a literary genius writing more accessible books later in life. People who are average general readers get to know the author late and then are shocked when their early books are more literary. You may just not like literary works, and that's totally fine. But to complain that a work of literature needs some thinking to "get it" is asinine.
"It makes no sense that she would still have milk 6 months later." It's a FABLE! An antiparable. It's not supposed to be read as literal truth. For goodness sake, her name is Rinthy as in coRINTHIans.
Anyway, great book. Much much darker than Orchard Keeper. His voice feels a bit more developed in this one too.
firstwords's review against another edition
4.0
Bleak. Even for McCarthy, this is bleak. Incest, murder, theft of children, fear, and of course darkness. The ending to this made me physically ill.
A tough read, but worth it if you appreciate McCarthy. You will want to pay attention to the italicized portions of the story, as they follow the paths of the main characters. Took me three of them to realize it, and then I had to go back to bookmark them all and re-read as a narrative.
A tough read, but worth it if you appreciate McCarthy. You will want to pay attention to the italicized portions of the story, as they follow the paths of the main characters. Took me three of them to realize it, and then I had to go back to bookmark them all and re-read as a narrative.
folios_folio3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
comadivine11's review against another edition
2.0
My ratings for this book is based purely in relation to the other McCarthy books I've read. Coming to this book fresh off of finishing The Border Trilogy, which was written at basically peak-McCarthy, definitely felt like a step down. The usual themes are there. As is some of the beautifully intense writing but I feel like you certainly get the sense that McCarthy is still developing his craft.
This book was full of dark imagery. Themes of a god-less world (although there is religion), kindness, and mindless violence and cruelty. The book opens with Rinthy giving birth and Culla taking and abandoning the baby in the woods. It then becomes a bit of a travelogue as Rinthy sets out to find her baby and Culla sets out looking for both work and his sister, Rinthy. Surreal and bleak, this is a book without much hope.
This book was full of dark imagery. Themes of a god-less world (although there is religion), kindness, and mindless violence and cruelty. The book opens with Rinthy giving birth and Culla taking and abandoning the baby in the woods. It then becomes a bit of a travelogue as Rinthy sets out to find her baby and Culla sets out looking for both work and his sister, Rinthy. Surreal and bleak, this is a book without much hope.
murderbear's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hvfnstrmngthcstl's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
silasgoodman83's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Appalachia is set with Biblical prose cast amoungst antediluvian evils feasting upon the souls of those foolish to invite the darkness. A private apocalypse vivisected for our viewing. McCarthy's words are plain, honest and brutal. A masterwork to be held up to leviathans such as Faulkner and Bellow.
avidreader63's review against another edition
4.0
Superb writing. This is a dark and twisted tale. I liked The Road as well. This one also has powerful prose that pack a punch.