The Crossing

By: Cormac McCarthy

Narrated by: Richard Poe

Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

In The Crossing, Cormac McCarthy fulfills the promise of All the Pretty Horses and at the same time gives us a work that is darker and more visionary, a novel with the unstoppable momentum of a classic Western and the elegaic power of a lost American myth.

In the late 1930s, 16-year-old Billy Parham captures a she-wolf that has been marauding his family's ranch. But instead of killing it, he decides to take it back to the mountains of Mexico. With that crossing he begins an arduous and often dreamlike journey into a country where men meet ghosts and violence strikes as suddenly as heat lightning - a world where there is no order "save that which death has put there".

An essential novel by any measure, The Crossing is luminous and appalling, a book that touches, stops, and starts the heart and mind at once.

©1994 Cormac McCarthy (P)2016 Recorded Books

Not my favorite , But still wonderfull

He's the greatest writer I've ever read
And that's an end on it .
Grim , gritty , real and funny .

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

NOW WE MAY SPEAK OF MADNESS

WHO CAN DREAM OF GOD?
When I bought this book, there was only one review by Charlie Brown. It had me confused, but after listening to the book, I understand. McCarthy is one of by favorite writers and just a couple of days ago a I gave a five star review of The Road. His use of language is astounding and his descriptions, put you right in the story. This story takes many paths and never really sticks with one. The main character does a lot of meandering and stopping and eating with Mexicans. There is a lot of philosophy about God and Religion. In one part their is actually about an hour long sermon. In parts some characters speak Spanish, a lot of Spanish and sometimes it is explained, but lots of times not. McCarthy seems to expect us to have a English to Spanish Dictionary with us. The main character seems likable, but by the time I gave up, I hated him. He seems to have good parents who treat him well and love him, but one day at the age of sixteen, he takes off on a trip to Mexico, for months, without telling his parents. They have no Idea what has happened to him. When I quit it seems he was turning himself and his brother into outlaws. I quit around seven hours in.
ALL TALES ARE ONE
If you had the choice of reading a book in your own voice in your head or given the opportunity of listening to Richard Poe read it, why would you not choose Poe? This guy was born to narrate books.

14 of 20 people found this review helpful

A tale of a Cowboy on a quest to set things right

Where does The Crossing rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In my top 10. The detail that is given is vivid, clear, and engaging, as Cormac McCarthy is well-known for. I think that this book is a close #2 to my favorite, Blood Meridian.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Crossing?

I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but I must mention that the first part of the book is my favorite and one that made me feel sad, sickened, and full of despair. I was engaged with every word and found it hard to stop listening and wanted to stop at the same time. Heartbreaking is the one word I would use to describe it.

Which scene was your favorite?

My other favorite thing about this book is the geography where the book takes place is where I spent time as a boy in the 1970s, exploring the wilderness of SE Arizona and Mexico. My wish and goal, as a boy then, was to be a cowboy, like Billy. Had I only been born 30 years earlier, perhaps, I would have had an experience remotely like his.

If you could rename The Crossing, what would you call it?

A gripping and powerful story of a young man whose decisions have strong and devastating consequences to him and all around him.

Any additional comments?

Finally, I loved how English and Spanish are intermingled with the dialog. Fortunately, I speak both, so it was a treat. If you don’t speak Spanish, you may find yourself looking up translations often.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Chupacabras, Duendes y Putas, Oh Mi

This novel starts out well enough, with teenage brothers setting out into the mountains of Mexico to retrieve the horses stolen from their dad's small ranch (after both he and the boys' mom were murdered). Pretty much everything thereafter I detested almost as thoroughly as I enjoyed ALL THE PRETTY HORSES.

The boys' purpose for the journey deep into the Mexican mountains quickly devolves into a succession of hazy, haphazard jaunts here and there, with various pits stops at which some local ancient hombre would share stew with them so he could stretch out some soporific soliloquy to stymie all senses. After resuming the trip to nowhere in particular, the boys would encounter savagery enough to salt the hide, men who lived like animals and monsters, and women no more than toothless, grotesque objects.

Toward the end I felt like my reading had been hijacked por una Hacienda de Horrores. It's been a couple of weeks since I shelved this book, and I'm still having nightmares.

10 of 16 people found this review helpful

Cormac does it again

I was worried that it wouldn't live up to All The Pretty Horses but it totally does.

A Masterpiece

Another great novel by a master of the craft. Dark at times and beautiful, will both crush and lift your soul.

A great work of literature & wonderfully clear

I loved this novel, the second in The Border Trilogy, the first being All the Pretty Horses. The incredible details and manners of a Mexico we never new. It’s gritty and granular like its desert landscapes. The characters are deeply drawn. Wonderfully read by Poe. Good & Evil are at one another, but they’re always human.

Cormac McCarthy=great novels.

Like most of Cormac McCarthy's works, this is a sad tale. The 2nd in the border trilogy, it tells of a young "cowboy", Billy Pahram, as he makes 3 border crossings into WWII era Mexico. It is a McCarthy saga and is, therefore, a sad one.

McCarthy is the best

Absolutely loved the book! there were a few times it seemed to drag on with unnecessary stories, but overall it's a must read if you're a Mcarthy fan.

Mcartgy usually has a bit of Spanish in his books, but this one seemed a little heavy in Spanish. Not a deal breaker though as you can usually figure out what's being said if you're paying attention.

Disappointing and confounding

My husband and I share our Audible reads as our long commutes make Audible much appreciated. Most books pass without much discussion. The Crossing was so confusing and pointless we were surprised as to the great reviews. All the Pretty Horses was powerful, beautifully written and inspiring. The Crossing seemed unable to find a direction, wandering geographically and emotionally. Dreary, it read as the sorry diary of a sad and depressed drifter. Cormac McCarthy is a brilliant writer, perhaps this was written during a difficult time. I’ll likely give the final book a try, I’m hoping for better.

A little directionless

Great writing but the storyline was a little stream of consciousness and not entirely engaging at times.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful