I love this novel. As I love McCarthy's work in general. But, here's some blasphemy, I think the movie adaptation of No Country is better than the novel. And I think the movie perhaps addresses some of your issues with the last 50 pages of the book.
Cormac's use of punctuation is maybe my favorite thing about his writing. I'm definitely due for a reread, as it's been about 20 years. 😵💫 I've recently purchased a few of my old favorites to read again..now to find the time!
Any thoughts on the movie version? I have not read the novel and steered clear of the movie because of the frightful violence promised by the trailer but am generally a fan of Joel and Ethan Coen’s movies, although more so of Hail, Caesar! (where Josh Brolin plays a humorous character) than, say, Miller’s Crossing.
I ask this because I find it interesting that the Coens often come directly from the novel or short story, such as with Charles Portis’s True Grit (a blurb on my copy reads “Charles Portis could be Cormac McCarthy if he wanted to, but he’d rather be funny”). They said they didn’t even re-watch the earlier movie version with John Wayne. A lot of the dialogue in their True Grit is right from the novel. That’s a good reflection both on the novelist’s ear and the filmmakers’ literary good sense. I wonder if the same is true of the No Country movie.
I also appreciate your honest take on this super author. I found _The Road_ completely engrossing and read it in one sitting. _Blood Meridian_ was the most difficult for me, but I did read it all the way through. I don't agree about Franzen and don't think he belongs in the category you admire him for: _Freedom_, really? I suppose where I end up is that I not only ought to read McCarthy but that I learn from him how to make compelling narrative. Is he tough? You bet! Is he smart and gifted. You bet!
Thanks for this honest take, Michael. Love this line: "It’s funny how sometimes a certain book feels unreadable to you at a certain time, and then weeks or months or years later it suddenly comes alive for you, like early blooming love. That’s one of the magical things about books, about reading: The novels and memoirs stay the same but we, the people reading them, change over time. So each time we go back it’s different; each time we interpret and grasp deeper and different gems of truth." In fact, I think that is the mark that literary art aims at. And something that the current marketplace does not reward because it is so unpredictable. Who wants to market a book that frustrates readers on the first read? So we get more of the "save the cat" plot lines, as my friend Carol said in response to Tuesday's post. I actually think that moralizing that you don't like at the end could be one of those things that you see differently in another ten years. Maybe not -- but the point is that when an artist is allowed to dream capaciously in their work, there is room for that work to grow in the lives of readers over the years.
I will say that I found the premise of Blood Meridian to be less engaging. Much of that plot seems to be what Ben Percy calls "gorenography." I felt the same way about All the Pretty Horses near the beginning. But you're giving me some reasons to circle back. Much appreciated.
I can't resist poking at your rich chocolate metaphor. A little tame for McCarthy, wouldn't you say? :) I'm trying to imagine his expression while considering whether his prose tastes like a Godiva bar. Maybe like a few bites of an elk's heart after it's been freshly killed? I'm only teasing because I know you can take it.
May 12, 2023Liked by Joshua Doležal, Sincere American Writing
I read the book last year because I wanted to get know more of McCarthy's writing. It was fierce and violent, but his unique voice was certainly worth it. I preferred 'The Road', which was incredibly bleak and terrifying, but still managed to carry hope.
I'd estimate that I've seen the movie more than 50 times.
I love this novel. As I love McCarthy's work in general. But, here's some blasphemy, I think the movie adaptation of No Country is better than the novel. And I think the movie perhaps addresses some of your issues with the last 50 pages of the book.
Cormac's use of punctuation is maybe my favorite thing about his writing. I'm definitely due for a reread, as it's been about 20 years. 😵💫 I've recently purchased a few of my old favorites to read again..now to find the time!
Any thoughts on the movie version? I have not read the novel and steered clear of the movie because of the frightful violence promised by the trailer but am generally a fan of Joel and Ethan Coen’s movies, although more so of Hail, Caesar! (where Josh Brolin plays a humorous character) than, say, Miller’s Crossing.
I ask this because I find it interesting that the Coens often come directly from the novel or short story, such as with Charles Portis’s True Grit (a blurb on my copy reads “Charles Portis could be Cormac McCarthy if he wanted to, but he’d rather be funny”). They said they didn’t even re-watch the earlier movie version with John Wayne. A lot of the dialogue in their True Grit is right from the novel. That’s a good reflection both on the novelist’s ear and the filmmakers’ literary good sense. I wonder if the same is true of the No Country movie.
I also appreciate your honest take on this super author. I found _The Road_ completely engrossing and read it in one sitting. _Blood Meridian_ was the most difficult for me, but I did read it all the way through. I don't agree about Franzen and don't think he belongs in the category you admire him for: _Freedom_, really? I suppose where I end up is that I not only ought to read McCarthy but that I learn from him how to make compelling narrative. Is he tough? You bet! Is he smart and gifted. You bet!
Thanks for this honest take, Michael. Love this line: "It’s funny how sometimes a certain book feels unreadable to you at a certain time, and then weeks or months or years later it suddenly comes alive for you, like early blooming love. That’s one of the magical things about books, about reading: The novels and memoirs stay the same but we, the people reading them, change over time. So each time we go back it’s different; each time we interpret and grasp deeper and different gems of truth." In fact, I think that is the mark that literary art aims at. And something that the current marketplace does not reward because it is so unpredictable. Who wants to market a book that frustrates readers on the first read? So we get more of the "save the cat" plot lines, as my friend Carol said in response to Tuesday's post. I actually think that moralizing that you don't like at the end could be one of those things that you see differently in another ten years. Maybe not -- but the point is that when an artist is allowed to dream capaciously in their work, there is room for that work to grow in the lives of readers over the years.
I will say that I found the premise of Blood Meridian to be less engaging. Much of that plot seems to be what Ben Percy calls "gorenography." I felt the same way about All the Pretty Horses near the beginning. But you're giving me some reasons to circle back. Much appreciated.
I can't resist poking at your rich chocolate metaphor. A little tame for McCarthy, wouldn't you say? :) I'm trying to imagine his expression while considering whether his prose tastes like a Godiva bar. Maybe like a few bites of an elk's heart after it's been freshly killed? I'm only teasing because I know you can take it.
I read the book last year because I wanted to get know more of McCarthy's writing. It was fierce and violent, but his unique voice was certainly worth it. I preferred 'The Road', which was incredibly bleak and terrifying, but still managed to carry hope.