A review by dcumberland
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
2.0
This was tough to get through. I have a deep respect for Cormac’s writings, but his divergence from signature style came at a weird time, with a lackluster execution. His first set of new novels in sixteen years, The Passenger feels unfocused and without any great consequence. The plot-driver set up in the first act never really causes our main character to act in ways that further his control of the story. Instead, this entire book consists of strange flashbacks, short vignettes of our main character carrying on meaningless conversations with side characters, and not really accomplishing anything of mention.
Nothing happening isn’t always a bad thing. Atmospheric stories have a vital place in literature. They can be tomes of self reflection or a catalyst for contemplation. However, The Passenger didn’t even accomplish that because there is very little to be gleaned below the surface. Unlike The Road, there’s little to think on once you close the pages.
I think the most disappointing part for me wasn’t even that the book was mediocre, but rather I was disappointed by how many devoted Cormac fans refuse to view this work objectively. Instead, Cormac has ascended to ‘do-no-wrong’ territory for them. Some have lauded it as his magnum opus, which is gravely incorrect.
I plan to finish this two-volume tale with Stella Maris, but I’m not keeping high expectations. We may have passed the golden era of Cormac works.
Nothing happening isn’t always a bad thing. Atmospheric stories have a vital place in literature. They can be tomes of self reflection or a catalyst for contemplation. However, The Passenger didn’t even accomplish that because there is very little to be gleaned below the surface. Unlike The Road, there’s little to think on once you close the pages.
I think the most disappointing part for me wasn’t even that the book was mediocre, but rather I was disappointed by how many devoted Cormac fans refuse to view this work objectively. Instead, Cormac has ascended to ‘do-no-wrong’ territory for them. Some have lauded it as his magnum opus, which is gravely incorrect.
I plan to finish this two-volume tale with Stella Maris, but I’m not keeping high expectations. We may have passed the golden era of Cormac works.