**FILOSOFIA DELLA GIUSTIZIA**

The Coen brothers' film has three main protagonists. I find Bardem so unbearable that I couldn't enjoy the film, which actually won four Oscars, including the one wasted on Bardem.

The book is read with great ease and an unusual fluency. However, this is not a virtue. I felt the lack of certain difficulties, the need to reread, to stop and imagine and evoke that the meridian and the trilogy had. I am substantially disappointed. I expect and demand more from McCarthy. Stories like this he should leave to Jim Harrison & Co, and he should dedicate himself to something else and more.

Tommy Lee Jones is, as always, unbeatable. The dialogues, however, are to be recited rather than read, magnificent in both languages (but also for this aspect I can easily turn elsewhere, for example to Elmore Leonard).

It's a thriller, a western, with an improbable uncatchable psychokiller. Reflections on time, life, violence, the things that change to make the narration more pregnant than a saga of old timers.

The nature, usually a great protagonist in McCarthy's work, is missing, an absence that weighs. The cosmic pessimism entrusted to Anton Chigurh (a name chosen to play with the pronunciation and cause confusion with sugar, but this evil killer is anything but a sugar cube) and his compressed air weapon is lost in the fragments of the skull, in the splashes of blood and in the shattered brains.

It only works in part. It is read, but it doesn't have an impact. Probably the work of the Coen brothers is better, as they, staying lower and less universal, get closer to the target.

I think that when people no longer say "thank you" and "please", the end is near.

The film was mainly shot in New Mexico, but also in Texas, and one scene in the same Mexico, in Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

4 STARS!

I found myself enjoying No Country for Old Men to a greater extent than I had initially anticipated. One of the key elements that enhanced my overall experience with this book was undoubtedly the narrator, Tom Stechschulte. His performance was truly outstanding. He managed to bring the story to life in a way that made it even more engaging. I was so impressed that I have decided to add more audiobooks narrated by him to my future listening list.

No Country for Old Men had the distinct feel of a western, yet it was underpinned by a criminal undercurrent. The dialogue between all the characters was highly enjoyable. Cormac McCarthy did an excellent job in塑造 the character of Anton Chigurh. He turned out to be an incredibly scary and menacing figure.

The only aspect that I felt could have been improved upon was the somewhat preachy tone of the book. While I did like certain parts of it and felt that the character of Ed Tom Bell had some important insights to share, at times it did come across as a bit overbearing. However, it also added to the uniqueness of his character.

It's important to note that there are a few differences between the movie and the book. If you were a fan of the movie, I firmly believe that you will also find great enjoyment in the book!

A great book, but I can't help but compare it to the Coen brothers' adaptation, which I liked a little more.

Perhaps it's unfair to compare a book to a film, but if anything McCarthy's books have taught me so far, it's that the world isn't fair.

And there are too few capybaras in it (but that's just my observation).

This short text presents the author's thoughts on a book and its comparison to a film adaptation. The author admits that they have a preference for the Coen brothers' adaptation, even though they recognize that comparing a book to a film may not be entirely fair. They also mention that McCarthy's books have taught them about the unfairness of the world. Additionally, the author makes a lighthearted comment about the lack of capybaras in the book, adding a touch of humor to the piece. Overall, the text provides a concise and interesting perspective on the book and its relationship to the film adaptation.

Well, if you saw the Oscar-winning film, you pretty much got the gist.

This is an in-depth examination of evil at its most primitive and fundamental level. It shows that even in the modern world, lawlessness can still reign supreme over conscience, reason, and morality.

Chigurh is truly one very prototypical Boogeyman. He is like a walking, talking Michael Myers (circa 1978 by J. Carpenter), not immortal but with a concept that will rule all the ages, prevailing like an unstoppable force of nature.

The story is filled with powerful stuff, being emotional and heartless at the same time. And of course, it is written in precise, minimalist prose that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

It makes you think about the true nature of evil and how it can exist and thrive in our seemingly civilized society.

