Initial Impressions: Outer Dark, by Cormac McCarthy - August 2023

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Comments on this board should be written with the assumption that not all readers have finished the book. Please take care not to reveal information that might lessen other readers’ enjoyment.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

I’ll probably hop on the audio for this one. Will be my third reading.

[Dave, "Red Sammy"]

I'm looking forward to this one. I've not read it before.

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

For those who have read Donald Ray Pollock, this was on his list of books that influenced him.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I read it before, but won't read it again this time. It is an incredible book.

[Cathrine ☯️]

Audio is all that's available for this one in our system. I'll give it a go at some point, hope I can stay focused.
Thanks for the encouragement Diane.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

Having read this one before I will not do a reread. Too many other falling book stacks to tend to. However plan to read The Ponder this month.

[Lexy]

Started this yesterday and hard to put down. McCarthy, as usual, makes me feel like I’m walking along with Culla & Rinthy on their separate journeys. Don’t believe I have ever heard of either of these names. Intrigued to say the least. Today is my first day of retirement, what better author to start my new journey!

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Congratulations Lexy. You're off to a great start!

[Connie]

Congratulations on your retirement, Lexy You will wonder how you ever had time to work as your days fill up!

[Sue]

Congratulations on your retirement, Lexy!

I hope to start on this tomorrow. It's only available for me on audio also. My library system has just one physical copy and the wait is until the end of August. Hopefully this one isn't hard to follow on audio.

[♥ Sandi ❣]

Connie wrote: "Congratulations on your retirement, Lexy You will wonder how you ever had time to work as your days fill up!"

Soooo true Connie. Congrats to you Lexy.

[Franky]

This one seems much darker than all the others I've read from McCarthy so far.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

I found this one and Child of God his darkest ones so far, but I haven't read Blood Meridian yet. With McCarthy, you have to expect anything.

[Margaret]

Boy howdy, this one ... I'm gonna call it Old Testament Gothic from the get go. Phew, he sure can paint a dark picture.

[Neal]

I read this years ago, on the second reading doesn't seem quite as grim, but still. Outer and Inner Dark as well...

[Laura, "The Tall Woman"]

If you are familiar with the shape of Tennessee, johnson county occupies the very top tip on the right side of the state.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Congratulations on your retirement, Lexi! I retired 2 years ago and am having so much fun I wonder why I put it off so long.
I just now started this, the only McCarthy novel I have yet to read. I've reached the point where I approach each new McCarthy book with a certain amount of dread but it appears to be unwarranted here, at least so far. Yes, it's dark but at least there is yet to be any necrophilia or watermelon abuse.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

McCarthy is almost as good as Shakespeare or Nabokov when it comes to coining new words, and this book has a few. My favorite so far is flaptongued as in "you flaptongued old bat".

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

Methinks McCarthy had the Book of Mark, chapter 5, in mind when he wrote the scene with the herd of pigs. Is he suggesting that Culla may be possessed?