"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy quotes?

JSWolf · 02-08-2011, 05:52 PM

I borrowed a Mobipocket edition of The Road by Cormac McCarthy from the library. What I want to know, is it true that it has no quotes at all? It's a very oddly formatted eBook. But as I've seen an eBook before that had no quotes or apostrophes, I thought I'd ask just in case the eBook is defective.

Pablo · 02-08-2011, 06:02 PM

I had a look in Google Books. I found no quotes.

JSWolf · 02-08-2011, 06:04 PM

This is going to be an odd read I would expect.

DiapDealer · 02-08-2011, 06:09 PM

No apostrophe's in contractions either if I remember correctly. And I don't think there's much in the way of punctuation except for a period at the end of sentences.

willijt · 02-08-2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

No apostrophe's in contractions either if I remember correctly. And I don't think there's much in the way of punctuation except for a period at the end of sentences.

Just a few moments ago finished reading this book. Totally unique. Incredible imagery with such economy in words and style. And it packed a message. It is something that I will be mulling over for many days to come.

It kind of put me in mind of a book I read a long time ago: "The Last Canadian" is a 1974 science fiction novel by William C. Heine. But this one really gripped me. Couldn't put it down, even though none of it created smiles and warmth within me.

I highly recommend this book. But don't pick it up at a time when life has got you down.

~jim

queentess · 02-08-2011, 09:44 PM

It doesn't have much punctuation. Here, let me sum up the whole story for you: I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. (repeat 10,000 times) The end.

DiapDealer · 02-08-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

It doesn't have much punctuation. Here, let me sum up the whole story for you: I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. (repeat 10,000 times) The end.

Ouch. That was a little harsh.
I much preferred willijt's review.

CHunter_Author · 02-08-2011, 10:33 PM

It has no quotation marks, but I'll tell you, it didn't win a Pulitzer Prize for nothing. When I read that book, I couldn't put it down. Whatever I was doing that day, it didn't stand a chance until the last page of that book was read. It will be strange in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you in all likelihood will get lost in the story. I never read a book like that in my life. Just recently bought my own copy in paperback. It was the least I could do. You'll see.

AndrewH · 02-08-2011, 10:45 PM

Lack of punctuation, etc... was the author simply being lazy, or was it a stylistic choice that is unique to this particular book and not reflected in his other books?

upplepop · 02-08-2011, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Lack of punctuation, etc... was the author simply being lazy, or was it a stylistic choice that is unique to this particular book and not reflected in his other books?

It's a stylistic choice that I found to be appropriate and quite effective. The Road is a bleak novel set in a barren, dreary world. Likewise, the writing itself is bare -- devoid of any extraneous ornamentation or flourishes (such as quotation marks).

DiapDealer · 02-08-2011, 11:24 PM

McCarthy's minimalist approach to punctuation had nothing to do with the stark themes of The Road (although it did happen to compliment them quite nicely). That's just how he writes. Blood Meridian, No Country for Old Men, Suttree, Child of God, and The Road all exhibit the same style.

I wouldn't want everyone to do it, but it works for him. I'm in awe of his talent.

John F · 02-09-2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by queentess

It doesn't have much punctuation. Here, let me sum up the whole story for you: I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. (repeat 10,000 times) The end.

How about a spoiler warning.

TGS · 02-09-2011, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewH

Lack of punctuation, etc... was the author simply being lazy, or was it a stylistic choice that is unique to this particular book and not reflected in his other books?

I don't think he was being lazy, he probably just never learned to punctuate properly. Amazing he ever got published really.

JSWolf · 02-09-2011, 08:51 AM

Thanks everyone. Now I know my copy is not botched. That it really is as it is.

bill_mchale · 02-09-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Ouch. That was a little harsh.
I much preferred willijt's review.

I am going with queentas' review. I got 100 pages into the book before I decided my life was too short to waste it on this book.

As for the Pulitzer.. all I can say is that the Emperor has no clothes.

--
Bill

02-08-2011, 05:52 PM	#1
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,044 Karma: 129333562 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	"The Road" by Cormac McCarthy quotes? I borrowed a Mobipocket edition of The Road by Cormac McCarthy from the library. What I want to know, is it true that it has no quotes at all? It's a very oddly formatted eBook. But as I've seen an eBook before that had no quotes or apostrophes, I thought I'd ask just in case the eBook is defective.

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02-08-2011, 06:02 PM	#2
Pablo Guru Posts: 970 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-505, PRS-T2	I had a look in Google Books. I found no quotes.

02-08-2011, 06:04 PM	#3
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,044 Karma: 129333562 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	This is going to be an odd read I would expect.

02-08-2011, 06:09 PM	#4
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,553 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	No apostrophe's in contractions either if I remember correctly. And I don't think there's much in the way of punctuation except for a period at the end of sentences.

02-08-2011, 09:44 PM	#6
queentess Reading is sexy Posts: 1,303 Karma: 544517 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: none	It doesn't have much punctuation. Here, let me sum up the whole story for you: I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. I'm scared. I know, I'm sorry. (repeat 10,000 times) The end.

02-08-2011, 10:33 PM	#8
CHunter_Author Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 503896 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bronx, NY Device: iPhone	It has no quotation marks, but I'll tell you, it didn't win a Pulitzer Prize for nothing. When I read that book, I couldn't put it down. Whatever I was doing that day, it didn't stand a chance until the last page of that book was read. It will be strange in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you in all likelihood will get lost in the story. I never read a book like that in my life. Just recently bought my own copy in paperback. It was the least I could do. You'll see.

02-08-2011, 10:45 PM	#9
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	Lack of punctuation, etc... was the author simply being lazy, or was it a stylistic choice that is unique to this particular book and not reflected in his other books?

02-08-2011, 11:24 PM	#11
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,553 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	McCarthy's minimalist approach to punctuation had nothing to do with the stark themes of The Road (although it did happen to compliment them quite nicely). That's just how he writes. Blood Meridian, No Country for Old Men, Suttree, Child of God, and The Road all exhibit the same style. I wouldn't want everyone to do it, but it works for him. I'm in awe of his talent.

02-09-2011, 08:51 AM	#14
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,044 Karma: 129333562 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Thanks everyone. Now I know my copy is not botched. That it really is as it is.

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