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I decided that McCarthy is quite disturbed after reading this one.

Actually Child of God is pulled right out of the newspaper. This guy actually existed and did those things.

Zach wrote: "Actually Child of God is pulled right out of the newspaper. This guy actually existed and did those things."

Jeez, even more disturbing!

That's not to say McCarthy doesn't write some disturbing shit. I'm taking a class on him right now and there have already been several dead babies just hanging out.

Mr. Pilsener wrote: "I decided that McCarthy is quite disturbed after reading this one."

It is a work of fiction. McCarthy has quite a normal life outside of his work. Very talented, obviously.

I just read this book. I didn't know it was based on a real person. I live in East Tennessee so I know all of the counties he mentions. It made me think of American Psycho.

I would be very careful in not mistaking the author for the text. There's a big difference between the two

McCarthy has a profound understanding of the dark, twisted human heart.

The character seems based on Ed Gein. Or Gien. A film was made about him and I think he was somewhere in the northern Mid-west, Wisconsin or around there. I don't think McCarthy's disturbed, he just writes well on topics that make us uncomfortable but for which there is an abundance in the every day world. You only have to read the newspapers and you'll find plenty of scenarios that could have come right out of the pages of one of McCarthy's books.

All of the articles available say the book is based on events from Sevier Co. Yet, when I try and research any murders that would be similar, I'm not able to find any. One interviewed an elderly male who said he could not remember any such murders, or anything similar, occurring in Sevier Co. It goes on to say he probably got his inspiration from Ed Gein or James Blevins since both were going on at the time. There were many films based loosely on Gein, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho, Silence of the Lambs. It would make sense that McCarthy would use him as well.

I love reading Zachary McCarthy; he is dark and talented, something like Stephen King but more realistic and historical.

You might want to familiarize yourself with the literary term "allegory."

I think he's one of the best writer in the world. I love his writing, his novels, his atmospheres and scenarios. Child of God is one of my best preferred novel.

Ed Gein was from Plain, Wisconsin (I grew up in Madison, where he was confined to a state forensic hospital and was something of a local boogeyman/legend), and he did indeed rob graves; his story, however, is a good deal more complicated than this one (e.g. he made lampshades from and upholstered furniture from his victims' skin), so I rather doubt he served as the source material for this story.

Again, I encourage readers of this fine novel to consider its allegorical elements, proceeding from its title.

I couldn't get through this one. It was too twisted.

His books are quite disturbing, but I love them anyway.

I think you're confusing the man and his work.

What's this an allegory for?

I read Child of God a few weeks ago. I loved it. I thought it very sad, but I don't mind sad books. The protagonist was obviously insane and desparately needed help. What a lonesome, pitiful life. I had read The Road and enjoyed that, and a reviewer had written that Child Of God was his favorite McCarthy book. I have to agree. BTW, he wrote The Road for his son.

He isn't actually disturbed at all. He's a very healthy individual with a happy, normal life.

The point of this book is that he is such a talented and dedicated writer he can make you root for a disgusting, terrible human person, and show you that we all have a spark of humanity inside of us.

He draws a complex character of someone we'd normally just be revolted by and move on from. McCarthy brings him to life, gives him a sense of reality, and makes him into someone believable.

Sure, he's not someone you'd want to have a beer with, but many people who read this book found themselves hoping he'd get away from the search party, and 'fix' whatever was wrong with him. Even knowing it was impossible, that is just what an amazing job McCarthy did in creating and depicting this character.

I don't know that I'd call it allegory; what does the main character stand in for? What do the women stand in for? The search party? The cave? I don't know that there is much hidden symbolism here, but it's possible it is there and I missed it.

I thought it was a master-class exercise in showing a human that would ordinarily revolt us as someone who has suffered and bringing an element of human compassion to his sad story.