Child of God

Started this a while back then put it down about half way for
a few weeks, losing my desire to read anything. Then finally
picked it back up and finished it in one night. Ive now read
6 Cormac McCarthy novels, and this one ranks high up there
as one of his best. In a lot of ways this book reminds me
structurally of No Country For Old Men, with the shifting
viewpoints, a moral compass on the fritz, a resigned and
humble lawman. There are of course some major differences.
No Country for instance, reads like a supermarket thriller,
although a highly literate one. Child of God reads at a higher
level, on a lusher plane of language, richer and more focussed
examination of character. Have no doubt-- Lester Ballard is
not the source of evil which emanates, damn near palpably,
from this book. Despite his deeds, his grotesque descent,
Ballard is not our villian. If you dont believe me, gander
back at the title of this book-- doubtless a bit of irony, but
probably less than you might think.

I keep hearing comparisons to Faulkner, and except for maybe
the fact that both are southern regional writers, I don't get it.
Granted Ive not read a ton of Faulkner, but I've read enough to
make what is a pretty easy observation: Faulkner's prose is
quite frequently a convoluted mess (not to say that can't be in-
teresting, or even, art).

Except for maybe sections of McCarthy's first book, The Orchard
Keeper, nothing about his prose is convoluted.