Rating: 
Summary: One of the worst books ever...
Review: Did I read a different book than the other reviewers? 'Cities of the Plain' was absolutely terrible. I can't believe I managed to make it through the whole thing. I listened to it on cassette so I guess it must have been Brad Pitt's voice that kept me going...because it sure wasn't the writing. It was overly descriptive of background stuff that wasn't essential to the plot and that I didn't care about. The plot was flat and predictable. Don't waste your time or money!
Rating: 
Summary: the sad ending of the trilogy
Review: Enjoyed this book very much. Always feel sad when I think about this book. I think that the 'knife fight' scene is great. Would seem impossible to me to have read the first two books and not 'the ending'. I look at the 'boys' as metaphors of myself in the ways that they would rather 'pay the price' than 'obey the rules'.
Rating:
Summary: Why Billy? Why?
Review: First: I read the Border Trilogy this week. I haven't read any other McCarthy literature. I was told that if I liked Larry McMurtry, Steinbeck, and Salinger then I would love McCarthy. The first thing I bought was The Crossing. Upon realizing it was part of a trilogy with All The Pretty Horses as the first installment, I was very disappointed. I had no intrest in a Hollywood western novel. But, I grudgingly purchased All The Pretty Horses and read it. (Have not watched movie). That said...Cormac McCarthy far surpasses any living writer with which I have come in contact. If I had the masterful ability with language that he does, I could express that in a much more emphatic manner. Any reviewer who complains about things such as puncuation, grammer, or spanish-I feel compelled to respond with this:
1. Would you prefer that all painters created exact duplicates of their subject matter? Are we not better, as a society and as a species, for taking our interpretations further and showing those things we are already intimate with in a fresh or different way? Would you say 'cubism', for instance, is too complicated for you?
2. Are you 25 years old or less? Do you have any true ability to surive in a harsh world without parental aide? The struggles depicted in this novel would, of course, be difficult to fathom in that scenario, especially when teamed with non-traditional grammar and punctuation and a lack of a personal translator.
3. If neither of the two applies to a negative reviewer, perhaps your solution would be ritalin. It is supposed to assist in 'focus'. On to the review: All the Pretty Horses is the 'prettiest' of the three. The least bleak, possesses the least darkness. John Grady Cole, loses what he allows himself to lose. He is afforded by McCarthy some level of self determination. He rarely states a prediction that does not become so. He never throws a rope without catching what he intends. Even in the darkest scenes, if John Grady fights for something, he seems to get it. The Crossing's main character was just the opposite. Billy Parnham will never get anything he for which he fights. He will always align himself most closely with a losing cause. It seems that he is completely asexual, and the closest bonds he forms almost always precede the demise of said character/animal. There is something striking in the fact that the moral stance, character, sense of justice are nearly identical for John and Billy. Yet John wins, and Billy loses. Repeatedly. Yet it is Billy who survives all contests, all tragedies, all of his closest bonds. Billy's 'heart' is never joined with any group or idea or convention larger than land and animals. At some points his 'heart' is rejected; but is his survival possibly attributed to his lack of truly 'giving' his 'heart' to any passionate cause? The passion Billy gives us in the final scene of The Crossing, the self-realization and anger and utter despairing are so exceedingly rare that your tears are nearly required after finishing this book.
As you might be able to tell, it would take far more than the 1000 word limit to fully explore the metaphors, symbolism, or intentions of McCarthy's characters. The Cities on the Plain brings the two that abadonded their families in favor of the dust of the road together in this final installment. While personally jostled by Billy's transition from complete and total sorrow (in the conclusion of The Crossing) to the casual, easy going buddy (in the opening of The Cities), that is the only fault worth mentioning. The theme may or may not be this: We don't know anything and neither does anyone else. The nuggets of wisdom that our heroes encounter from the journeying, extrapolating, strangers they meet are proof of this, and, an indication that these books could be re-read hundreds of times. The Crossing, in my view, is the strongest of the three, with The Cities of the Plain second and All the Pretty Horses, obviously, third. The Cities of the Plain would be wasted as read without the other two.
Rating:
Summary: Why Billy? Why?
