Cormac McCarthy's personal library

Re:Cormac McCarthy's personal library by justupvoting on Thursday October 02, 2025 @08:13AM (#45448640)

I think McCarthy is one of the greatest American writers, but I will say my two main gripes with him are his tendency to drift over the line into overwrought (sometimes the biblical language is incredibly powerful, sometimes not), and his utter inability to write women.

He did ok with Alicia in his last couple books, but even there he flounders some. "If I had a baby I wouldn't care about reality"? Hmm, ok?

"His face was all covered in girljuice"? C'mon bud.

But no writer is flawless.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Cormac McCarthy's personal library by Slow_Hand on Thursday October 02, 2025 @05:15PM (#45455658)

Watched a video essay yesterday by a female reader who found the Aunt’s four page monologue in ‘All the Pretty Horses’ one of the most insightful and moving explanations of women she’d ever read.

She was particularly surprised to find such a passage in a book by McCarthy who she expected to be some gruff man’s man.

I haven’t read that passage myself, but seemingly Cormac was capable of writing women when he chose to. Perhaps not enough, though.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Cormac McCarthy's personal library by justupvoting on Saturday October 04, 2025 @12:43PM (#45474635)

It's funny you mention it; I have a friend who writes books who had trouble with McCarthy and I recently mentioned this same criticism. I suggested ATPH to her and this same character came to mind as a decent piece of work on that subject.

I will say this about the passage tho: McCarthy writes a small narrative which does seem to explain her choices and character as it affects John Grady. It's convincing, and she's a good character, but even there she's something of a set piece.

Still, glad you mentioned this. Thanks.

[ Parent | on HN ]