Reading McCarthy Episode 55: Writer Ron Rash on McCarthy's Work and Influence
Ron Rash, an award-winning novelist and professor known for his exploration of Appalachian life, shares his insights on the literary influence of Cormac McCarthy. He discusses his upbringing in Western North Carolina and the early works that shaped him as a writer. Rash reflects on his admiration for McCarthy, particularly the poetic qualities in 'Suttree,' and the emotional complexity of McCarthy's characters. He also defends the importance of the short story form and emphasizes the need for students to engage deeply with literature.
42:22
Farm Childhood Shaped His Eye
- Ron Rash credits long solitary hours on his grandmother's farm for sparking his love of observation and reading.
- He links that childhood freedom in Appalachia to his development as a writer and close attention to place.
Anxiety Of Influence Shapes Choices
- Rash describes the 'anxiety of influence' writers feel when facing giants like Faulkner and McCarthy.
- He says that influence can lead writers to retreat (he returned to poetry) until they find a distinct voice.
Poetic Prose And Dialect Mastery
- Rash values writers who are also poets, arguing their prose attains musical and concentrated language.
- He praises McCarthy's ability to render dialect without phonetic spelling, using word choice and arrangement instead.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Ron Rash's Appalachian Roots and Early Life
02:55 • 3min
Beginnings as Poet and Fiction Writer
06:06 • 1min
Discovering McCarthy and Literary Anxiety
07:10 • 2min
Why Suttree Resonated with Rash
08:44 • 2min
Dialect, Simile, and Folk Language
10:32 • 2min
Kindness Versus Chaos in Regional Writing
12:15 • 3min
Ad break
15:16 • 42sec
Empathy for Reprehensible Characters
15:58 • 2min
Rash's Multi-Genre Career
17:29 • 58sec
Value of the Short Story Today
18:27 • 3min
Sutree as Prose Poem and McCarthy's Poetry
21:54 • 2min
Conference Experience and Serious Reading
23:44 • 5min
Teaching Writing and Reading to Students
29:13 • 3min
How to Introduce Students to McCarthy
31:45 • 2min
Violence in Contemporary Literature
33:50 • 2min
Rash's Evolving Reading of McCarthy
35:50 • 3min
Returning to Beloved Classics
39:17 • 2min
Outro
41:20 • 53sec
#74138
The Green Bough
William Faulkner
#189
• Mentioned in 105 episodes
The Road
Tom Stechschulte
Cormac McCarthy
The Road is set in a world that has been devastated by an unspecified cataclysmic event, resulting in the extinction of nearly all life on Earth.
The story follows an unnamed father and his young son as they travel south along the road, carrying their meager possessions and a pistol with only two bullets.
The father, suffering from a worsening respiratory condition, is determined to protect his son from the dangers of their new world, including cannibalistic marauders.
Along their journey, they encounter various survivors, some of whom are cruel and others who show kindness.
The novel explores themes of love, survival, and the preservation of humanity in a world devoid of hope.
Ultimately, the father's health fails, and he dies, but not before ensuring his son's safety with a new family who may offer a chance for a better future.
#19697
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Children of God
An American Epic
Vardis Fisher
Children of God is a historical epic that follows the early history of Mormonism, focusing on figures like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
The novel presents a sympathetic portrayal of the Mormons while critiquing their persecutors.
It won the Harper Novel Prize in 1939.
#136
• Mentioned in 130 episodes
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events.
The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris.
The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war.
The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector.
#636
• Mentioned in 45 episodes
The sun also rises
Ernest Hemingway
Originally published in 1926, 'The Sun Also Rises' is Ernest Hemingway’s first novel and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style.
The novel follows a group of young American and British expatriates as they wander through Europe in the mid-1920s, capturing the moods, feelings, and attitudes of the cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation.
The story centers around Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran and journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain.
The novel portrays an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions, reflecting the existential disillusionment characteristic of the Lost Generation.
#11442
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
The orchard keeper
Cormac McCarthy
The Orchard Keeper is Cormac McCarthy's debut novel, published in 1965.
The story is set in rural Tennessee during the early 1930s and revolves around three main characters: Marion Sylder, a bootlegger; Uncle Ather Ownby, an old hermit living in a decaying apple orchard; and John Wesley Rattner, a young boy whose father was killed by Sylder in self-defense.
The novel explores themes of cyclical violence, the encroachment of modernity, and the complex relationships between these characters, who are unaware of the connections between them.
The narrative is characterized by McCarthy's vivid descriptions of the natural world and his exploration of human nature, morality, and the impact of societal changes on individual lives.
#4029
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
A Good Man is Hard to Find
Flannery O'Connor
Published in 1955, 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find' is a short story by Flannery O'Connor that follows a Georgia family on a road trip to Florida.
The grandmother manipulates the family into taking a detour to visit an old plantation, leading them into a fateful encounter with The Misfit, a violent escaped convict.
The story critiques superficial religious attitudes and explores the conflict between appearance and reality, particularly through the characters of the grandmother and The Misfit.
It is a tale of moral and philosophical introspection, set against the backdrop of the Southern Gothic tradition, characterized by dark humor, violence, and a sense of foreboding.
#157
• Mentioned in 118 episodes
Crime and Punishment
Bibliophile Bibliophile Pro
Constance Black Garnett
FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY
Published in 1866, 'Crime and Punishment' is a psychological novel set in St. Petersburg, Russia.
It revolves around Rodion Raskolnikov, an impoverished and intellectually gifted former student who formulates a theory that some individuals are morally justified in committing crimes for the greater good of society.
Raskolnikov puts this theory to the test by murdering an old pawnbroker and her half-sister, leading to a profound exploration of his psychological and emotional struggles with guilt, paranoia, and the consequences of his actions.
