I'm glad you start with instructing on how to read him. I had to read three of his books before I enjoyed him. The Road was my conversion book and No Country for Old Men cemented him for me. As I made my way through The Passenger, I enjoyed it more and more. I'm actually really surprised by the Cormac fans who don't like this book. I'm not saying that I am a scholar or anything, but I can't help think they just aren't "getting it".
Not a word wasted in this review, I think it is very articulate and relatable to anyone reading one of his books. I’m definitely a beginner McCarthy reader (I’m still building the confidence to read Blood Meridian), but his work has been a huge pillar in my writing and personal life. For years I have sworn to read library books, second hand books, or ebooks to keep myself from splurging on bookstores. I borrowed No Country for Old Men from the library but immediately made an excuse to buy it. Same with The Road. I was lucky to find Blood Meridian in a free little library. His writing is definitely my bookstore weakness. Loved this review and am frustrated I didn’t wait for the Vintage paperback. So it goes. Looking forward to your other reviews, you’ve added a lot to my TBR the last few weeks.
Just dive in head first to BM. I started with that and don't regret it at all. It's so good that even if you don't know what is going on, you will get a lot out of it. The sheer force, the virtuosity of the writing is a joy to behold.
I'm reading The Passenger right now and despite being difficult and weird i think it might be a fantastic starting point for people who enjoy post-modern and absurdist literature. Being a fan of books such as gravity's rainbow and the trial i fell in love almost right away with this one, while funnily enough i really struggled with The Road, which was my first (and almost last) McCarthy. I agree with No country for old man though, that's a generally great starting point for newbies!
Big McCarthy fan. Just opened The Passenger. Already a bit lost, but in the best way. I understand what he’s doing. I just needed to come to the internet to see if anyone else was feeling the same. Excited to get through this.
You are my new favourite TH-camr! I discovered you via TH-cam Shorts and have spent the last couple of weeks watching your videos. As recently as earlier today, I find myself thinking "I wish his videos were longer", and then, moments ago, I saw this 11-minute video sitting in my subscriptions. Did I manifest this? Maybe. Either way, exceedingly excited to consume this video and all of your future (and past) videos. Thank you for all the work that goes into these and for your contribution to youtube's literary review community. I buddy-read Sula last year with my mother and would love to hear more reviews of any Toni Morrison works you've read; Song of Solomon really changed my life while I was reading it. Truly something spectacular. I wish you the best and am looking forward to all you have to offer. Thanks, William.
Love the low brow humor, the kid hallucination delivers most of them, but Debussy Field’s BetsyRoss/MarthaWashington “minuets” joke is great, as is the Spanish innkeeper welcoming Bobby with the giraffe who walked into the bar, highballs on me! 😅
Omg I LOVE your channel! It’s my new favorite. I’ve been watching so many of your shorts(which I normally don’t like…I like longer book reviews) but I have come to appreciate them. I have put several books you’ve suggested on my wishlist.
Asked about plans for longer reviews on McCarthy before watching the last 2 minutes of the video. This comment is just a replacement for algorithm reasons lmao. Love the recs and the channel!
Thank you so much for this review. I've been reading McCarthy since The Road and your reflections resonated with me. This really isn't his usual terrain and I wholeheartedly agree folks shouldn't start with this novel. I'm going to listen to that interview - thanks for the heads up!
His writing has a rhythm and has changed my writing. I personally am not a huge fan of his obsessive aversion to dialogue punctuation and his mysterious long stretches of Spanish in the border trilogy, but man, his writing is poetry and so ... contemplative. I have the box set coming my way.
Follow-up: Got the boxed set and immediately read them. Just stupendous. At first I thought it was middling McCarthy, but then they sat with me for weeks... I now rank them near the top of his works.
The first quarter of the book made me think that it was going to be along the lines of No Country for Old Men but definitely ended up being more like Suttree. Very much enjoyed it and look forward to Stella Maris and future re-reads. Also, this book felt weirdly like a Haruki Murakami story in the way it meanders and leans on meaningful explorative dialogue.
I absolutely loved it. Definitely a departure from his typical style. Im certainly used to his prose at this point so it wasn’t too difficult for me. Wish they didn’t “Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 and 2” him but still super excited Stella Maris. It is really needed to fully make sense of the Passenger
Maybe you addressed this in a later video but you seem to have missed that there are two narrators in the book, the main character and his sister who is a schizophrenic. The italicized passages are from her standpoint so of course seem strange.
A little off topic I picked up a copy of a book recommendation from you, the book of goose, will start to read some point today. I were stuck in a reading slump for a good year so hope this will help me get back into reading, also this one your talking about will be no my T.B.R ..
I never read a book where nobody seems to know what had just happened, yet, we all say we enjoyed it. Spoiler alert for anyone reading a review before they actual read the book, it’s not really the mystery the jacket and promotions lead on to be. That being said, I enjoyed reading it for what it was. Reading Stella Maris where something was mentioned that may make sense of what what happening in the Passenger, but I’m not sure of that yet either. Actually not sure if anything.
