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I also prefer his earlier books! They are so hauntingly, beautifully dark, and very rich.

Tara wrote: "I also prefer his earlier books! They are so hauntingly, beautifully dark, and very rich."

Good to know, Tara! I know a lot of people really love his later work, but to me his earlier books are so much better--so much richer, as you say, and denser and darker and just more interesting.

I've yet to read any McCarthy, though it is often suggested (especially lately) that I read him. Where do you think is a good place to start?

Ben wrote: "I've yet to read any McCarthy, though it is often suggested (especially lately) that I read him. Where do you think is a good place to start?"

Great question, Ben. I think Blood Meridian is his finest work, an amazing piece of fiction, so you could always start there. In fact, if you told me you were only going to read one McCarthy novel, I'd say read Blood Meridian. But if you're committed to reading a few of his books and want to build up to Blood Meridian, you could start a little earlier, with his second novel, Outer Dark, which is shorter and, while not as great as Blood Meridian, effectively introduces McCarthy's bleak world. You can't go wrong with either one. I hope this helps!

Nice review Michael. I actually like much of his work, I just find that it's different through time. It evolves as he does, as do we all.

Mackey wrote: "Nice review Michael. I actually like much of his work, I just find that it's different through time. It evolves as he does, as do we all."

Thanks, Mackey! Yes, his work certainly does evolve and change over time, which makes it so interesting. That's a nice way to put it--that it changes as do we all. Even if I prefer some of his work right now, I'm glad he's not simply writing the same material over and over, but is letting it become something different. And as always, I'm open to the fact that I too continue to change as a reader, which means my own preferences are evolving too.

Interesting. I look at Child of God and don't see a vast difference between that and his two most recent works. I'm sure it's all in ones perspective and reading tastes, as you say.