Day 3- A Favorite Book!

One of my all time favorite book is No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. He has written a few novels I would recommend but none speaks to me as much as does No Country and the character of Sheriff Bell in particular. If you have not read the book but have seen the excellent film adaptation by the Coen brothers, he is the character portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones. Although the screenplay was wonderfully adapted from the novel and Jones' portrayal of Sheriff Bell was spot on, the book delves into the character with so much more depth than I believe any movie could properly do. The movie did do a great job incorporating many of the amazing folksy expressions the novel is so loaded with. It makes me want to completely change the way that I speak.

Each chapter begins with a sort of monologue by Sheriff Bell. If you ever find yourself in a bookstore with a few minutes on your hands, pick up the novel and randomly flip through till you find one of these passages. They are easily distinguished as they are written in italics. If you can get through one of those passages and are not immediately hooked, I'm not sure we can be friends anymore. 
    

Aww, don't look at me like that, Tommy. I'm only teasing.

Although the character and I come from very different backgrounds, Sheriff Bell and I have a lot in common philosophically speaking. Reading this character's thoughts and observations was very enlightening to me as the author was able put into words many truths that I have always felt inside but have never really been able, or even really thought to try to express on my own. Here are a couple quick examples: 

"I think the truth is always simple. It has pretty much got to be. It needs to be simple enough for a child to understand. Otherwise it'd be too late. By the time you figured it out it would be too late."

"...She kept on, kept on. Finally told me, said: I dont like the way this country is headed. I want my granddaughter to be able to have an abortion. And I said well mam I dont think you got any worries about the way the country is headed. The way I see it goin I dont have much doubt but what she'll be able to have an abortion. I'm goin to say that not only will she be able to have an abortion, she'll be able to have you put to sleep. Which pretty much ended the conversation."

“You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” 

“I think by the time you're grown you're as happy as you're goin to be. You'll have good times and bad times, but in the end you'll be about as happy as you was before. Or as unhappy. I've knowed people that just never did get the hang of it. ” 

If you're still reading, thank you for indulging me. Do yourself a favor and read this taught little book. It's a quick, fun read with some profound messages. Love, Jordan