The Balloon Went Up... (Thoughts around Cormac McCarthy situation)

[@lsobrien]

Super articulate and well argued. It would be a real shame if recent events stopped people from reading McCarthy. His work is incredible.

[@GoreVidalComicbooks]

I remember when Claire Bloom wrote her memoir where she talked about when she realized her then husband Philip Roth was writing about them and the women he was having affairs with in his novels. Made me think for a moment if it was a pattern in his books. But only for a moment since his books didn't interest me. It didn't affect his popularity or admiration among readers in the literary world and among those I personally knew especially women. When it comes separating the artist from his/her work, the way I've approached it is that the imagination and experience contribute to a work. It's common sense. Whether or not Augusta Britt was Mccarthy's "muse" is irrelevant to me when I re-read Cormac's books like Blood Meridian, Suttree, and All the Pretty Horses. The stories are interesting, beautiful, and real. If she inspired any of the characters so be it. It doesn't cloud my reading experience of those books. They remain beautiful works of the imagination.

[@3_on_the_Tree]

I like what you said about imagination.

[@ExpatRiot79]

I like your take on this. I think a lot of book tubes have revealed themselves in their cancellation knee jerk.

[@3_on_the_Tree]

Pretty scary.

[@KathleenAnnBooks]

If I didn’t separate the art from the artist, I would have very few books left to read.

[@J0zB]

I agree with you, Conrad. My library would be empty if I only read books by “perfect” authors. Life is messy. Fortunately some people can make art that transcends the mess.

[@3_on_the_Tree]

It is indeed messy!

[@profaneyo-yo7587]

I totally agree with you. I think the only situation that I won't be able to separate the writer with their work would be that the writer completely betrays their works. If the story goes that Cormac McCarthy secretly owns a mansion in beverly hills and he actually spends most of his time there with celebrities instead of New Mexico, that would make me lose all the interests in him. I don't think any reader of Cormac McCarthy would be surprised with this story, it somehow fitted into the world that he created in his book, where human laws and civilization doesn't really function and we are blessed to find anyone to share some warmth with, however wrong that person is.

[@3_on_the_Tree]

I feel like I'd just see them as even more imaginative if that were the case.

[@horseman3222]

Very well said. You should put here some more content on your reading experience.

[@StrangerByTheHour]

I’m not changing how I feel about his books. I can separate the art from the artist

[@3_on_the_Tree]

I understand that.

[@forgottensage-o5o]

I like your honesty. I also like that that damn was nicknamed the damned, LOL, that is f***ing hilarious!

[@3_on_the_Tree]

It honestly was wild. Lol.

[@charlesbritt842]

“ We don’t gotta burn the books, we just remove ‘em”

[@3_on_the_Tree]

👊

[@GodwardPodcast]

Good question. Personally, it doesn't bother me, especially because this girl grew up to be a woman in her late 40s who is still very fond of Cormac. It seems silly for "us" to lament what she does not lament.

[@3_on_the_Tree]

I see your point.

[@aubreypressley1450]

For me, I just can't see the situation that way. These sorts of relationships have lasting damage for tons of people. Just because Augusta Britt may have come out fine, at least to our current knowledge, doesn't mean one rolls the dice like this. You don't do what he did. I will respect McCarthy's work until the end of time but my issue with this comes down to a general moral stance I have on grooming that is broader than this one situation.