Stella Maris
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Stella Maris
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Stella Maris
The masterful coda to The Passenger from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Road.
The Passenger and Stella Maris are the final offerings from the late Cormac McCarthy, one of the great masters and a giant of American literature.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! DescriptionSet against the backdrop of 1972 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, Stella Maris by Cormac McCarthy delves into the haunting and deeply intellectual world of Alicia Western, a twenty-year-old prodigy with forty thousand dollars in a plastic bag. A doctoral candidate in mathematics at the illustrious University of Chicago, Alicia's brilliance is overshadowed by her diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. She voluntarily checks herself into a psychiatric hospital, seeking refuge but shunning conversation about her estranged brother, Bobby.
This enigmatic narrative unfolds through the transcripts of Alicia's psychiatric sessions, presenting readers with an unfiltered but intricate look into her psyche. As she confronts her mental condition, Alicia ponders the essence of madness and reflects deeply on the human tendency to cling to a singular understanding of reality. She recounts a childhood marred by the dread of her own grandmother and explores the profound intersections between physics and philosophy. Alicia introduces her "chimeras"—the vivid hallucinations that are both her companions and tormentors, visible only to her.
Throughout her sessions, she mourns for Bobby, who lingers in a state of almost-life, not entirely dead but no longer truly hers. This intricate relationship adds a layer of sorrow and complexity to her reflections.
Stella Maris serves as a formidable counterpart to McCarthy's The Passenger, offering a dense, thought-provoking exploration of existential questions that challenge our understanding of God, truth, and existence. Far from a conventional narrative, this book demands intellectual engagement, inviting readers to grapple with profound philosophical concepts through the lens of Alicia's troubled yet extraordinary mind.
Rich in thematic depth and philosophical inquiry, Stella Maris is a bold and rigorous continuation of a narrative that questions the very fabric of our reality, making it a must-read for those who seek more than just a story, but a profound examination of what it means to exist.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Remarkable and a staggering achievement, Stella Maris offers sentences with the solidity of stones and the clarity of diamonds. It is a true work of literature intended to haunt readers long after they are set aside, harmonising both sadly and gorgeously with its predecessor. These novels, like Bach’s concertos, depart from art to encroach upon science, showcasing the sharp mind of one of our greatest living writers.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780330457453
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 28 September 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Picador
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 16.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 197.0mm
Weight: 156g
Pages: 208
About the Author
The novels of the American writer Cormac McCarthy have received a number of literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. His works adapted to film include All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and No Country for Old Men - the latter film receiving four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture.
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