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The Passenger

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( 38,623 ratings, 5,788 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In 1980, Pass Christian, Mississippi, Bobby Western dives into the dark waters to explore a sunken jet crash site. He discovers nine bodies and notices the pilot's flightbag, black box, and a tenth passenger are missing. Pursued by men with badges and haunted by the ghosts of his father and sister, Bobby navigates a mystery across the American South—from New Orleans' bar rooms to an abandoned Florida oil rig. The Passenger is a haunting exploration of morality, science, legacy, and the complexities of human consciousness.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

Ideal for readers who appreciate literary thrillers with deep moral and philosophical undertones, fans of Cormac McCarthy's distinctive prose, and those drawn to haunting stories set in atmospheric American landscapes.

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One half of the final pair of books from the late Cormac McCarthy, 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! Description

1980, Pass Christian, Mississippi: It is three in the morning when Bobby Western zips the jacket of his wetsuit and plunges from the boat deck into darkness. His dive light illuminates the sunken jet, nine bodies still buckled in their seats, hair floating, eyes devoid of speculation. Missing from the crash site are the pilot's flight bag, the plane's black box, and the tenth passenger. But how? A collateral witness to machinations that can only bring him harm, Western is shadowed in body and spirit—by men with badges; by the ghost of his father, inventor of the bomb that melted glass and flesh in Hiroshima; and by his sister, the love and ruin of his soul.

Traversing the American South, from the garrulous bar rooms of New Orleans to an abandoned oil rig off the Florida coast, The Passenger is a breathtaking novel of morality and science, the legacy of sin, and the madness that is human consciousness.

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?

The Daily Telegraph calls it a gripping novel rich in reflection and evocation. The Guardian praises it as a gorgeous ruin and mercilessly melancholic noir thriller. The Irish Times highlights it as a moving and disconcerting work from a great American writer, while the New Statesman places McCarthy alongside Melville and Dostoevsky. Other reviews acclaim it as magisterial (Financial Times), Kafka on the bayou (Observer), and a masterpiece showcasing McCarthy's acerbic style.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780330457439

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 September 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 294g

Pages: 432

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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