This novel opens in 1951 Knoxville with the fishing of a body of suicide victim from under a bridge. This opening is characteristic of all McCarthy's books. They are all dark and nihilistic. If you are looking for a "feel good" read, please skip his books. However, if you want an example of a master in the manipulation of the English language to tell a story, be sure to include Cormac McCarthy, who is considered by many to be one of the greatest contemporary American writers. The prose contained within Suttree often could be considered poetic. For example,
Suttree stood among the screaming leaves and called lightening down. It cracked and boomed about and he pointed out the darkened heart within him and cried for light. If there be any art in the weathers of this earth. Or char these bones to coal. If you can, if you can. A blackened rag in the rain.
The book is full of such jewels of prose poems. His metaphors are beautiful and easily pictured.
Corneilius Suttree is a young man who has abandoned wealth and family to live on a shantyboat on the Tennessee River with neighbors on the periphery of society, or as a judge in the novel describes, "thieves, derelicts, miscreants, pariahs, poltroons, spalpeens..." followed by three more lines of similar adjectives. Their nom de plumes include titles such as J-Bone, Bucket, Worm, and a man called a racial slur. Warning: If you are sensitive to racial epithets, you better avoid this book, however, they are representative of the mid-20th century South.
The gloom and doom of this novel is balanced by humorous episodes, especially the antics of a tragicomic character named Gene Harrogate, an 18 year old runaway nicknamed the "city rat." His various "get rich" schemes had me chuckling to myself.
McCartney has a unique writing style including dialogue without quotation marks. However, I found myself easily reading it. I loved this book so much I considered purchasing a first edition, first printing of this book. However, with prices between $5000 - 8000 I will need satisfy myself with an unsigned edition for my library.
Suttree stood among the screaming leaves and called lightening down. It cracked and boomed about and he pointed out the darkened heart within him and cried for light. If there be any art in the weathers of this earth. Or char these bones to coal. If you can, if you can. A blackened rag in the rain.
The book is full of such jewels of prose poems. His metaphors are beautiful and easily pictured.
Corneilius Suttree is a young man who has abandoned wealth and family to live on a shantyboat on the Tennessee River with neighbors on the periphery of society, or as a judge in the novel describes, "thieves, derelicts, miscreants, pariahs, poltroons, spalpeens..." followed by three more lines of similar adjectives. Their nom de plumes include titles such as J-Bone, Bucket, Worm, and a man called a racial slur. Warning: If you are sensitive to racial epithets, you better avoid this book, however, they are representative of the mid-20th century South.
The gloom and doom of this novel is balanced by humorous episodes, especially the antics of a tragicomic character named Gene Harrogate, an 18 year old runaway nicknamed the "city rat." His various "get rich" schemes had me chuckling to myself.
McCartney has a unique writing style including dialogue without quotation marks. However, I found myself easily reading it. I loved this book so much I considered purchasing a first edition, first printing of this book. However, with prices between $5000 - 8000 I will need satisfy myself with an unsigned edition for my library.