Review: First: I read the Border Trilogy this week. I haven't read any other McCarthy literature. I was told that if I liked Larry McMurtry, Steinbeck, and Salinger then I would love McCarthy. The first thing I bought was The Crossing. Upon realizing it was part of a trilogy with All The Pretty Horses as the first installment, I was very disappointed. I had no intrest in a Hollywood western novel. But, I grudgingly purchased All The Pretty Horses and read it. (Have not watched movie). That said... Cormac McCarthy far surpasses any living writer with which I have come in contact. If I had the masterful ability with language that he does, I could express that in a much more emphatic manner. Any reviewer who complains about things such as puncuation, grammer, or spanish-I feel compelled to respond with this:
1. Would you prefer that all painters created exact duplicates of their subject matter? Are we not better, as a society and as a species, for taking our interpretations further and showing those things we are already intimate with in a fresh or different way? Would you say 'cubism', for instance, is too complicated for you?
2. Are you 25 years old or less? Do you have any true ability to surive in a harsh world without parental aide? The struggles depicted in this novel would, of course, be difficult to fathom in that scenario, especially when teamed with non-traditional grammar and punctuation and a lack of a personal translator.
3. If neither of the two applies to a negative reviewer, perhaps your solution would be ritalin. It is supposed to assist in 'focus'. On to the review: All the Pretty Horses is the 'prettiest' of the three. The least bleak, possesses the least darkness. John Grady Cole, loses what he allows himself to lose. He is afforded by McCarthy some level of self determination. He rarely states a prediction that does not become so. He never throws a rope without catching what he intends. Even in the darkest scenes, if John Grady fights for something, he seems to get it. The Crossing's main character was just the opposite. Billy Parnham will never get anything he for which he fights. He will always align himself most closely with a losing cause. It seems that he is completely asexual, and the closest bonds he forms almost always precede the demise of said character/animal. There is something striking in the fact that the moral stance, character, sense of justice are nearly identical for John and Billy. Yet John wins, and Billy loses. Repeatedly. Yet it is Billy who survives all contests, all tragedies, all of his closest bonds. Billy's 'heart' is never joined with any group or idea or convention larger than land and animals. At some points his 'heart' is rejected; but is his survival possibly attributed to his lack of truly 'giving' his 'heart' to any passionate cause? The passion Billy gives us in the final scene of The Crossing, the self-realization and anger and utter despairing are so exceedingly rare that your tears are nearly required after finishing this book.
As you might be able to tell, it would take far more than the 1000 word limit to fully explore the metaphors, symbolism, or intentions of McCarthy's characters. The Cities on the Plain brings the two that abadonded their families in favor of the dust of the road together in this final installment. While personally jostled by Billy's transition from complete and total sorrow (in the conclusion of The Crossing) to the casual, easy going buddy (in the opening of The Cities), that is the only fault worth mentioning. The theme may or may not be this: We don't know anything and neither does anyone else. The nuggets of wisdom that our heroes encounter from the journeying, extrapolating, strangers they meet are proof of this, and, an indication that these books could be re-read hundreds of times. The Crossing, in my view, is the strongest of the three, with The Cities of the Plain second and All the Pretty Horses, obviously, third. The Cities of the Plain would be wasted as read without the other two.
Rating:
Summary: An American Classic
Review: Frank Muller, reading CITIES ON THE PLAIN, captures Cormac McCarthy's western characters, his unique rhythm, and voice with such profound understanding that this recording itself is an American classic. A story of commitment and loss, CITIES ON THE PLAIN explores the relationship of John Grady Cole, a maverick innocent holding to principles as pure as the nature of horses in a land reshaped by forces of corruption, and his world-wise companion Billy Parham, who shares his convictions for the sake of loyalty and friendship. Cole's quest to rescue and marry a teenage prostitute from across the border, becomes not just an obsession but a meditation that gains strength with each encounter in the novel. With moments of high comedy and tragedy, the adventures of John Grady Cole and Billy Parham attain a philosophical resonance found in Melville and Morrison. Frank Muller casts McCarthy's spell upon his audience, revealing the author in all of his strength. The power of this novel is not easily shaken off. It will stay with you along with Muller's performance.
Rating: 
Summary: Final book of the border triology a challenging read.
