Stella Maris

Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy (2022) I’ve listened to audiobook versions of the last two Cormac McCarthy books (this, and The Passenger (2022)) a couple of times in the last year or so—kind of obsessed with them. I might eventually read them in book form, but I’m afraid that once you listen to an audiobook it will forever alter how you read it. Anyway, I’m fascinated with how these two books work together—they were published like six weeks apart—and I think they read just as well in either order—or preferably at the same time. They are very different books involving the same characters—brother and sister geniuses, Bobby and Alicia Western, whose father was a Manhattan Project scientist. This book is entirely in the form of interviews, taped by Dr. Cohen, with Alicia, while she’s at Stella Maris psychiatric hospital. During this time, Bobby is in a coma from a racing car accident, and Alicia is on the verge of suicide. It is grim, but also oddly inspiring—perhaps because of the exhilaration of what you’re learning about these people, their pursuits and questions—everything from the basic, Why are we here? —to ideas too far beyond my understanding to get to the bottom of. One example: talking about the advent of language, Alicia compares its arrival to a parasitic invasion. Great stuff to think about. As the book is entirely dialogue, it feels like it could be a theatrical production, radio play, or even a movie—it kind of reminded me of My Dinner with Andre (1981) —one of my favorites—and I liked this book that much. Though—would I have liked it as much without The Passenger? Probably not. Also, sometimes the performances feel a bit sentimental and manipulative. I’m not sure if that’s in the writing, or in the acting—a little of both? It certainly didn’t stop me from multiple listenings, and I’m sure I’ll go back to it yet again.

6.9.26