The novel delves into socio-economic disparities, moral dilemmas, and the psychology of criminals, making it a classic of Russian literature and existential thought.
#785
• Mentioned in 39 episodes
No Country for Old Men
Cormac McCarthy
The novel follows the interweaving paths of three central characters: Llewelyn Moss, who stumbles upon a large sum of money at a drug deal gone wrong; Anton Chigurh, a ruthless and principled hitman hired to retrieve the money; and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, who reflects on the changing world and the moral decay he witnesses.
The story is a harrowing exploration of greed, violence, and the consequences of one's actions, set in the harsh landscape of West Texas in 1980.
It delves into themes of fate vs. free will, good vs.
evil, and the ties of love, blood, and duty that shape destinies.
#728
• Mentioned in 41 episodes
Beloved
Toni Morrison
Published in 1987, 'Beloved' is a work of historical fiction that delves into the aftermath of the American Civil War. The novel centers around Sethe, a Black woman who escaped from slavery in Kentucky and now lives in Ohio.
However, her life is haunted by the ghost of her two-year-old daughter, whom she killed to prevent her from being taken back into slavery.
The story is deeply intertwined with themes of mother-daughter relationships, the power of family and community, and the lasting impact of slavery on individuals and society.
The novel introduces a mysterious figure named Beloved, who is the physical manifestation of Sethe's murdered daughter, and explores how this presence disrupts and ultimately transforms the lives of Sethe and her surviving daughter, Denver.
Through a complex narrative that includes flashbacks, stream-of-consciousness monologues, and multiple voices, Morrison examines the trauma and resilience of those affected by slavery.
#5793
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Look Homeward, Angel
Thomas Wolfe
In 'Look Homeward, Angel', Thomas Wolfe crafts a rich tapestry of human experience through the story of Eugene Gant, a young man navigating family dynamics, identity, and societal pressures in the fictional town of Altamont, modeled after Wolfe's hometown of Asheville.
The novel delves into themes of individuality, family legacy, and the quest for belonging, offering a poignant reflection on personal growth and self-discovery.
#21266
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Suttree
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy's 'Suttree' is a sprawling and atmospheric novel set in 1950s Knoxville, Tennessee.
The novel follows the life of Cornelius Suttree, a drifter and outsider who navigates the city's underbelly.
McCarthy's prose is characterized by its stark beauty, lyrical descriptions, and its exploration of themes of alienation, isolation, and the search for meaning.
'Suttree' is a challenging but rewarding read, offering a glimpse into the lives of those living on the margins of society.
The novel's impact extends beyond its literary merit, influencing generations of writers and artists.
#4078
• Mentioned in 10 episodes
Absalom, Absalom!
William Faulkner
William Faulkner's "Absalom, Absalom!
" is a complex and challenging novel that delves into the history and downfall of Thomas Sutpen, a wealthy planter in Mississippi.
The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, creating a fragmented and layered portrayal of Sutpen's ambition and its devastating consequences.
Faulkner's masterful use of stream-of-consciousness and shifting timelines creates a rich and immersive reading experience.
The novel explores themes of race, class, ambition, and the destructive nature of the past.
It's considered one of Faulkner's most ambitious and rewarding works.
#523
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
Blood Meridian
Or, The Evening Redness in the West
Cormac McCarthy
Blood Meridian is a historical novel that depicts the brutal reality of the American West in the mid-19th century.
The story follows a 14-year-old runaway from Tennessee, known as 'the kid', who joins the Glanton gang, a historical group of scalp hunters.
The gang, led by John Joel Glanton and the enigmatic Judge Holden, is contracted to kill and scalp Native Americans but soon devolves into indiscriminate violence against various groups.
The novel explores themes of brutality, the loss of innocence, and the harsh realities of human nature, with Judge Holden serving as a central figure embodying philosophical and sadistic elements.
The book is known for its unflinching portrayal of violence and its allegorical exploration of human existence.
Episode 55 is a discussion with award winning novelist, short story writer, poet, and big-time McCarthy fan, Ron Rash. Ron attended Gardner Webb University in Boiling Rock NC and then earned his master’s in English at Clemson University. He is a writing and English faculty member at Western Carolina in Cullowhee, NC, where he serves as the John and Dorothy Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Cultural Studies. Ron has won many (I mean, many) honors and awards, including the Academy of American Poets Prize in 1986, O’Henry short story awards in 2005, 2010, 2019, and the Frank O’Connor International short story award in 2010. His collection of stories Chemistry and Other Stories was a finalist for the Pen/Faulkner award, as was his novel Serena. His most recent novel is The Caretaker, a novel set during the Korean War but dealing primarily with class stratification and the home-front in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Caretaker was selected by the New York Times as one of the Best Books of the Year for 2023.
Ron was the Keynote speaker at the McCarthy Conference in October, 2024 and was kind enough to sit for an interview and discuss our mutual passion for the works of Cormac McCarthy.
Thanks to Thomas Frye, who composed, performed, and produced the music for READING MCCARTHY.
The views of the host and his guests do not necessarily reflect the views of their home institutions or the Cormac McCarthy Society, although in our hearts we hope they’ll follow along. Download and follow us on Apple, Spotify, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re agreeable it’ll help us if you provide favorable reviews on these platforms. To contact us, please reach out to readingmccarthy@gmail.com.
Starting in spring of 2023, the podcast began accepting minor sponsorship offers to offset the costs of the podcast. This may cause a mild disconnect in earlier podcasts where the host asks for patrons in lieu of sponsorships. But if we compare it to a very large and naked bald man in the middle of the desert who leads you to an extinct volcano to create gunpowder, it seems pretty minor...