Fun Fact: I used to live in Sevierville, Tennessee when I was younger. Child of God took place in and around Sevierville in the Sevier county area. 15 years later I end up in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Stella Maris takes place in Black River Falls. I can’t tell you just how shocked I was to find out that McCarthy wrote not just one, but two books that take place in small towns I’ve lived in. Great Review btw!
You speak very well. Great listen. As far as I can tell, this novel is about how the various characters attempt to deal with the fallen nature of our world. I am interested if you agree...
@@williampdozier I hear you. I didn't mean fallen in a biblical sense. More so in a gnostic sense as each main character seems to be grappling with their own sense of loss.
You're like a Cormac McCarthy scholar. Good points about this book potentially being difficult for those new to CM. Reading his previous books to either see if you like his style or to get familiar with it is a good idea. The conversations in his books have no quotation marks and are spaced to show different speakers, so if you read these too fast or are someone not familiar with this style, it would throw you off and make the book not fun to read. Couldn't put this book down. It has some of the best writing CM has ever done, especially the atomic bomb blast descriptions. There are things that are obvious in this book such as the main character (Bobby Western) being a symbol for the West, particularly in the guilt he carries because his father helped create the a-bomb, or his deep sea diving job being an allegory for his search inward (or man's search) to try and understand himself. Some things were not so obvious. Is the love between BW and his sister to be taken literally? The ending was beautiful but not sure I understood it completely. Lots of little references to animals that seem to have bigger meanings or might have none i.e. at the end of the book BW doesn't bother to help a mule attacked by wasps. And who's the old lady he sees on the beach? So much in this book.
I'm glad you start with instructing on how to read him. I had to read three of his books before I enjoyed him. The Road was my conversion book and No Country for Old Men cemented him for me. As I made my way through The Passenger, I enjoyed it more and more. I'm actually really surprised by the Cormac fans who don't like this book. I'm not saying that I am a scholar or anything, but I can't help think they just aren't "getting it".
Two words: Blood Meridian
Not a word wasted in this review, I think it is very articulate and relatable to anyone reading one of his books. I’m definitely a beginner McCarthy reader (I’m still building the confidence to read Blood Meridian), but his work has been a huge pillar in my writing and personal life. For years I have sworn to read library books, second hand books, or ebooks to keep myself from splurging on bookstores. I borrowed No Country for Old Men from the library but immediately made an excuse to buy it. Same with The Road. I was lucky to find Blood Meridian in a free little library. His writing is definitely my bookstore weakness. Loved this review and am frustrated I didn’t wait for the Vintage paperback. So it goes. Looking forward to your other reviews, you’ve added a lot to my TBR the last few weeks.
Thank you so much! If I were to ever find a copy of blood Meridian in a little library I’d be happy for days
Just dive in head first to BM. I started with that and don't regret it at all. It's so good that even if you don't know what is going on, you will get a lot out of it. The sheer force, the virtuosity of the writing is a joy to behold.
I'm reading The Passenger right now and despite being difficult and weird i think it might be a fantastic starting point for people who enjoy post-modern and absurdist literature. Being a fan of books such as gravity's rainbow and the trial i fell in love almost right away with this one, while funnily enough i really struggled with The Road, which was my first (and almost last) McCarthy. I agree with No country for old man though, that's a generally great starting point for newbies!
Big McCarthy fan. Just opened The Passenger. Already a bit lost, but in the best way. I understand what he’s doing. I just needed to come to the internet to see if anyone else was feeling the same. Excited to get through this.
You’ll love it! As you’re already gathering, he’ll reveal all in due time
You are my new favourite TH-camr! I discovered you via TH-cam Shorts and have spent the last couple of weeks watching your videos. As recently as earlier today, I find myself thinking "I wish his videos were longer", and then, moments ago, I saw this 11-minute video sitting in my subscriptions. Did I manifest this? Maybe. Either way, exceedingly excited to consume this video and all of your future (and past) videos. Thank you for all the work that goes into these and for your contribution to youtube's literary review community. I buddy-read Sula last year with my mother and would love to hear more reviews of any Toni Morrison works you've read; Song of Solomon really changed my life while I was reading it. Truly something spectacular. I wish you the best and am looking forward to all you have to offer. Thanks, William.
Wow! Thank you. This is one of the kindest notes I’ve ever read. So glad you’re enjoying the videos 🙏🏻
Sula is my favorite of Morrison’s that I’ve read, but I haven’t gotten to Song of Solomon yet. I bet I can get to it this winter
Post more reviews please! I've loved all your recommendations so far and would love to see you go more in-depth with what you've been reading.
Love the low brow humor, the kid hallucination delivers most of them, but Debussy Field’s BetsyRoss/MarthaWashington “minuets” joke is great, as is the Spanish innkeeper welcoming Bobby with the giraffe who walked into the bar, highballs on me! 😅
Omg I LOVE your channel! It’s my new favorite. I’ve been watching so many of your shorts(which I normally don’t like…I like longer book reviews) but I have come to appreciate them. I have put several books you’ve suggested on my wishlist.
That’s awesome. Glad you’re enjoying! Shorts aren’t normally my preference either but they’ve grown on me
Asked about plans for longer reviews on McCarthy before watching the last 2 minutes of the video. This comment is just a replacement for algorithm reasons lmao. Love the recs and the channel!
