Cities of the Plain (McCarthy, Cormac, Border Trilogy, Volume 3/Cassette/Abridged)

Far be it from me to find fault with McCarthy. Perhaps 'Cities' does not plumb the dark depths of the human soul to the extent of 'The Crossing', but it is no departure from the familiar themes of mortality and men's brutal, inhuman interactions. If anything, the pared down story's directness makes the book more approachable. If you've read and appreciated the first...more

Far be it from me to find fault with McCarthy. Perhaps 'Cities' does not plumb the dark depths of the human soul to the extent of 'The Crossing', but it is no departure from the familiar themes of mortality and men's brutal, inhuman interactions. If anything, the pared down story's directness makes the book more approachable. If you've read and appreciated the first two books of the trilogy, you'll likely be satisfied with this one as well. (One hesitates to use descriptors connoting happiness when describing McCarthy's novels.)Some reviewers have not responded favorably to the manner in which the story ends. I think Eduardo the pimp would say it best: They have in their heads a certain story. Of how things will be. In this story they will be happy. What is wrong with this story? What is wrong with this story is that it is not a true story.Though the characters' fates are long foreshadowed, McCarthy's execution of the tale is no less crushing.   hide