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53 pages 1 hour read

All The Pretty Horses

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992

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Book Brief

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Cormac McCarthy

All The Pretty Horses

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992
Book Details
Pages

302

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Texas And Mexico • 1940s

Publication Year

1992

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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Super Short Summary

All the Pretty Horses, a novel by Cormac McCarthy, follows young John Grady Cole and his friend Lacey Rawlins as they flee to Mexico on horseback in the late 1940s, seeking a life centered around horses. They face numerous trials, including conflict with local authorities, imprisonment, and heartbreak, ultimately forcing John Grady to confront harsh realities and his shattered dreams.

Melancholic

Adventurous

Mysterious

Bittersweet

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.3

135,826 ratings

77%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

All The Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy has received widespread acclaim for its lyrical prose and vivid depiction of the American West. Critics praise its complex characters and philosophical depth. However, some find the narrative's pace slow and the dialogue challenging due to minimal punctuation. Overall, it’s a must-read for fans of literary fiction and Westerns.

Who should read this

Who Should Read All The Pretty Horses?

A reader who enjoys Cormac McCarthy’s All The Pretty Horses typically appreciates richly descriptive prose, and deeply explores themes of adventure, existentialism, and human struggle. Fans of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea and Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men will find the novel’s rugged yet poetic narrative captivating.

4.3

135,826 ratings

77%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

John Grady Cole

A teenage cowboy and skilled rancher with a strong moral code, passionate about horses and navigating life without the guidance of his absent parents. He embarks on a journey to Mexico seeking adventure and a place where his ideals can flourish.

John Grady's loyal best friend, he serves as a pragmatic counterbalance to John Grady's idealism. He shares John Grady's love of horses and is steadfast in his support, even while questioning some of their decisions.

A younger boy with a penchant for tall tales and trouble, he becomes an unexpected and problematic companion to John Grady and Rawlins. His actions and fate significantly impact the course of the story.

A confident and independent young woman who shares John Grady's affinity for horses, her relationship with him is marked by mutual attraction and societal pressures. She navigates the tension between personal desires and family expectations.

A wealthy and authoritative Mexican ranch owner, who shares John Grady's expertise and passion for horses. He holds traditional views about his family and society, particularly concerning his daughter, Alejandra.

A protective and pragmatic family matriarch, concerned with maintaining social order and Alejandra's reputation. She is pragmatic about the constraints of society and uses her influence to manage family affairs.

Book Details
Pages

302

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Texas And Mexico • 1940s

Publication Year

1992

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

940L

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