I've yet to read his screenplays, just the novels so far, but I agree with your ranking. The Crossing is a heartbreaking masterpiece and, as you said, is Chaucerian in its way with the interesting characters and their stories. I'm relatively new to Cormac having read all of his novels in the past 12 months but this community you're creating here is fantastic and I hope to see it continue to grow!
Here is the order of my favorite Cormac McCarthy westerns. I may think differently later about this order.
#6 The Counselor
#5/#4 Undecided which order: All the Pretty Horses and Cities of the Plain
#3 No Country for Old Men
This hold a special place in my heart because this along with The Road is what introduced me to McCarthy. I appreciate this book the more I read it. There is also an excerpt/short story taken out of this book that appeared in a magazine and can be found online. It is called "Agua." I must have read that about 30 times, and serves it serves as a good short story. A theme I really like about No Country is the commentary on the violence of the world and how awful it is. Then there is also the dream stuff that isn't touched on as much in the film (which I still really like). I also really like when McCarthy goes into dreams in his works too. And another reason why I like no Country a lot is because I'm a sucker for action thrillers. Which I'm sure the Logic Bro side of me is like, really bro?
#2 The Crossing
However, I can easily see this as number 1. And think this is a highly underappreciated novel of McCarthy's. One of my favorite books as well.
#1 Blood Meridian
Like you, Ian. I can go on all of these picks as well. Here is just a brief discussion of some of them and their order. By the way, I'm sure I said this before, but your content is making me want to get into McCarthy more. Thank you!
I've yet to read his screenplays, just the novels so far, but I agree with your ranking. The Crossing is a heartbreaking masterpiece and, as you said, is Chaucerian in its way with the interesting characters and their stories. I'm relatively new to Cormac having read all of his novels in the past 12 months but this community you're creating here is fantastic and I hope to see it continue to grow!
Here is the order of my favorite Cormac McCarthy westerns. I may think differently later about this order.
#6 The Counselor
#5/#4 Undecided which order: All the Pretty Horses and Cities of the Plain
#3 No Country for Old Men
This hold a special place in my heart because this along with The Road is what introduced me to McCarthy. I appreciate this book the more I read it. There is also an excerpt/short story taken out of this book that appeared in a magazine and can be found online. It is called "Agua." I must have read that about 30 times, and serves it serves as a good short story. A theme I really like about No Country is the commentary on the violence of the world and how awful it is. Then there is also the dream stuff that isn't touched on as much in the film (which I still really like). I also really like when McCarthy goes into dreams in his works too. And another reason why I like no Country a lot is because I'm a sucker for action thrillers. Which I'm sure the Logic Bro side of me is like, really bro?
#2 The Crossing
However, I can easily see this as number 1. And think this is a highly underappreciated novel of McCarthy's. One of my favorite books as well.
#1 Blood Meridian
Like you, Ian. I can go on all of these picks as well. Here is just a brief discussion of some of them and their order. By the way, I'm sure I said this before, but your content is making me want to get into McCarthy more. Thank you!