Helpful Score: 2
Incredibly well-written, 'Child of God' will remain in your memory for quite some time. Containing a unique plot, this novel has proved to be so much more than the description on the back cover. Picturesque, thrilling, haunting, and even horrifying at times, I am so glad I read this. Quite a memorable experience.
Helpful Score: 2
The one redeeming quality of this book was that it was short. There wasn't one thing I liked about it. The choppy sentence structure and oversized vocabulary made it quite dull. When there finally was some action, it was gruesome and disgusting.
CHILD OF GOD is a disturbing novel about a young man living in Sevier County, Tennessee in the 1950s who has become an outcast after his home is sold out from under him for non-payment of taxes. Lester Ballard is described as "a child of God much like yourself perhaps." He is violent and becomes more and more depraved as he attempts to live and exist outside the social order. "Ballard descends literally and figuratively to the level of a cave dweller, as he falls deeper into madness, crime and degradation. He commits a series of sexually-motivated murders in the area, quickly drawing the suspicion of the townspeople, from whom Ballard hides in his cave. One of the novel's main themes is sexual deviancy, specifically necrophilia. Ballard, who the novel makes clear is unable to have conventional romantic relationships, eventually descends into necrophilia after finding a dead couple in a car."
This novel was very shocking as Ballard descends into isolation and madness. The character reminded me a lot of Norman Bates from Psycho but even more so. McCarthy's writing style for this novel was quite unconventional, lacking quotation marks, and switching perspectives which made it sometimes hard to follow. But overall, a very dark look at an outcast from society. This was also made into a movie in 2013 directed by James Franco. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
This novel was very shocking as Ballard descends into isolation and madness. The character reminded me a lot of Norman Bates from Psycho but even more so. McCarthy's writing style for this novel was quite unconventional, lacking quotation marks, and switching perspectives which made it sometimes hard to follow. But overall, a very dark look at an outcast from society. This was also made into a movie in 2013 directed by James Franco. I'll be keeping an eye out for it.
I enjoyed this book even though the author goes a little overboard with his use of adjectives. The story is that of an extremely creepy serial killer who lives in a small country town in the late 60s. As the story develops the main character sinks deeper and deeper into insanity. The scenes describing the murders and his subsequent actions are graphic and arent for the weak of heart. This book is a very quick read. I am a slow reader and finished it is just a few hours.
A dark story of a demented man living in the hills that does murder and rapes. Ending leaves things hanging. Didn't quite get it. Story is unsettling.
This book is hard to review. It is like nothing I have ever read by McCarthy. This is one of his first works and he has changed and grown so very much since.
This small book is about a back hills, non-educated, violent, awkward man named Lester Ballad. It tells the story of his existence in Tennessee after being released from jail, in one day instances and scenes. There is a lot of vulgarity, sex and killing in this novel. The end of the story is summed up very well to make sure that you understood the heinous crimes that were taking place.
Not a book that I would recommend to others, however I am glad that I read it because it shows McCarthy's distinct prose, character development, high imagination and the welcomed progression of McCarthy's writing ability.
This small book is about a back hills, non-educated, violent, awkward man named Lester Ballad. It tells the story of his existence in Tennessee after being released from jail, in one day instances and scenes. There is a lot of vulgarity, sex and killing in this novel. The end of the story is summed up very well to make sure that you understood the heinous crimes that were taking place.
Not a book that I would recommend to others, however I am glad that I read it because it shows McCarthy's distinct prose, character development, high imagination and the welcomed progression of McCarthy's writing ability.
Quick read. McCarthy has a writing style all his own, which I enjoy to an extent. I could do without the lengthy, elaborate descriptions and the run-on sentences without commas. My eyes tend to glaze over these sections.
As for the story itself, I almost got the feeling that I'm supposed to feel sorry for this sick, deranged lunatic. Never. I also highly disliked that the book ("a child of god much like yourself perhaps") seems to imply there's a sick, deranged pervert in all of us at the core, which is disgusting and false.
3.5 stars since it held my attention, was short and somewhat shocking.
As for the story itself, I almost got the feeling that I'm supposed to feel sorry for this sick, deranged lunatic. Never. I also highly disliked that the book ("a child of god much like yourself perhaps") seems to imply there's a sick, deranged pervert in all of us at the core, which is disgusting and false.
3.5 stars since it held my attention, was short and somewhat shocking.
