"No Country for Old Men" Carmac McCarthy

Of the books I have listened to or read in the last few years, "No Country for Old Men" is the one I think back on more than the others. I can't say that I would love the paper version of this book; what I love is the reading of the book by Tom Stechschulte. The mood of the reading comes as much from McCarthy’s words as from the gritty texture and lonesome rhythms of Stechschulte's voice. His narration of Llewellyn’s thoughts during the pursuit put you on edge, and his delivery of Sheriff Bell's interview had just the right mixture of humor, discouragement, and humanity to relieve the tension of the chase.

The story itself is stunning and catches the reader from the first scene, never letting go. It is the kind of book that you can listen to multiple times, looking for different viewpoints and explanations. The first time I listened I didn't really notice that it was a story about Sheriff Bell because I was wrapped up in the action, but the second time I listened to Bell's story more carefully.

I was reluctant to read or listen to any of McCarthy's books because I viewed them as literature for men. Also, many of my students who had been required to read "The Road" for other classes told me they didn't enjoy it. Although the books of his that I have read so far have all been about men and they are not the usual sort of stories I would read, I found the stories powerful and the images haunting, and I think there is a message for me as a woman reading about men. I'm glad I gave his writing a chance.

I enjoyed listening to Stechschulte's voice so much that I also listened to his reading of McCarthy's "The Road." I can't imagine it read by anyone else.

This book was read in 2009.