It is a thought-provoking and engaging piece of work that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

The story unfolds in a border zone. We are in Texas, not far from Mexico, a land of various traffics, especially dominated by ruthless drug cartels. Llewelyn Moss, while hunting antelope, discovers corpses beside some abandoned cars. An open trunk showcases a mountain of drugs. Then Moss finds a briefcase with a huge amount of money. It's a matter of an instant. The decision is already made, and the escape begins, interrupted by the italicized reflections of Sheriff Ed Tom Bell. At sixty, he can't help but reflect on what the world has become. There is something deeply diabolical in the trail of murders that Bell starts to investigate. Anton Chigurh is the diabolical antagonist in this adrenaline-fueled chase. It's a story of losers whose fates are sealed, and even the toss of a coin can't change what is written. Three veterans emphasize how Vietnam is a watershed that allows no return.

Given my previous readings of the author, I was surprised by the quantity of dialogues that McCarthy puts in the mouths of his characters. The lack of quotation marks makes it, moreover, a continuous flow of words, as if the author had needed to pour out an accumulation of unsaid things...

But I find all of McCarthy's essence: the ineluctable destiny and solitude, that condition in which everyone has to fend for themselves, without even the help of a compassionate god.

“Vive in silenzio il dio che ha purgato questa terra con sale e cenere.”

This is officially the 1000th review I’ve written on Goodreads. I wanted to ensure the book would befit the occasion, so I decided to re-read this one. What better novel could I select than this heartwarming tale of human kindness from one of the most optimistic men on the planet, Cormac McCarthy? *

* Note - That statement is sarcasm for humorous purposes. 1000 reviews have taught me that I must explain this, or someone with poor reading comprehension will troll me in the comments.

In 1980, Llewellyn Moss is a working Texan residing in a trailer home with his young wife, Carla Jean. One day, while out hunting, he discovers the aftermath of a botched drug deal in the desert. What he brings home is not just meat for the stew pot but over $2 million in a satchel. With no one around to know better, it's hard for anyone to resist taking it. However, giving in to temptation unleashes hell in the form of Anton Chigurh, a relentless enforcer who eliminates any obstacles in his path using a cattle bolt gun and a silenced.12 gauge. Sheriff Ed Tom Bell is also on Llewellyn’s trail and has to witness the incredible violence unleashed by Chigurh and others. When Chigurh’s actions become too extreme for the men who sent him, they hire the shrewd Carson Wells to stop him and retrieve the money.

An unsuspecting reader unfamiliar with the story or McCarthy’s work might initially expect this to be a simple crime novel. And to some extent, that's how the story plays out at first. Llewellyn may seem like an average good-ole-boy, but he's also a Vietnam vet with caution and smarts, even when on the run. He knows that once he takes the money, there's no turning back and has decent survival instincts for such a situation. However, despite his determination and capabilities, and knowing the danger he's put himself in by taking the money, Llewellyn doesn't truly understand the magnitude of what he's gotten himself into.

The actions of those involved in the drug trade at that level have created a sea of evil and chaos. The satchel full of money is just a bit of debris that washed ashore, which Llewellyn finds like a piece of driftwood and thinks he can scurry off with, believing he'll be fine as long as he stays away from the beaches. But something else lurks in those depths. Maybe it's something new or something ancient awakened by all the commotion. Anton Chigurh emerges from that ocean on two legs, fully capable of devouring anything in his path without a second thought, like a shark chomping on a fish. He can swim or run, it makes no difference to him as long as he gets to eat.

Sheriff Bell is aware of the existence of men like Chigurh and isn't sure how to stop them or if they can even be fought. Venturing out on those waters in a boat will likely lead to being dragged down with them. Battling them on the shores still risks being pulled in and chewed up. What truly concerns Bell is that it seems the water is rising, and many people are willing to dive in, leading him to believe that the entire world is sliding into hell.

That's why I consider this a next-level book. The concept of a guy finding a bag of money and attracting bad people has been done before, and the characters could potentially be clichés. But McCarthy is skilled and cunning enough to let the story play out to the point where you think you know how it will end, and then he pulls the rug out from under you. It's also at this point that the book transitions from a seemingly straightforward thriller to a profound contemplation about fate vs. free will and good vs. evil.

I could make some complaints that might ordinarily reduce its rating from 5 to 4 stars for me. McCarthy’s style of minimal punctuation, without using quotation marks and rarely using apostrophes, can cause confusion and often seems like a distracting affectation. On the other hand, this is a book about the normal rules not applying, so it does work in a way. The story also appears to be filled with anachronisms for 1980. There's a mobile phone that can fit in a shirt pocket when cell phones were essentially bags, and while ATMs existed, I'm not sure if they were common in south Texas at that time. A Glock pistol is mentioned, but they wouldn't exist for at least another year or two. Plus, I'm no gun expert, but I don't think it's actually possible to silence a shotgun.

