A profound lesson on self-discovery and loyalty

I love stories of the American West, particularly those with stoic, rugged characters such as in Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. John Grady Cole, protagonist in All the Pretty Horses, is pretty much a descendant of such characters. A 16-year-old Texan, he travels to Mexico on horseback with his trusted friend Lacey Rawlins. Along the way, they meet different characters who shape the course of their adventures.

The story is at once a coming-of-age tale and a western, but written with descriptions of landscapes and horses that are often breathtaking, always finely-detailed. It took me a while to become accustomed to McCarthy's unusual predilection for leaving out punctuation. However, as the story progressed, I found that his minimal punctuation and brief dialogue were appropriate and natural for the characters he creates. In a story filled with starkness and violence, McCarthy includes humor, especially the early passages with Jimmy Blevins, the youth who follows the boys on his magnificent horse. At all times, John Grady Cole remains the focus, and it was his personal journey that sustained my interest. John Grady has his benefactors, namely his sidekick Rawlins and his lover, the blue-eyed Alejandra, and more importantly, his detractors, in the form of Alejandra's aunt and the cruel captain. These secondary characters shape his journey, directing him toward both bleakness and beauty, honor and revenge, nothingness and all-encompassing love.

The hero leaves behind his childhood and, when his journey comes to a full circle, he is elevated to a higher level, a magnificence that McCarthy associates with the beautiful horses whose essence sustain John Grady Cole throughout. I found John Grady's actions were honorable and unselfish at the end, yet the wisdom and maturity that he attains come at a terrible price.

I know that critics praise this book because of the powerful prose by McCarthy. Some people may be put off by his style, which is reminiscent of William Faulkner, a literary master. My only warning is that there are some passages that will require translation into English or comprehension will definitely be affected. I suggest that a reader should keep in mind that the story has a simple plot, wherein the main character embarks on a journey. Take the journey with John Grady Cole and immerse yourself in McCarthy's wondrous imagery of deep colors and dream metaphors and his profound lessons on loyalty and self-discovery.