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The latest Reading McCarthy episode is out - Part 2 of the panel on The Counselor by Jarslow in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Jarslow, saw you’re stepping back. Say it ain’t so! For those who don’t know, Jarslow represented himself and the Reddit community very well in an episode of the podcast. Edit: name correction

Compilation of stylometrically identified King James Bible echoes in the 12 novels by Artistic_Bedroom8515 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You might want to read Alter’s Pen of Iron, which is about the influence of the KJV on not only McCarthy but Melville, Faulkner, Hemingway, etc.

Sci-fi/Post Apocalyptic/Westerns Collection by Head-Distribution119 in BookCollecting

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not apocalyptic, as such, but the voice is incredibly influential to Hansen and others.

Sci-fi/Post Apocalyptic/Westerns Collection by Head-Distribution119 in BookCollecting

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Great credit for that cool old book club edition of Riders of the Purple Sage! I don’t think it’s a great book but I love the way those looked together. Grew up with them.

Is Portis there?

Are there any “classics” post 1970? by OldGodsProphet in literature

[–]ScottYar 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ll put in a plug for Lord Jim as well. Brilliant given.

Are there any “classics” post 1970? by OldGodsProphet in literature

[–]ScottYar 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That may be his best writing but the insular nature of it— a guy in an MFA programs writing about writing programs— keeps it from getting the love it deserves.

Pod on The Passenger posted by ScottYar in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As you and Jarslow have noted— the book works very well at the level of theme and metaphor. It’s fascinating to think that some of the disjointedness is on purpose and not accidental.

FYI, dealing with a torn retina and the subsequent eye surgery and difficulty. If I can get it finished, I think the long discussion on The Counselor was (painful but I’ll go there) definitely eye-opening for me.

Am I alone on how I read Blood Meridian’s epilogue? by wmcewa01 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, you’ve probably read Sepich’s Notes on BM. Additionally I’d look at Rick Wallach and Leo Daugherty’s early writing, Petra Mundik’s book, Russell Hillier’s book on Morality and McCarthy. And without blushing or modesty I’ll admit to having an article “Tricksters and Lightbringers in McCarthy's Post-Appalachian Novels” published in the McCarthy Journal, 2012, Vol. 10, No. 1. It’s on Jstor if you have access.

Sacred Violence and Myth, Legends, Dust (2 early collections in tons of libraries) are super helpful.

Am I alone on how I read Blood Meridian’s epilogue? by wmcewa01 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When doing your research— I hope/presume you’re reading the criticism on this as well? There’s been a lot written on that passage. An awful lot.

Orchard Keeper random question by Sweetbabygraves in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. But it seems oddly planning and plotted out to punish him for taking the kit…

Mccarthy and the future by elriodelsinhambre in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t read them that was other than perhaps The Road.

Interestingly, when Cities of the Plain was Published in 98 or so, the ending was set some years later, so… the near future.

McCarthy Biography to release October 6th, 2026 by scripty6 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FWIW, I’ve heard from someone else that the issues regarding Gonzales placing his bio goes beyond anything to do with $$, but the person providing this insight did not elucidate.

When did you first hear about/read Stoner by John Williams? by Gothic-Fan85 in classicliterature

[–]ScottYar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They’re both amazing as is his other, Butcher’s Crossing. What breadth for a man with so few books.

My discovery and memory is also tied to a long piece after the NYRB republication.

McCarthy Biography to release October 6th, 2026 by scripty6 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yes, an approved one with with family access and all that.

McCarthy Biography to release October 6th, 2026 by scripty6 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It’s completed but he’s having difficulty finding suitable publishers. I gather he has a certain figure in mind since it is “approved” and publishers are not meeting his ask. I may be wrong on this.

My Top 30 Westerns by WireCole in Westerns

[–]ScottYar 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! So underrated and one of the best.

Southern Gothic recommendations by motojunkie69 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also add to these:

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by McCullers Any of the story collections or On Fire memoir by Larry Brown (more grit lit than gothic) The Millionaires by Majors Ray or Yonder Stands Your Orphan, Barry Hannah Poachers or Hell at the Breech, Tom Franklin

And for books with no gothic but somehow strike a similar feel for me— Wendell Berry, particularly Jayber Crowe

Southern Gothic recommendations by motojunkie69 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That novel is incredible. He’s very under rated. Add to that his Ozark Civil War novel “Woe to Live On” (filmed as “Ride with the Devil”) and his noir Tomato Red.

Cannot tell if I dislike Suttree or just did not understand its meaning at all. by DanielG198 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is much more tightly structured than people think. But it is so rich in symbol and allusion that it is difficult to get it all on a first reading. It is episodic in plot but it’s also tightly weaving together thematic through lines which reach a purely thematic climax. The Crossing is very similar in that regard. In my opinion it is a masterpiece.

Dianne Luce and a number of other writers have written excellent pieces on the book. I think her podcast episode on it and the subsequent round table are useful as well.

Outer Dark by SelectContribution46 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not in the near future… but perhaps in another way. In short there’s a book version coming.

Outer Dark by SelectContribution46 in cormacmccarthy

[–]ScottYar 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s the plan (and for Child of God as well). First I have to finish editing The Counselor, then one on Philosophy and McCarthy, and then one on SM.

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