"All Cattle And No Hat"
That's what David Carr (@carr2n) called Cormac McCarthy after reading this terrific WSJ interview with him by John Jurgensen. An few snippets:
WSJ: Why don't you sign copies of "The Road"CM: There are signed copies of the book, but they all belong to my son John, so when he turns 18 he can sell them and go to Las Vegas or whatever. No, those are the only signed copies of the book.
WSJ: How many did you have?
CM: 250. So occasionally I get letters from book dealers or whoever that say, "I have a signed copy of the 'The Road,'" and I say, "No. You don't."
...WSJ: Some critics focus on how rarely you go deep with female characters.
CM: This long book is largely about a young woman. There are interesting scenes that cut in throughout the book, all dealing with the past. She's committed suicide about seven years before. I was planning on writing about a woman for 50 years. I will never be competent enough to do so, but at some point you have to try.
Here's a link to Cormac McCarthy's books
I will definitely check out Cormac McCarthy's books on account of this excellent interview. He sounds like a very sensible and intelligent person. Thanks a million for the post!
On the other hand, I do not "get" David Carr's blog at all. Are those comments or just snarky holograms? Twitter-twit-twat-twatter.
Since I am here taking up bandwidth, I'll mention it seems that your book isn't being shipped in France (pre-ordered from Amazon.fr) until January 7th. Arrggghhh! I guess "multinationals" are not what they used to be, but of course it is probably all due to some stupid French law about forcing foreign books to be sold 3 months after their French counterparts so as not to mess with the Goncourt sales, or French primacy in any way shape or form. It would be completely typical of the French to only release English language books after the press has died down. Sigh.
I really hope the book sells well. Or at least that you bank a similar amount as inferior bloggers who are randomly given absurd advances.
liz at November 13, 2009 12:23 PM
Where I come from saying some one is "All cattle and no hat" is an insult...I am not sure if that is what is meant here.
It comes from a cowboy having a lot of wealth (cattle) but no brains - he was not even smart enough to wear hat (so no his face will be sunburned, etc).
The Former Banker at November 15, 2009 1:18 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2009/11/13/all_cattle_and.html#comment-1677540">comment from The Former BankerRespectfully, The FB, that seems a little backward. My boyfriend has the Dallas Businessman's Special, which is the hat the guy SHOULD be wearing on the show that's been renamed (mystifyingly), "Justified" -- it was "Lawman." (It's based on an Elmore Leonard story.) Anyway, the hat on the show is now wearing the guy -- there's that big empty space between his head and the crown. That's what I think of with All hat and no cattle -- "air apparent," you could say. (Sorry...couldn't resist.)
Cattle is substance, it seems. Hence the title, and the way Carr used it. (He's a former editor - of Washington City Paper, and my experience with him is that he's careful with words and meaning.)
Amy Alkon
at November 15, 2009 1:30 PM
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