Why was tough for you? The violence or the writing style ?

Try As I Lay Dying.

Ah you just aren’t a fan of McCarthy writing style and that’s ok it’s not for everyone. Best way I can describe it is Cormac McCarthy novels don’t have any bloat, what you see on the page is exactly what he wants you to see and read. It can blend from him describing something to someone talking and if you aren’t used to it than you’ll hate it. You also did kinda jump into the deep end of the pool with The Road. It’s renowned but it’s also a difficult read especially if you haven’t read any of his other works. Try Blood Meridian (it’s extremely violent so be careful) or No Country For Old Men (Book is better than the movie) or even his early works like All The Pretty Horses. As for the Faulkner comparisons it’s more the similarities of southern poetry and southern gothic styles. Similar but also very different.

If you like Faulkner you’ll like McCarthy.

Lonesome Dove

Eh I could believe it. Sure I know a lot of people who don’t read but the ones who do read make up for it. I read all the time and can put a book or 2 down a month, my girlfriend can start and finish a book and be done in days. We have a mutual friend who reads all day everyday and puts a book down within a week easily, sometimes 2. And believe it or not social media is playing a big part in getting people to read more, especially among people my age. (20-25) And you’re forgetting who is taking up the majority of that is elderly people. My girlfriend’s grandmother read every book in the Sigma force series by James Rollin in 2 months. It’s like 15 or 16 books by now. So yeah I can totally believe it.

“Whatever exists without my knowledge exists without my consent.”

Richard Poe did Blood Meridian and Suttree and Tom Stechschulte did No Country For Old Men and The Road. Both are incredible narrators who I often look for, I currently have East of Eden in my wishlist just because Richard Poe narrated it. (and it’s also a classic)

Can I ask you where you’re from? You used university so you’re obviously not an American (we say college, don’t know why) and the reason I’m asking is because I read war and peace last year and didn’t love it. Can’t say I didn’t like it because the characters were great and it was following the Napoleonic Wars but when i was all done i just felt meh about it. What made you love it so much? Might it be that im an American and I don’t resonate with it the same way Europeans do?

Violence. That would be the best way to describe it without a spoiler but it’s about a boy who runs away from home and doesn’t just join a band of bad guys he joins a band of pure villains. Some of the most vile and evil characters I’ve seen in a book and some of the most violent set pieces I’ve read. You’ll have a few moments that will leave you feeling sick and grimy and when it’s all done you’ll walk away from it still thinking about it. Another person on here did make the point that if you have children The Road is more disturbing but if you’re looking for a good read either of them are incredible books.

When you know what’s coming the second time around the book is infinitely better and you get the philosophical aspect more. The first time you focus on just the violence, the second time more the story and characters. Give it time, years even but I think you should definitely reread it. But yeah it’s real deal, not for the faint of heart.

I think you feeling that way was exactly what Cormac had in mind. Spoiler for anyone so stop reading, but when his wife kills herself it was depressing but so accurate because be honest if the world ended tomorrow the people who initially survived would start offing themselves within a year. People would start resorting to cannibalism and murder almost immediately. It’s a true apocalypse book that holds no punches and I appreciate it tremendously.

If you can’t handle the road steer clear of Blood Meridian lol

Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Once when I was a teen and another when I was a young girl adult (still am) and just in those few years you understand things and characters so much differently. Great read highly recommend.

WAR AND PEACE

Sigma Force series by James Rollins. I haven’t read the last 4 or 5 but the whole series is entertaining with fun and dynamic characters.