Despite this nitpicking, this book hits an intersection of things I love. It's a fusion of genres that draws on crime stories and westerns but ultimately becomes very serious literature done in a minimalist way that appeals to me. I'm also a deeply cynical person who agrees with McCarthy’s bleak view of the world, so I appreciate a story that isn't all rainbows and unicorns. It also has the advantage of being adapted into the fantastic film by the Coen brothers, which is one of my favorite book-to-screen adaptations. So, I'll stick with the 5 stars and consider it among the best of the best.

Since this is my 1000th review, I'll also provide some bonus content. The violence associated with the drug trade in Mexico and its spread into the US has inspired a lot of great fiction that can be truly chilling in its portrayal of how it can corrupt and destroy people. If you're into that sort of thing, I also recommend:

- The film The Counselor was also written by Cormac McCarthy. It isn't at the same level as this one, but I think it was unjustly criticized by critics. It's not great, but it is good and has similarities. You'll also never look at Cameron Diaz in the same way again.

- Writer Don Winslow has spent years researching the history of the drug trade on the American/Mexican border and has two excellent books that are essentially historical fiction, shedding light on how US policies contributed to creating that monster. They are The Power of the Dog and The Cartel. His Savages is also a black action comedy about people who think they can dip their hands into that flow for profit and not get sucked in. They are wrong.

- Sicario is a great and criminally overlooked film from last year that features a haunting performance by Benicio del Toro. It should also come with a warning label to abandon all hope before watching.

Thanks to all those who voted and commented without being trolls on my first 1000 reviews. It's truly appreciated, and I hope you now all know better than to try and keep a bag of drug money you find in the desert.

‘No Country for Old Men’ by Cormac McCarthy is a profound exploration of loss and moral decay. The story features numerous characters, both protagonists and anti-heroes, who make poor choices or find themselves caught in a web of violence. Over the course of the narrative, several of these characters suffer physical injuries to their feet or legs, a common literary trope that I believe is used to symbolize the loss of their souls. The author's use of this device is masterful, as it adds depth and complexity to the story without being overly obvious.

The novel is set in Texas and is filled with vivid descriptions of the landscape and the people who inhabit it. The characters are all well-developed and realistic, and their struggles and conflicts are both engaging and thought-provoking. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the way in which McCarthy weaves in biblical allusions and metaphors. These references are subtle and often require careful reading to fully appreciate, but they add a layer of depth and meaning to the story that elevates it beyond a simple thriller.

The violence in the book is intense and disturbing, but it is also an essential part of the story. It serves to highlight the moral bankruptcy of the characters and the society in which they live. The drug trade is a major theme in the novel, and McCarthy shows how it has corrupted and destroyed the lives of ordinary people. The characters in the book are all affected by the drug trade in one way or another, whether they are directly involved in it or simply caught in its wake.

Overall, ‘No Country for Old Men’ is a powerful and engaging novel that explores themes of loss, morality, and the human condition. It is a must-read for fans of literary fiction and thrillers alike. While I did not give the book five stars due to my personal annoyance with the dialogue, I recognize that it is a well-written and important work of literature that will be studied and discussed for years to come.

On a fateful morning in 1980, a Texas welder named Llewellyn Moss ventures out to hunt antelope. Little does he know that this ordinary hunt will turn into a harrowing adventure. As he stumbles across the site of a drug deal gone horribly wrong, he discovers a scene of carnage. Several men and a number of pickups have been brutally shot to death. There is only one survivor, who is on the verge of death and pleads for a drink of water.

Moss, however, ignores the request and instead searches the site. To his astonishment, he finds a large amount of heroin remaining in one of the trucks. But there is no corresponding amount of money, leading him to deduce that at least one person has escaped. Being a very good tracker, he discovers the path of a wounded person leaving the site. He follows the track and comes across the man, now dead, and clutching a suitcase filled with a little over two million dollars.

Anyone familiar with a story like "A Simple Plan" or a noir movie based on such a premise would know better than to get involved. But if Moss were to walk away, there would be no story. So, he hikes out with the money, takes it home, and hides it in his trailer. So far, everything seems okay. But then, in the dead of night, a pang of conscience strikes him, and he decides to take water to the dying man at the shootout site. Even a child of five would know this is a huge mistake, and Llewellyn is well aware of it. Yet, he does it anyway.

