Why people recommend it
Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy is a bleak, atmospheric southern Gothic novel that forms the second book in the acclaimed author's early trilogy. On The Book Review podcast episode titled Mary Beard on Women and Power, John Williams discussed reading the novel, noting that it was the second of the author's first three books and the third title he was reading during a personal reading streak. During another episode titled Remembering Cormac McCarthy and Robert Gottlieb, Dwight Garner further discussed the title within the context of the author's early bibliography, characterizing the first three novels—The Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark, and Child of God—as being relentlessly bleak in their depiction of humanity and landscape. Together, the podcast participants underscored the uncompromising darkness and stylistic power of McCarthy's early phase, pointing to Outer Dark as a prime example of the author's stark, unsparing vision and his foundational place in American literature.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Discussed
- Dwight Garner Discussed
John Williams — 1 mention
“im reading outer dark which is the second of his first three novels and the third that I'm reading on this little jaunt I'm on”
Dwight Garner — 1 mention
“but anyway the first three novels yeah the orchard keeper outer dark and child of God are relentlessly Bleak”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Contract With God
- All the Pretty Horses
- Angle of repose
- Avid Reader
- Binky Brown Meets The Holy Virgin Mary
- Blood Meridian
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“but the four before that the orchard keeper outer dark child of God and sutri Suri”
“um I think the next one is going to be outer dark which was this was his third book The Orchard keeper was his first”