Review: I couldn't wait to read this book after reading and enjoying the first two book of the border triology. "All the Pretty Horses" is my favorite book of the series; the writing is lovely in its description of the western landscape and the cowboy lifestyle that is disappearing in the modern world. The beginning of the second book, "The Crossing", is marvelous in its evocation of the link between man and nature, and natures link to the true law or character of our world. The rest of the book had too much philosophy and mysticism for me, but it was still an interesting read. "Cities of the Plains", the final book of the triology, has both the main characters from the previous novels. This is my least favorite of the three, but I still think McCarthy's work is of a very high caliber. In this novel he tries to combine the themes (death of the western lifestyle, the existence of a world of truth beyond our own, the indifference of the universe to the events of our lives) of the previous two two novels. I think that he ultimately succeeds but the much of the writing does not contain the lyrical beauty and poinancy of the first two novels. I also find the habit of writing some of the important dialogue between two characters in Spanish very annoying. It is difficult enough to understand what is meant in the passages of this book, as McCarthy does not express or explain the thoughts or emotion of his characters, without trying to understand the Spanish. Also the end of the book contains a mystical, philisophical conversation about a dream which may be puzzling to some readers, although I think that it enhances the meaning of the plot and themes of the novel. I recommend this book as a challenging and interesting read, especially if you have read the previous two novels of the border triology.
Rating:
Summary: Final book of the border triology a challenging read.
Review: I couldn't wait to read this book after reading and enjoying the first two book of the border triology. "All the Pretty Horses" is my favorite book of the series; the writing is lovely in its description of the western landscape and the cowboy lifestyle that is disappearing in the modern world. The beginning of the second book, "The Crossing", is marvelous in its evocation of the link between man and nature, and natures link to the true law or character of our world. The rest of the book had too much philosophy and mysticism for me, but it was still an interesting read. "Cities of the Plains", the final book of the triology, has both the main characters from the previous novels. This is my least favorite of the three, but I still think McCarthy's work is of a very high caliber. In this novel he tries to combine the themes (death of the western lifestyle, the existence of a world of truth beyond our own, the indifference of the universe to the events of our lives) of the previous two two novels. I think that he ultimately succeeds but the much of the writing does not contain the lyrical beauty and poinancy of the first two novels. I also find the habit of writing some of the important dialogue between two characters in Spanish very annoying. It is difficult enough to understand what is meant in the passages of this book, as McCarthy does not express or explain the thoughts or emotion of his characters, without trying to understand the Spanish. Also the end of the book contains a mystical, philisophical conversation about a dream which may be puzzling to some readers, although I think that it enhances the meaning of the plot and themes of the novel. I recommend this book as a challenging and interesting read, especially if you have read the previous two novels of the border triology.
Rating:
Summary: pleasantly surprised
Review: I had heard bad things about this book, so I was hesitant about reading it. And to be honest, I was disappointed to see John Grady Cole and Billy Parham united. Billy wasn't much of a surprise, but after the end of ALL THE PRETTY HORSES I didn't expect to see John Grady again. Eventually I was able to put my preconceptions aside and discovered that I was reading a marvelous book. The essence of ranch life is captured in all its painful detail. The death of this way of life is felt with every word, and the entire plot of the novel seems to be a metaphor for that extinction. The lyricism of McCarthy's writing was ever-present. Vastly superior to THE CROSSING.
Rating:
Summary: Campaign for Quotation Marks
Review: I join with others in heaping accolades of affection on this book, even if it was following the pattern of the two earlier books in the trilogy. Having lived in West Texas, I can attest to the brilliance of the author's description of the terrain and the cowboy occupants in it. JUST ONE COMPLAINT: I am hereby starting a nationwide campaign to collect money to help purchase quotation marks for McCarthy's typewriter (which I understand he still uses vs. wordprocessors.) Maybe even a comma or two. His dialogue is superb, but how much easier it would be to follow were he to use standard methods of presenting it. Maybe that's the point, that he wants to make it difficult to follow. If so, he succeeds. Nonetheless, great, though predictable, book.
Rating:
Summary: this book is awe-SOME
Review: I just finished the Border Trilogy. The books get better and better. Cities of the Plain was my favorite. It has the most action. I generally don't read the works of living writers. I find most modern subject matter socially and spiritually unredeeming. But McCarthy's stuff is all about society and spirit! Remember that part in The Crossing where he says that you have to live with men instead of merely passing among them? That was pretty cool.
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