Some of you may noticed that I’ve added a little reading list to the sidebar. I’m going to try to blog a little about these books as I finish them, and archive them on the book tab above. The first book I’ve completed on this list is Cormac McCarthy’s new book “No Country for Old Men.”
“No Country for Old Men” is the story of a sherriff, drugs, money, and death. Lots of death. Which might make you think that it’s just some sort of pulp novel, but, no, not even close.
The first thing that strikes you about the book is the writing style. Take, for example, this paragraph from page two:
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. I don’t know what them eyes was the windows to and I guess I’d as soon not know. But there is another view of the world out there and other eyes to see it and that’s where this is goin. It has done brought me to a place in my life I would not of thought I’d of come to. Somewhere out there is a true and living prophet of destruction and I don’t want to confront him. I know he’s real. I have seen his work. I walked in front of those eyes once. I wont do it again. I wont push my chips forward and stand up and go out to meet him. It aint just bein older. I wish that it was. I cant say that it’s even what you are willin to do. Because I always knew that you had to be willin to die to even do this job. That was always true. Not to sound glourious about it or nothin but you do. If you aint they’ll know it. They’ll see it in a heartbeat. I think it is more like what you are willin to become. And I think a man would have to put his soul at hazard. And I wont do that. I think now that maybe I never would.
(Note that those missing punctuation marks aren’t my typos!) Cormac has a true gift for storytelling and this book is beautiful in its simple use of language. Many times these days you find authors whose entire style seems to be aimed just to shout out “Look at me! Look how many words I know, and how strangely I can construct literary labryths!” Cormac has none of this. Instead the novel is filled with descriptions and turns of phrase and dialogue that are among the best I’ve ever read. No, this is not his greatest novel (I’m comparing it to the Border Trilogy, I’ve not read Blood Meridian.) But it is certainly an excellent book. It has about it an eerie silence, a sort of hush which settles over dramatic horrible events in the novel, in a way which is hard to explain and which is probably worth the price of the novel alone. Highly recommended. But then again, I’m biased 😉
Have not read Blood Meridian!? Quick! Find a copy! The dark side of your soul probably needs some work. If you’re into Cormac McCarthy, you will be absolutely blown away! Then, read Suttree, which is far and away my favorite novel of his, although I am a bit biased having grown up in the southeast as opposed to the southwest. The opening pages of both of those books give me chills, like I’m standing in the presence of something monstrous and beautiful.
By the way, I can’t wait to hear the story about McCarthy and Bell’s inequalities. The fact that he has even heard of anything related to quantum information (and I know a blogger, who knows that) has put me in one of those “small world” states that makes me think I may be entangled with the vaccuum.
Oooh, I just saw this part of your blog. I wish I’d known you were seated so close to McCarthy, I’d have asked you more about him. I read about 4 of his books in a row and am still not sure what I think. His prose is beautiful and rich, and I enjoy it in the same way that I enjoy reading Faulkner. It’s the type of stuff that makes me want to just lie on a couch re-reading the same paragraph over and over again. But, just as with Faulkner, the subject matter is often so painful that it gives me nightmares for months. Are these two qualities interlinked? Is it impossible to write well about things that merely make you think instead of cry?
Maybe you have an answer for this. Why did McCarthy name the sheriff E.T. Bell? (i.e. the mathematician). Why not G.C. Rota or something better?
Maybe I shouldn’t be posting anything right now, as I am supposed to be listening to your lecture (I am listening, really!).
But have you read or thought about reading The Road?
Hey Jonathan, Yep, I’ve read the road. I liked his other works slightly more. I’m not sure why, but maybe I’d pen it down to “The Road” being a true classic: it reminds me much more of something the more traditional authors would right.
Oh, and get back to listening to the lecture!