46 pages 1 hour read

Cormac McCarthy

Cities of the Plain

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1998

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Before You Read

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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.

Reviews & Readership

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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 this

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.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

680L

Book Details

Genre

Western

Historical Fiction

American Literature

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Values/Ideas: Fate

Natural World: Animals

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Period

Post-War Era