September 2009 Selection

In the spring of 1948 on a small Texas ranch, sixteen year old John Grady Cole attends the funeral of his grandfather, with whom he has lived since his parents' separation. The grandfather's ranch has been left to John Grady's mother, a small-time actress who has no interest in it and will sell it. John Grady's father, psychologically damaged by World War II and now physically ill as well, tells his son goodbye. With no apparent future in Texas, and sensing the threat of the new era to the traditional life he values, John Grady urges his old friend Rawlins to accompany him to Mexico. There, John Grady will find that his innocence, or ignorance, will ultimately lead him close to destruction.

This novel follows a young man's journey to the regions of the unknown. John Grady Cole confronts the evil that is an inescapable part of the universe as well as the evil that grows out of his own ignorance and pride. His story is told in a style often restrained and simple, embedded with lyrical passages that echo his dreams and memory.

All the Pretty Horses was selected by Janna for the Western genre.

The Book Snobs Gathering
The Snobs gathered at Janna's home on September 28, 2009.  Snobs were offered a choice of traditional sangria or white sangria.  In keeping with the western theme, Janna served a delicious meal of turkey chili with cornbread and a layered salad.  The evening was capped off with a very tasty apple cake.

All the Pretty Horses proved to be a challenging read for some of the snobs who had not finished the novel.  But, as usual, discussion was lively.  Cormac McCarthy's prose is beautifully written, but the Snobs agreed that at times it was difficult to tell who was speaking in the novel.  The discussion of the novel's setting and each character's role was very interesting.