All the Pretty Horses

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Summary: Breathtaking prose filled with sublime power.
Review: What a fantastic book. Somehow both stark and lush at the same time. McCarthy's power of description is astonishing. A handful of scenes here are among the best of modern American writing. I'm no fan of the Western, but this work transcends mere genre to achieve an effect that stuns. You know you've read a book when you put Horses down finally. One minor point: perhaps a few less "ands" next time.

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Summary: Best book I've ever read!!! Volumes 1,2 pale in comparison.
Review: Loved it from beginning to end. Grady is the best character in American literature today. Great use of language, and not too much talking, which hurts many great books. Very unique style.

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Summary: Masterfully written; a beautiful classic piece...
Review: Perhaps the beauty of McCarthy's work is one that men can relate more to; the fantastic grittiness that is found in the myth of the cowboy, the mystique of the ranch-- fully laced with black coffee and hand-rolled cigarettes. But this piece is more than just a good story; it is undoubtedly artistic in its nature, beautifully written with its unique prose style and inconsiderate use of Spanish. One critic stated that a film version of this novel may destroy its true quality; however, if it was as masterfully directed as say, "The Thin Red Line", it would be an accompished movie as well. I recommend this novel without reservation; I believe that McCarthy is the best contemporary writer alive, bar none.

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Summary: This novel will affect you.
Review: Run-on sentences and a lack of quotation marks is no reason to condemn this beautifully-written novel. Actually, I found Mr. McCarthy's style wonderful because it gave me the feeling that I wasn't reading the story, but rather it was being told to me. This was appropriate, since the story felt more like a mythic tale than a western. On many levels this is a book about journeys. John Grady Cole embarks not only on a physical trek, but an inward maturation. He is escaping from a country that is maturing itself, and threatens to have no place for his type anymore. Those looking for a fast-paced "shoot 'em up" will be disappointed. McCarthy's writing is truly reminiscent of Faulkner. The content is more philosophical than action-packed. Overall, the word that best describes the book is "hypnotic."

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Summary: Where art and writing meet
Review: For those who did not particulairly like this book for its long sentences and use of Spanish, I say go back to reading the mundane and boorish books you must be use to. This is a classic mix of art and writing that is lost on so many books today. Most books I've read lately seem to have been adopted by the writers of USA Today. Why not read something that will cause you to slow down for a second and read a book the way you would sip a 12 year-old scotch. Imbibe the words and let them swirl in your mind. All the Pretty Hosrses is worth the slow digestion.

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Summary: Lyrical?schmyrical, This guy can flat write........
Review: I will not see the upcoming movie, especially if it has Brad Pitt in it. Strange how when I was reading the book, I thought to myself "Please don't ruin the character of John Grady Cole by having Brad Pitt play him in the film...." It will attract the wrong kind of people to Mcarthy's writing, meaning the superficial teenyboppers and gum-snappers, empty headed schoolgirls and others of their ilk. Sorry, ladies, I'm definitley not PC. Read a book selected by your fearless leader(Oprah), just stay away from a story written by a man, for men, for grandfathers, fathers and sons, buds, heroes and villians.......

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Summary: Prose from the soul of texas...............
Review: when i first picked up "All the Pretty Horses", I was struck by the way cormac mcarthy talks....It was as if my father were the one narrating this story, for they both speak the same way, and John is the personification of my Grandad....Those english professors and nitpickers who didn't like it, most likely have never lived a real life and should get out of the classroom or stop watching too much TV...This is one of the best books I have ever had the privelage of reading........

Rating:
Summary: While the dialogue was readable, my interest kept waning
Review: The story of John Grady did not hold my interest as I thought it would when I bought this "award winning" book. It moved very slowly most of the time and I found it difficult to stay tuned. A few scenes were riveting but most of the book was a chore for me to finish. Melvilles Moby Dick comes to mind, another book that had far to many long spaces between the part that were compelling

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Summary: A poetic adventure of two young horsemen--a rare treat.
Review: This is an exciting adventure of two capable, young horsemen travelling through Mexico for a couple of years. The language is poetic, sentences flow like water in a creek, with no strange structures to distract the reader. It's kind of like Robert Frost meets Tom Clancy, only better. I have not read anything else by McCarthy, but I surely will after this. It is just a treasure, a special book like Catcher in the Rye. I would gift this book to anyone who likes horses even a little bit.

Rating:
Summary: Read it.
Review: If you take a look at the reviews for this book, you'll notice several by those who found it "aggrivating" [sic]. If you think you may find it "aggrivating" to read some long sentences and Spanish phrases, and might consider poetic use of language pretentious, then just skip All The Pretty Horses. If, on the other hand, you think you might be able to deal with artful writing, get to your local library or bookstore, pick up a copy, and read one magical, beautiful, memorable, and awesomely well-written novel. John Grady -- and McCarthy's prose -- will haunt you forever.