Always thought McCarthy’s prose could be way smoother. I’ve read writers who go long and fast, and they glide way more than he does. But reading him is like running your hand down a broomstick with little slits chopped into it or like feeling the edges of a finished puzzle. You catch every break. Half the time, I can’t even tell if it’s …
Always thought McCarthy’s prose could be way smoother. I’ve read writers who go long and fast, and they glide way more than he does. But reading him is like running your hand down a broomstick with little slits chopped into it or like feeling the edges of a finished puzzle. You catch every break. Half the time, I can’t even tell if it’s fast or slow. Gotta read it again. Can’t even explain it. Feels like he wrote and rewrote, picking every word on its own. And then most of it, two- or three-syllable words... ninety percent of a novel.
No clue how he makes me love him that much. The guy was unreal. And I really appreciate you helping me get this stuff. Keep it up.
He must have felt it too. You’d think stringing a bunch of English words together in a more familiar way would streamline the reader through his complex thoughts, but no. I guess he wasn’t the type to finish his sentences for himself. Bet there are words in his books that have never even been near each other before. 🙏
Always thought McCarthy’s prose could be way smoother. I’ve read writers who go long and fast, and they glide way more than he does. But reading him is like running your hand down a broomstick with little slits chopped into it or like feeling the edges of a finished puzzle. You catch every break. Half the time, I can’t even tell if it’s fast or slow. Gotta read it again. Can’t even explain it. Feels like he wrote and rewrote, picking every word on its own. And then most of it, two- or three-syllable words... ninety percent of a novel.
No clue how he makes me love him that much. The guy was unreal. And I really appreciate you helping me get this stuff. Keep it up.
I know what you mean. There are repeated stylistic choices that seem intentionally jarring.
Appreciate the reply, man.
He must have felt it too. You’d think stringing a bunch of English words together in a more familiar way would streamline the reader through his complex thoughts, but no. I guess he wasn’t the type to finish his sentences for himself. Bet there are words in his books that have never even been near each other before. 🙏