46 pages • 1 hour read
Cities of the Plain
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Book Brief
292
Novel • Fiction
New Mexico • 1950s
1998
Adult
18+ years
680L
Super Short Summary
Cities of the Plain by Cormac McCarthy follows John Grady Cole and Billy Parham as they work on a cattle ranch near the US-Mexico border. John Grady falls in love with Magdalena, a teenager in a Mexican brothel, and enlists Billy's help to save her. Their lives become entangled with violence, and the changing world threatens their cowboy lifestyle. Sensitive topics include violence, sex work, and death.
Melancholic
Dark
Gritty
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
30,434 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Comprising the final installment of McCarthy's Border Trilogy, Cities of the Plain melds poetic prose with stark narratives, resonating deeply with fans of his previous works. While some critics laud its evocative landscapes and profound themes, others find the pacing sluggish and the plot somewhat predictable. Nonetheless, its elegiac tone and vivid character portrayals make it a compelling read.
Who Should Read Cities of the Plain?
Fans of spare, lyrical prose and complex explorations of morality, like those found in Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea or William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, will appreciate Cormac McCarthy's Cities of the Plain. It's ideal for readers who enjoy Western settings and deeply human stories.
30,434 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
292
Novel • Fiction
New Mexico • 1950s
1998
Adult
18+ years
680L
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