Why people recommend it
The Orchard Keeper is Cormac McCarthy's debut novel, published in 1965, which explores bleak rural landscapes and complex human relationships in the American South. John Williams discussed the book on The Book Review podcast, sharing that he had recently picked up McCarthy's first novel as part of an effort to go back and reread or catch up on early works by the author that he had not read before. Dwight Garner also talked about the novel on the podcast, characterizing its grim atmosphere by noting that McCarthy's first three books—The Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark, and Child of God—are relentlessly bleak. Williams mentioned the book across multiple episodes of the podcast as he methodically worked his way through McCarthy's early backlist, reflecting the enduring critical fascination with the origins of McCarthy's stark literary voice and his exploration of dark, isolated environments.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Discussed
- Dwight Garner Discussed
John Williams — 2 mentions
“I picked up Cormac McCarthy's first novel I've been meaning to go back and reread some of his books I haven't read this one before called The Orchard keeper published in 1965”
“and then the other book I'm continuing sort of catching up with some of the early Cormac McCarthy books that I hadn't read before and I I know I mentioned the orchard keeper a couple weeks ago”
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
- Child of God
- All the Pretty Horses
- Anowa
- Autumn
- Avid Reader
- BRIEF HISTORY OF MISOGYNY: THE WORLD'S OLDEST PREJUDICE
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“so Dwight you wrote the obituary for cormack McCarthy who starting with the orchard keeper way back in 1965 and ending with Stella Maris last year wrote 12 novels”
“but the four before that the orchard keeper outer dark child of God and sutri Suri”