The Stonemason: A Play in Five Acts

I deliberately have not read The Stonemason because I wanted to save one book to look forward to after McCarthy’s death and well I guess after the brilliant Passenger and Stella, which is one helluva way to say goodbye. Can 2 novels win the Pulitzer? Also, when are the Cohn brothers going to make a movie version of Blood Meridian. That would be epic and they’re the only one who pull it off. Anyway, The Stonemason stays pretty mediocre throughout but there are some REALLY deep parts in this book about purity, integrity, true art, heart, being willing to die for your art. Part of me wishes Cormac would write a sequel that deals more with Ben and Peepaw on the job. It could be done like Sunset or Stella—just two people talking, but this time talking almost exclusively about stonemasonry. I’ve now officially read all of Cormac’s published books. I’d LOVE to read a flat out nonfiction/philosophy book by McCarthy. That would be EPIC! Even just a short 75-100 pg book would be worth its weight in gold and Cormac could probably pump one out a rough draft in one day then fully edit it within the next .2 or 3 days. Come on Cormac. You know you’ve got to pick with Kant, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, even Emerson and Thoreau. Even Epicurus! Such a book would be adored. Hell write something along the lines of Zarathustra or The Profit if you have to. I want to see more of what’s going on in that head of yours.

Easy to follow, hard to put down. Cormac McCarthy comes through again and again. Highly recommended!

4 stars because there was some problems with dialect, there was some problem with speech for the characters and by plays-end it was obvious that McCarthay was speaking his own philosophy--not that there is something so wrong with that but I found something uneven about it. ALL IN ALL: McCarthy is just what people say about him: a true writer, his characters do come alive even in this play; he can deliver a story in an amazing literary way; he is funny. He is right on. A white man writing black people...now that was a challenge for me to read neutrally to see how he did. Well, he did it well but it wasn't pure because "Negro" culture was anti-suicide in a big way. But all is forgiven for the way McCarthy presented "Pawpa" and his vibrant feelings about his 80-yr career as a stonemason. The old man felt like a person during times when society seemed dead set at preventing all Negro men from feeling their own person and manhood. AMAZING ALSO that McCarthy makes no big effort to demonstrate racism or talk about it too much. There was more happening in this family's life and times than racism. I just loved this reading experience. I love it that Mc Carthy was able to deliver a full story in a play.--MO

McCarthy moves away from his dark ways. This is not a Blood Meridian, Child of God, or even a Crossings trilogy. This is about a normal, an extraordinary but normal, extended family. There is darkness and there is light. There is the same feeling of history and God as one sees at the end of The Road in the markings on the trout. THis is about God in the stone and how only a Stonemason can receive and release it (this last sounds a bit of bull to me but do read it).

Authors understanding of stone masonry is at a level most people can’t grasp. And even fewer have put into words. From a stone workers point of view it is a must read.

Wonderful descriptions of the stage

This play is not the usual Cormac McCarthy, but, then, what is? Although this isn't among my favorites by this author, he's still far ahead of the field.

Good

The item was fairly priced, arrived in a short time, and was in perfect condition.