‘Suttree contains a humour that is Faulknerian in its gentle wryness, and a freakish imaginative flair reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor’ Times Literary Supplement
Suttree (Picador Books)
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""Suttree" contains a humour that is Faulknerian in its gentle wryness, and a freakish imaginative flair reminiscent of Flannery O'Connor." --"The Times Literary Supplement" (London)
"All of McCarthy's books present the reviewer with the same welcome difficulty. They are so good that one can hardly say how good they really are. . . . "Suttree" may be his magnum opus. Its protagonist, Cornelius Suttree, has forsaken his prominent family to live in a dilapidated houseboat among the inhabitants of the demimonde along the banks of the Tennessee River. His associates are mostly criminals of one sort or another, and Suttree is, to say the least, estranged from what might be called normal society. But he is so involved with life (and it with him) that when in the end he takes his leave, the reader's heart goes with him. "Suttree" is probably the funniest and most unbearably sad of McCarthy's books . . . which seem to me unsurpassed in American literature." --Stanley Booth
"All of McCarthy's books present the reviewer with the same welcome difficulty. They are so good that one can hardly say how good they really are. . . . "Suttree" may be his magnum opus. Its protagonist, Cornelius Suttree, has forsaken his prominent family to live in a dilapidated houseboat among the inhabitants of the demimonde along the banks of the Tennessee River. His associates are mostly criminals of one sort or another, and Suttree is, to say the least, estranged from what might be called normal society. But he is so involved with life (and it with him) that when in the end he takes his leave, the reader's heart goes with him. "Suttree" is probably the funniest and most unbearably sad of McCarthy's books . . . which seem to me unsurpassed in American literature." --Stanley Booth
Book Description
This compelling novel has as its protagonist Cornelius Suttree, living alone and in exile in a disintegrating houseboat on the wrong side of the Tennessee River close by Knoxville. He stays at the edge of an outcast community inhabited by eccentrics, criminals and the poverty-stricken. Rising above the physical and human squalor around him, his detachment and wry humour enable him to survive dereliction and destitution with dignity. ‘Suttree marks McCarthy’s closest approach to autobiography and is probably the funniest and most unbearably sad of his books’ Stanley Booth ‘The book comes at us like a horrifying flood. The language licks, batters, wounds – a poetic, troubled rush of debris . . . Cormac McCarthy has little mercy to spare, for his characters or himself. His text is broken, beautiful and ugly in spots . . . Suttree is like a good, long scream in the ear.’ Jerome Charyn, New York Times
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First Sentence
Peering down into the water where the morning sun fashioned wheels of light, coronets fanwise in which lay trapped each twig, each grin of sediment, long flakes and blades of light in the dusty water sliding away like optic strobes where motes sifted and spun. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Peering down into the water where the morning sun fashioned wheels of light, coronets fanwise in which lay trapped each twig, each grin of sediment, long flakes and blades of light in the dusty water sliding away like optic strobes where motes sifted and spun. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have waited nearly a year to write this review. I have felt totally inadequate when trying to express an opinion of this book that potential readers might find useful. Previous reviewers have pretty much said it all. There was one particularly useful comment. It said, 'this book inhabits you'. It absolutely does.
The book isn't an easy holiday type read, I made extensive use of my new electronic dictonary. There were pages I read three times to try and better understand what I was reading. There is no real plot and it is not possibe to predict where things are going. The writing style takes getting used to as the author seems to make no consession to the reader. Sink or swim.
But, but, but do not let any of these things get in your way of purhasing this book now. Every ounce of effort you pour into this book will be rewarded in spades. It seeps down deep and touches your soul, it leaves its essence in your mind and heart and you will never, ever be released from its spell. There will be times when you will suddenly start and awake from your reading and wonder what magic was that, I was just there, I could see, smell, hear the sounds...
The book haunts my dreams, it stalks my daytime reveries. But oh, I do go on. Buy the book now, I do not doubt that you too will rage about the genius of this work.
