The Crossing

The Border Trilogy, Book Two

By: Cormac McCarthy

Narrated by: Richard Poe

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

Impressive

I find the Spanish sections difficult, but there is a resource online with the translations in an order somewhat close to the original. The story itself seems inspired by the Nick Adams stories, or at least in part. And at its core it’s about boy that goes after what he wants at all costs. He seems to be running from some unknown danger but always chasing his past constantly discovering new and worse dangers along the way. The narration by Poe is excellent and perfectly matches the tone written by the author.

Soul-affirming beauty

An excellent second instalment to the trilogy. New characters, but once again laced with alternating episodes of brutality, and soul-affirming beauty.

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.

A story of living and dying and living again

A great story well told and we’ll read. I felt like I was riding along with Billy and Boyd and felt what they were feeling. You can’t ask more from a story than that. The sections of spanish dialogue makes you yearn to know the language but it makes the story more authentic for the telling.

Read this! The border trilogy is a masterpiece

Cormac! We will miss you!! I learned he passed away this week, and I was very sad. His impact on my life has been unmatched by any other author.
The border trilogy has it all, the dialogue shines as always.
Going to always be thankful that I will always enjoy re reading his novels

I dont understand why

these books arent more popular with young adult readers. I would've liked these better than Harry Potter and Harry Potter is a great series.

Amazing

Another classic in this writer’s venerable canon of tales. Looking forward to reading volume three of the Border Trilogy.

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.

Sparse and Unforgettable

Richard Poe’s narratorial skills pulls The Crossing out of the page and into the light so we can see this epic odyssey: a journey of brothers and brotherhood in a relentless unforgiving land of mysterious ways and gritty lives. McCarthy lays out with blunt philosophical insight what it is to be thrown into chaos, and how it must be borne without pity or sentiment. Brilliant and heartbreaking.