All The Pretty Horses

All The Pretty Horses was written by Cormac McCarthy copyright 1992.  This book is a romantic novel about a man who falls deeply in love with a farmer’s daughter.  The book beings with 16-year-old John Grady Cole attending his grandfather’s funeral.  He soon starts his journey to Mexico searching for a new life.  Throughout his journeys, John Grady searches for a new life and his independence takes over as he becomes a hero.

The author uses second person to draw the reader into John Grady’s life.  On his way to a new life in Mexico, John and his best friend and companion, Lacey Rawlins encounter a 13-year-old boy named Jimmy Blevins.  When they arrive at a Ranch John instantly falls in love with the owner’s daughter, Alejandra.  The intended audience of this book is for young adult readers.  This realistic fiction book is not based on a true story.  The author keeps the reader interested by adding suspense and excitement.  The author’s style use old fashioned literature to create a feel and setting of the west and Mexico. 

This book affected me by showing me a love story between mixed cultures.  It does not change any ideas I held before but it does fit in with my own personal world view.  I think that there is nothing bad about different cultures coming together.  All the Pretty Horses didn’t remind me of another book; it is unique to its style but shares a common theme across many books. 

I liked this book and it had a meaningful story behind it.  Parts of the book were written in Spanish helping with the realistic idea of the setting.  I recommend this book for readers who enjoy action and romance as well as the west.

Lila Kirkendall

12/18/2013

RATING: **** 4/5