Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy

Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy is a dark and haunting tale of mankind’s blindness, set against a bleak backdrop. The novel follows the story of Rinthy, a woman who discovers her brother has left her newborn baby in the woods to die.

She sets out to find the baby for herself, and along the way, she encounters a variety of characters who are all struggling with their own darkness and despair.

The novel explores themes of darkness, blindness, namelessness, sickness, and violence, and draws from the long tradition of existentialist literature.

The book is a grim reminder of the darkness that can consume us if we are not careful. It is a cautionary tale that shows how easily we can be sucked into our own mire, even in the light of day.

McCarthy creates a world devoid of God, purpose, and causality, and his vivid descriptions bring this world to life. The novel is a powerful exploration of the human condition, and its themes of darkness and despair will stay with readers long after they have finished the book.

What I Liked

Like The Road, the prose is absolutely unmatched. The scenes, plot, and characters are simply brilliant. I love how this is the type of book that will deliver a (good but tough) emotional punch in the gut so to speak and really make you think outside yourself and try to inhabit other lives lived – the ultimate job of good literature.

What I Did Not Like

Ooooo wowza is this book dark and tough. I thought The Road was violent and dark until I read this book. However. There is absolutely nothing in this book that has not happened thousands of times in the real world. It is not fantasy. It’s real – all too real. So there’s nothing that I would change about the book…I just can’t recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone, anytime.

Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy

$11.39

In Outer Dark, Cormac McCarthy tells a chilling story centered on Rinthy, a woman searching for her abandoned baby in a world steeped in darkness and despair. The book dives into heavy themes like violence and existential dread, painting a stark picture of humanity's struggles. I was struck by McCarthy's unmatched prose and the emotional weight of the narrative, which really makes you reflect on life. However, it's undeniably dark and tough to digest—much more so than The Road. While it’s a powerful read, I can't fully recommend it to everyone due to its harsh realism.

Pros:

• Unmatched prose and brilliant scenes, plot, and characters
• Delivers a tough emotional punch that encourages empathy
• Powerful exploration of the human condition and its darkness

Cons:

• Extremely dark and tough to read
• Can't recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone, anytime
• No changes needed, but it's very heavy subject matter

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02/11/2025 10:42 pm GMT