bjournal::juxtapoz

I’ve read two Cormac McCarthy books so far, and I have absolutely loved both of them. Though, I have to say that I preferred The Road to this one (The Crossing rests comfortably on my bookshelf, just waiting to be held…). I find McCarthy’s writing style addictive and his stories inviting. They sometimes cut you with their brutal look at the world, but that is an intentional choice by the author, who believes that if it isn’t about Life and Death, then it isn’t worth writing about.

This book muses on how much worse off the world is now than, say, forty years ago. His characters muse on the reasons for this, but the only real conclusion that seems to be drawn is, “yes, much worse.” The book is mercilessly violent, which isn’t surprising. Perhaps the image that will clearly be in my mind the longest is of the weapon one of the main characters uses to kill his enemies. I had to research it to see what it was, and it honestly made me a little ill.

I didn’t eat meat tonight, either.