Child of God

Why people recommend it

Child of God is a dark and disturbing novel by Cormac McCarthy set in the backwoods of Tennessee, following the harrowing descent of a violent and isolated outcast. On The Book Review podcast in July 2024, the novel was examined during two distinct episodes. In the episode Remembering Cormac McCarthy and Robert Gottlieb, critic Dwight Garner discussed the early works of the acclaimed author, noting that his first three novels, including The Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark, and Child of God, were relentlessly bleak in their tone and subject matter. Later, in an episode titled The Second Coming of the KKK, reviewer John Williams shared his experience of reading Child of God that week. He reflected on the reading process, remarking that while he really enjoyed the novel, using the word enjoyed felt somewhat complicated given the grim nature of the narrative. Together, these commentary segments provided listeners with a nuanced look at Cormac McCarthy's early artistry, balancing critical recognition of his uncompromising vision with personal reflections on the intense emotional impact generated by his unflinching depictions of human isolation and darkness.