The book isn't an easy holiday type read, I made extensive use of my new electronic dictonary. There were pages I read three times to try and better understand what I was reading. There is no real plot and it is not possibe to predict where things are going. The writing style takes getting used to as the author seems to make no consession to the reader. Sink or swim.
But, but, but do not let any of these things get in your way of purhasing this book now. Every ounce of effort you pour into this book will be rewarded in spades. It seeps down deep and touches your soul, it leaves its essence in your mind and heart and you will never, ever be released from its spell. There will be times when you will suddenly start and awake from your reading and wonder what magic was that, I was just there, I could see, smell, hear the sounds...
The book haunts my dreams, it stalks my daytime reveries. But oh, I do go on. Buy the book now, I do not doubt that you too will rage about the genius of this work.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By pixie freak
Format:Paperback
I have loved all the Cormac McCarthy books I've read but this is my favourite.
Like all his books this is a bleak, lonesome tale that inhabits you. Despite its elegaic sadness there is humour and a core human warmth. I read this book almost two years ago and I still miss the key characters.
I urge you to read this book!
50 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Suttree is the name of the character who the book is about, a man who lives on a houseboat in Knoxville and makes a threadbare living as a fisherman. In it's own way it's one of McCarthy's best. The book is very much in the author's distinctive style but there are many more descriptions of suburban settings than some of his books, and he really goes to town! No-one brings out the wild poetry of such places as wastelots, riversides, shanties and city catacombs like him. Suttree meets various characters who live very much 'on the fringe' like him. The dialogue is exceptional and there are some excrutiatingly funny moments. There are also some slower bits but this is fortunate since it helps you not to finish the book too quickly! The themes of the book are similar to 'Tortilla Flat' by Steinbeck, which is also delightful, but this work is much denser and deeper. I can sense that the author is personally very close to this work. If you like Cormac McCarthy, you should do yourself a favour and get hold of this one.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A huge masterpiece..
Perfect condition. Delivered well on time.
Ive read that this book took McCarthy 20 years to write. Read more
Ive read that this book took McCarthy 20 years to write. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. D. DICK
4.0 out of 5 stars
As funny as McCarthy gets
Regular readers of McCarthy will probably accept that laughs are few and far between in his work and whilst this novel doesnt buck the trend as such, there is still much more to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Carrie Anne Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cormac does funny
Make no mistake about it, this is a difficult novel - the language is convoluted and obscure, even by McCarthy's standards; and yet every word is exactly the right word. Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. J. McGowan
2.0 out of 5 stars
Short Stories disguised as a novel
I enjoy this writer and his powerful use of language. I bought this book as it came so highly rated. Having read it I looked again at the past reviews to see where I disconnected. Read more
Published 10 months ago by euan
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fun for masochists
As it was the only one of McCarthy's I had yet to read, I saved this book for months on my Kindle as a special treat; it turned out to be more of a punishment than a pleasurable... Read more
Published 13 months ago by nyonya
1.0 out of 5 stars
Suttree
Unusually for me I gave up on this book after reading a couple of chapters. I have had my doubts about Cormack McCarthy for a while but have read most of his books. Read more
Published 14 months ago by David Garnsey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suttree simplifies life
I failed in my first attempt at reading Suttree, I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was my own state of mind at the time - I found it depressing. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Joe Mcnally
5.0 out of 5 stars
McCarthy
Classy. Need a dictionary with you for this one. I'm quite well read but needed to look up some of the words. Speech punctuation goes out of the window, which adds to the flavour.
Published 20 months ago by bykerbill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant.
Another amazing book, just as captivating and riveting as any other book by McCarthy. This is a lot longer that his other books, at 568 pages but somehow you will still finish it... Read more
Published 21 months ago by BivviBaz
1.0 out of 5 stars
Hated it!
I really liked The Road and No Country For Old Men. I loathed this though. Its as though the book has been put through a thesaurus and every other word has been substituted with... Read more
Published on 19 May 2011 by MarkT
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