Naturally, when he returns, he encounters several dangerous men who know that someone has escaped with their money and are desperate to find out who. They shoot up Llewellyn's pickup, but he manages to escape and make it back home. He quickly sends his wife out of town to what he hopes is the safety of her mother and then hits the road himself, trying to escape the chaos that he knows is about to descend upon him.

Hot on his trail is a particularly amoral and devious hit man named Chigurh, armed with a fearsome and deadly weapon. Chigurh seems almost prescient in determining Moss's whereabouts. Also on the trail is an aging county sheriff named Bell, a World War II veteran. Bell is distressed by the changes in the world around him and speculates that the drug warriors, especially Chigurh, represent a new kind of evil that is beyond containment.

The result is a powerful and gripping story told by one of the great masters. Moss's attempts to extricate himself from the mess he knowingly got himself into are both compelling and tense. Chigurh's complete lack of human sensibilities is truly horrifying, while Sheriff Bell's meditations on his marriage and the evolution of the world around him are thought-provoking and poignant. All in all, this is a great novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

People often complain about the bad things that befall them, believing they don't deserve such misfortunes. However, they seldom mention the good things that come their way and what they have done to deserve those.

This is precisely the theme explored in a particular book that delves into the concept of being good and the various dangers and evils that one may encounter along the way.

The movie adaptation of this book has long been one of my all-time favorites. The flow and style of the book are so immersive that it creates a sense of dread that seems to lurk around every corner. This atmosphere persists until the very end, making the story feel hopeless.

One of the most memorable characters in the book is Anton Chigurh. When asked about his name, the response is simply "Chigurh." And when further prompted with "Sugar?" the full name is revealed as "Anton Chigurh."

Anton Chigurh is undoubtedly one of the greatest villains ever created in fiction. He is an amoral psychopath who will stop at nothing until he has gunned down his target. He is the perfect embodiment of a punisher.

Cormac McCarthy is a Pulitzer winner for a reason, and this book is a testament to his literary genius.

This book holds a special place on my blog's dirty dozen list. The list consists of books that I have adored to the extent of reading them cover to cover, multiple times. My copy is in a rather tattered state. The first few pages are dog-eared and water-stained, a result of reading it in the bath more than once. Moreover, my youngest child tore off the back cover and etched crayon on one of the pages. However, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I have no intention of discarding this battered copy because I don't need to. It's not a book I need to display, even though the cover depicts a movie poster that I dislike (since I'm reading it, not watching the movie); it's a book I need to read.

I love this book for the very reasons that prevent me from getting into Cormac McCarthy's other works. In "No Country for Old Men," Mr. McCarthy makes his brilliant writing more accessible by simply telling a captivating story. He refrains from embellishing it, going off on tangents, or taking us on long metaphorical journeys describing the minutiae of any given scene. Nevertheless, it firmly remains in the category of a literary novel. He just strips it down to its most basic commercial core (originally written as a screenplay).

One of the opening scenes follows a man named Llewelyn Moss as he goes out hunting antelope and stumbles upon the aftermath of a massive shootout in the desert near the Mexican border. It's a drug deal gone wrong, with everyone dead around a circle of trucks. Llewelyn, a former Vietnam vet with the attitude and confidence to prove it, knows from experience that there must be at least one survivor. When he searches for the man, he finds him, along with $2.4 million in a case. He pauses, his entire future resting on a choice - or so he thinks.

Cormac McCarthy writes with a sense of inevitability in the story's outcomes, personified by an evil apparition of a man named Anton Chigurh (the author chose the name for its opaqueness). His scariness stems from his plainness. He is a man easily forgotten if you're not in his path, but he will dominate you if you cross him. His (im)moral code is chilling. While he tells his victims that their fate is not preordained and that a flip of a coin can save them, the coin toss is merely an affirmation of the inevitable path we are on.

Cormac McCarthy populates his story with down-to-earth people who have endured long histories of disappointment, pain, and hard living. Unbroken, just bowed, they still hold onto the goodness and hope that exists in life. Chigurh, as described, acts as the judge. A Sheriff, Ed Tom Bell, is a serious man with a World War II past that only the innocent take seriously. He is the witness. Lewellyn, his wife Carla Jean, and everyone else, including Carson Wells, an ex-army bounty hunter in it for the money, are the defendants. None of them realize they are on trial for what the country has become, but they are.

