Post by polish6 on May 20, 2017 9:54:20 GMT
Dear All,
This book is loosely based on real events, which occurred in 1850, around the area of the old Wild West in USA. It is an epic novel, and describes the sheer violence/depravity which accompanied America’s westward expansion. The writer turns our old ideas of the Wild West on their head by subverting this mythology.
The book concerns a 14-year-old young man, the Kid, who is caught up in a hellish world where Indians are murdered, and the market for their scalps is thriving. Into this world steps the judge, the main character in the book, who introduces the Kid to his nightmarish exploits.
From the above description, the book sounds like hard work. Why should anyone read this book, if the scenes are so horrific/depraved? I had the same reservations, particularly about the first 200 pages. I seriously asked myself, “Why am I still reading this?” For no logical explanation, I kept going with it. I am glad I did. The novel is simply superbly written, by someone who has written other fine books, like “All The Pretty Horses” and “The Crossing”.
The book is very powerful indeed, very unsettling but very well written. I can look back now on my comment and say “I kept on reading because this book is so well written and shows a very strange world, which fascinates me”.
I would recommend this book to anybody who has ever read a book by Cormac McCarthy. He is a fine writer indeed. Perhaps he has written better books, but he has never written anything quite so powerful and unsettling. I would also recommend this book to anybody who likes to read horror books. You will not be disappointed, but perhaps surprised as to how well written the book is.
Lastly, one of the main characters in this book is the judge, whom many liken to the devil. The Bookseller carried out a survey in 2002, and asked who has been the most memorable character in literature since 1900? High up on the list came the judge, from this book.
Do read this book, though you may need a strong stomach.
This book is loosely based on real events, which occurred in 1850, around the area of the old Wild West in USA. It is an epic novel, and describes the sheer violence/depravity which accompanied America’s westward expansion. The writer turns our old ideas of the Wild West on their head by subverting this mythology.
The book concerns a 14-year-old young man, the Kid, who is caught up in a hellish world where Indians are murdered, and the market for their scalps is thriving. Into this world steps the judge, the main character in the book, who introduces the Kid to his nightmarish exploits.
From the above description, the book sounds like hard work. Why should anyone read this book, if the scenes are so horrific/depraved? I had the same reservations, particularly about the first 200 pages. I seriously asked myself, “Why am I still reading this?” For no logical explanation, I kept going with it. I am glad I did. The novel is simply superbly written, by someone who has written other fine books, like “All The Pretty Horses” and “The Crossing”.
The book is very powerful indeed, very unsettling but very well written. I can look back now on my comment and say “I kept on reading because this book is so well written and shows a very strange world, which fascinates me”.
I would recommend this book to anybody who has ever read a book by Cormac McCarthy. He is a fine writer indeed. Perhaps he has written better books, but he has never written anything quite so powerful and unsettling. I would also recommend this book to anybody who likes to read horror books. You will not be disappointed, but perhaps surprised as to how well written the book is.
Lastly, one of the main characters in this book is the judge, whom many liken to the devil. The Bookseller carried out a survey in 2002, and asked who has been the most memorable character in literature since 1900? High up on the list came the judge, from this book.
Do read this book, though you may need a strong stomach.