Thank you so much for this review. I've been reading McCarthy since The Road and your reflections resonated with me. This really isn't his usual terrain and I wholeheartedly agree folks shouldn't start with this novel. I'm going to listen to that interview - thanks for the heads up!
His writing has a rhythm and has changed my writing. I personally am not a huge fan of his obsessive aversion to dialogue punctuation and his mysterious long stretches of Spanish in the border trilogy, but man, his writing is poetry and so ... contemplative.
I have the box set coming my way.
Follow-up: Got the boxed set and immediately read them. Just stupendous. At first I thought it was middling McCarthy, but then they sat with me for weeks... I now rank them near the top of his works.
The first quarter of the book made me think that it was going to be along the lines of No Country for Old Men but definitely ended up being more like Suttree. Very much enjoyed it and look forward to Stella Maris and future re-reads.
Also, this book felt weirdly like a Haruki Murakami story in the way it meanders and leans on meaningful explorative dialogue.
I absolutely loved it. Definitely a departure from his typical style. Im certainly used to his prose at this point so it wasn’t too difficult for me. Wish they didn’t “Deathly Hallows Pt. 1 and 2” him but still super excited Stella Maris. It is really needed to fully make sense of the Passenger
Maybe you addressed this in a later video but you seem to have missed that there are two narrators in the book, the main character and his sister who is a schizophrenic. The italicized passages are from her standpoint so of course seem strange.
A little off topic I picked up a copy of a book recommendation from you, the book of goose, will start to read some point today. I were stuck in a reading slump for a good year so hope this will help me get back into reading, also this one your talking about will be no my T.B.R ..
P.s the uk cover of the passenger seems more palatable.
Hope you like it! It’s slow but steady and has a ton of heart to it-plus Li’s sentences are clear and good
I never read a book where nobody seems to know what had just happened, yet, we all say we enjoyed it. Spoiler alert for anyone reading a review before they actual read the book, it’s not really the mystery the jacket and promotions lead on to be. That being said, I enjoyed reading it for what it was. Reading Stella Maris where something was mentioned that may make sense of what what happening in the Passenger, but I’m not sure of that yet either. Actually not sure if anything.
He does have a few Dad jokes that hit in the 80's
Some great dialogue between characters and interesting characters.
Was it ever explained who the passenger was, and why Western kept running or did I miss something important?
Fun Fact: I used to live in Sevierville, Tennessee when I was younger. Child of God took place in and around Sevierville in the Sevier county area. 15 years later I end up in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Stella Maris takes place in Black River Falls. I can’t tell you just how shocked I was to find out that McCarthy wrote not just one, but two books that take place in small towns I’ve lived in. Great Review btw!
Whoa. Quite the coincidences!
@@williampdozier I like to believe Cormac has been stalking me 😂
I loved how weird the italicized sections were lol it was so interesting
For sure! Some of the most fun interludes he’s ever written. He has similar interludes in other books, albeit not as zany as they are in The Passenger
You speak very well. Great listen. As far as I can tell, this novel is about how the various characters attempt to deal with the fallen nature of our world. I am interested if you agree...
Yep, it’s definitely cool to see him take on modern times. Though the novel isn’t set in the present it’s full of more modern themes and concerns
@@williampdozier I hear you. I didn't mean fallen in a biblical sense. More so in a gnostic sense as each main character seems to be grappling with their own sense of loss.
Great review and well articulated. Subscribed!
have you read Stoner by John Williams? I think you would like it
No but am adding to my list
You're like a Cormac McCarthy scholar. Good points about this book potentially being difficult for those new to CM. Reading his previous books to either see if you like his style or to get familiar with it is a good idea. The conversations in his books have no quotation marks and are spaced to show different speakers, so if you read these too fast or are someone not familiar with this style, it would throw you off and make the book not fun to read.
Couldn't put this book down. It has some of the best writing CM has ever done, especially the atomic bomb blast descriptions. There are things that are obvious in this book such as the main character (Bobby Western) being a symbol for the West, particularly in the guilt he carries because his father helped create the a-bomb, or his deep sea diving job being an allegory for his search inward (or man's search) to try and understand himself. Some things were not so obvious. Is the love between BW and his sister to be taken literally? The ending was beautiful but not sure I understood it completely. Lots of little references to animals that seem to have bigger meanings or might have none i.e. at the end of the book BW doesn't bother to help a mule attacked by wasps. And who's the old lady he sees on the beach? So much in this book.
I also got some True Detective vibes from it haha. But I agree it isn’t very similar ultimately
Lol good to know I wasn’t alone on this one
@@williampdozier TD season 1 was so good basically anything taking place on the Gulf Coast makes me think of it at this point
You prefer The Passenger over Suttree?
Yeah, Suttree is great too tho
Love your videos
Couldn’t care less! For sure…thanks!
Man, I am so excited to get to it.
Damn interesting!
You need a mic.
Yeah that cover sucks. Loved the book but the cover was a colossal disappointment. The UK cover is dope though
you seem like a cool dude
🤝
Dude.. i love your reviews. LETS BE FRIENDS?