This is a powerhouse of a novel.

If you're still undecided about whether to read this book, take out a coin and flip it. Don't worry about the outcome, though. According to the novel, your guess might be preordained.

With a book like this, the movie almost seemed to make itself. You could have simply filmed the pages being flipped through (preferably by Javier Bardem, I'm certain he would do it astonishingly) and you'd obtain roughly the same experience.

I understand the comparisons being drawn between the film and the book. I'm that kind of understanding person. I can only state that both are masterpieces. It all commences with Cormac McCarthy, though. And while the Coen brothers and the cast of the movie did an outstanding job, I believe the lion's share of the praise should go to the author.

This book encompasses numerous elements that define great books:

1. Suspense: Danger lurks around every corner as soon as that suitcase enters the scene. You can sense it breathing down the necks of everyone who approaches it. The main embodiment of this danger, Anton Chigurh, is one of the most iconic villains I've encountered. Cold, rational, and in control.

2. Pacing: While this is a book that makes you wonder what will occur next, it doesn't afford you much time to do so. Because just as you're wondering, BOOM, there's a surprise for you. BAM, there's another one. WHOOSH, you still didn't see that coming, did you? Chigurh moves faster than your fears.

3. Characters: Bell, the good. Chigurh, the bad. And everyone else gloriously in between, with their own little perspectives and wisdoms.

Speaking of wisdoms: The Bell-monologues truly added that extra touch to this book for me. His affection for his wife Loretta is the strongest counterbalance to Chigurh. There are things that Bell has that Chigurh can never undermine.

Reading those monologues is like listening to your grandfather, full of wisdoms that seem so ordinary to the person uttering them that it becomes touching, especially in contrast to what's truly happening in the world that has changed around them.

Some of my favorites, which I'd like to print on small plaques and hang up in my kitchen:

(without quotation marks, they wouldn't feel right)

All the time you spend trying to get back what's been taken from you, there's more going out the door.

He said there was nothing to set a man's mind at ease like waking up in the morning and not having to decide who you were.

I think that when all lies are told and forgotten, the truth will still be there. It doesn't move from place to place and it doesn't change over time. You can't corrupt it any more than you can salt salt. You can't corrupt it because that's what it is. It's the thing you're talking about. (...) I'm sure there are people who would disagree with that. Quite a few, in fact. But I could never find out what any of them did believe.

You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.

If you'd like even more wisdom, particularly regarding this book and its interpretation, you might appreciate the views of someone who actually knows what he's talking about. (that mysterious review he refers to is also very interesting, but I don't want to disclose too much yet in this regard)

No Country for Old Men is an outstanding standalone novel penned by Cormac McCarthy. It is a work that is rich in symbolism and tackles contemporary issues with great finesse. The story delves into themes such as greed, government law, and morals, presenting them from the perspectives of different characters. This allows the reader to form their own judgments and interpretations.

The characters in this book are truly remarkable. Each one is distinct and brings something unique to the table. Sheriff Bell represents the older generation, struggling to come to terms with the modern world. His selflessness and unwavering commitment to his morals and duty make him a character that is easy to like. Moss, on the other hand, gets himself involved in a criminal underworld due to his greed. He has to face the consequences of his actions while trying to stay alive. Then there is Chigurh, the amoral murderer who is after Moss. He has no regard for human life and is a truly terrifying villain.

The prose in this book is simply brilliant. McCarthy's writing style is unique and realistic, flowing in a way that is relatable to the reader's train of thought. It is some of the best prose I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The storyline also moves at a brisk pace, with tense interactions and events between the characters. The author plays with the reader's expectations, subverting them to create a story that feels real and not overly romanticized. This book has truly made me a fan of Cormac McCarthy, and I can't wait to read The Road when I get the chance. It deserves a five-star rating for its lack of weaknesses and its brilliance in every aspect.

\\n  I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne\\n


“How does a man decide in what order to abandon his life?”

“People complain about the bad things that happen to em that they don't deserve but they seldom mention the good. About what they done to deserve them things”

“It takes very little to govern good people. Very little. And bad people cant be governed at all. Or if they could I never heard of it.”

My review on BookNest - No Country for Old Men review