The Crossing (Border Trilogy Series #2)

Great Western Novel Marred By Spanish Dialogue & Unneeded Monologues

In ¿The Crossing¿, Cormac McCarthy evokes the same vanishing ranch culture of the American southwest and northern Mexico as in his ¿All the Pretty Horses¿. In this case, it is set in the late 1930s when the horse-based life is still alive, but is beginning to be replaced by a more modern, automobile-based way of life. McCarthy describes three difficult, physical, dangerous trips into Mexico by Billy Parham and, in one case, with his brother Boyd. The brothers depend on themselves and their knowledge of horses, guns, and how to live off the land in dealing with horse thieves and robbers in a Mexico that is more lawless than the United States. McCarthy reveals a way of life that is much more intense and physically demanding than our sheltered modern life. However, there are two negatives that lower my rating of this book. First, McCarthy makes extensive use of Spanish dialogue throughout the book without providing any English translations. Secondly, the book contains two long (approximately 20 pages each) monologues, one by a hermit priest and one by the wife of a blind soldier, who lost his sight in the Mexican revolution. With these monologues, McCarthy seems to be trying to add a philosophical dimension to the novel (e.g., about God, human suffering, chance in life, blindness and death), but both monologues are tiresome and not well integrated into the novel.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

no words to describe it

Even thought i can not really understand a single word of spanish, just to simply read and know the tone of the words you can understand the book. I am not worried what others think about having to read half a dozen pages in spanish, you simply know what is being said by the tone. This really is another great American Classic. IMO it will go down in American Literature as one of the true greats.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Get a dictionary

If the Spanish bothers you that much, invest in a five dollar espagnol/anglais dictionary. Its worth it! Parham's journey is a long harrowing trek of a boy's voyage of self discovery into becoming a man. It takes you away and you'll want to go back again soon after its done; its a sweet pain that you'll learn to cherish.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

LOVED THIS ONE!!

Although there is hardly any conversation in this book, I was still captivated by the story of young Billy Parham and his brother, Boyd. McCarthy paints quite a picture of their rough life in a desolate, harsh land. The ending was so sad! If you like this book, you need to read THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN by the same author. It picks up when Billy is 27 years old and it has a lot more conversation and characters in it. I will highly recommend either of these books!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you read All The Pretty Horses

Good read following All The Pretty Horses

The Crossing As Wuz

A fifth crossing for me, although this one undertaken in exceptional summer heat and in the company of bad tequila, likely as close to ideal as McCarthy intended it.

Not very interesting

This classic McCarthy book is considered one of his best and most thrilling.....and i don't know why. In every page cormac continues to show that lackluster abd uniterested writing style he uses by seamlessly making the book duller and less exiting by the minute. In each chapter, there has never been more unrelated and boring material put to gether in such a shoddy fasion. His classic idea of no character discription is back in force, and the reading itself wouldn't challenge a first grader. This time consuming book doesn't allow the reader to walk away with any besides a feeling of lost time in their lives.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

triste viaje (sorrowful journey)

Well written trek consistently balanced between sorrow and utter despair. The two very long monologues within the story unfortunately are not well integrated and do not add to the novel.

The story seems to leave you without closure (as did " All the pretty horses") but comes together with the third novel of the trilogy. This is old western version of Lord of the Rings but without true heros.

the second best book ever

this book is a languorous, slow buring treat, the finest McCarthy has ever written

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No Espanol ...

After reading'All the Pretty Horses'(4 1/2stars) I was anxious to read this book. However, after the first 75 pages I knew this was not good.For starters I know little Espanol. McCarthy drolls on and on having his main character go from one location to another with no purpose but to paint scenery and mood with unfamilar and foreign words.It's as if he is trying too hard to have this character stumble into a situation where he might think, say or do something captivating,memorable or endearing. I needed two dictionaries,one English AND one Spanish to drudge through.There are too many unrecognizable words which made it more burdensome. Boring, boring, boring. I gave it a sympathy read only because I liked the first book and had intended to read 'Cities...' next(now I'm unsure). I really hoped the story would pick up or start to move unfortunately for me it didn't and I wasted my time.I learned some Spanish words: aburrido,pesado

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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