These are novels written by a man in his 80s, clearing out the remaining threads of his creative processes. Less interested in plot, more interested in conversation. It took a me a 2nd and 3rd read of The Passenger for it to open up more fully. It’s more of a journey into tragedy, of mental illness, of illicit love and of living life in the legacy of the hydrogen bomb. A man of McCarthys age is more interested in rumination than in plot advancement and a reader half his age is likely to wonder why.
Great assessment of both books and who they will appeal to. I think they are the kind of books I am mostly done with. I honestly cant see how that other reviewer thinks that The Passenger is McCarthy's best.
Didn’t find this review that helpful. If you’re a classic reader, who requires plot advancement, you’re going to skim through sections that on the second or third read contain philosophical value. When you finish, you realize that it wasn’t about the plot but it was about the philosophical value all along and you have to search for it. I find the kid to be a distraction and annoying and purposeless but such as mental illness, to be honest.
_First!_ I _didnt_ DNF 'em, but I took them back to the library 😂 IMA wait till my LIBBY free audio comes up, then get the books, February is do damned busy, for me! Brian @Bookish didnt like them, either. A CODA, ah? 🤔 Im _still_ gonna read it! Someday 😳
Great reviews. I’m not sure whether your description of this makes me want to read it more or less. On one hand, it sounds quite interesting, but on the other it sounds like it might be more work than I want to put into fun reading. 😅
Did you ever see Katherine Bigelow’s film Strange Days? It takes up turn-of-the-millennium fears of police and political conspiracy and does something really interesting thing with them. I suspect you’d like it a lot.
@@anotherbibliophilereads Thanks for your quick response! That helps to put your comments in perspective. I loved Blood Meridian but haven't read any others so far.
These are novels written by a man in his 80s, clearing out the remaining threads of his creative processes. Less interested in plot, more interested in conversation. It took a me a 2nd and 3rd read of The Passenger for it to open up more fully. It’s more of a journey into tragedy, of mental illness, of illicit love and of living life in the legacy of the hydrogen bomb. A man of McCarthys age is more interested in rumination than in plot advancement and a reader half his age is likely to wonder why.
For me the books just didn't hold up against his earlier work.
Great assessment of both books and who they will appeal to. I think they are the kind of books I am mostly done with. I honestly cant see how that other reviewer thinks that The Passenger is McCarthy's best.
I'm mostly done with those types of books too. Is this what happens as we get older?
@@anotherbibliophilereads Winning middle age involves not having your life become fit material for a Cormac McCarthy novel, I think.
I'll pass. Thanks
You won’t regret it.
Thank you Greg , this was a great review. I probably won’t read this book. Due to the review .
The front cover is capturing.
No worries if you skip them. McCarthy has better books, IMHO.
@@anotherbibliophilereads I will check them out 🙂
Didn’t find this review that helpful. If you’re a classic reader, who requires plot advancement, you’re going to skim through sections that on the second or third read contain philosophical value. When you finish, you realize that it wasn’t about the plot but it was about the philosophical value all along and you have to search for it. I find the kid to be a distraction and annoying and purposeless but such as mental illness, to be honest.
_First!_ I _didnt_ DNF 'em, but I took them back to the library 😂 IMA wait till my LIBBY free audio comes up, then get the books, February is do damned busy, for me! Brian @Bookish didnt like them, either. A CODA, ah? 🤔 Im _still_ gonna read it! Someday 😳
MJ loved the audiobooks. That might be the best choice.
The Tha-lid-O-myde kid at the start did not work as a character or an imagined concept for me, maybe I should have kept reading though....
Don't worry if you stopped reading. The novel isn't for everyone. I advocate cutting your losses if you're not enjoying the book.
Great reviews. I’m not sure whether your description of this makes me want to read it more or less. On one hand, it sounds quite interesting, but on the other it sounds like it might be more work than I want to put into fun reading. 😅
Putting in work is what a lot of what the fans of these novels seem to want to do.
Did you ever see Katherine Bigelow’s film Strange Days? It takes up turn-of-the-millennium fears of police and political conspiracy and does something really interesting thing with them. I suspect you’d like it a lot.
I have not seen that film. I'll keep it in mind.
You should tell us if you have read and liked any other McCarthy…?
I have read all his books except The Orchard Keeper. His worst are No Country for Old Men and The Road. His best are Blood Meridian and Child of God.
@@anotherbibliophilereads Thanks for your quick response! That helps to put your comments in perspective. I loved Blood Meridian but haven't read any others so far.
Yeah, not for me, lol.
Avoiding books you won't like is every bit as important as finding the ones you will like.
@@anotherbibliophilereads Yes! Too many books and too little time to waste on ones you don't like.
Well these do not sound like my kind of books 😕.
It's OK to say no to these books. Not everyone will like them.