A John Graves Reader


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The Southwestern Writers Collection

"I'd bet McCarthy read this stuff."

The story I have is that McCarthy traveled to a writers' conference to see, hear, and meet John Graves. Looking at A John Graves Reader, Graves's "Cowboys: A Few Thoughts from the Sidelines," "A Loser," "The Last Running," "The Dreamer," " The Green Fly," "The Aztec Dog," brought on the sense "McCarthy read this stuff!"

Yes, go read Graves for the McCarthy interest. But don't stop short. Read Graves for Graves. Reading McCarthy Generally makes other fictions tasteless, bland: Graves is as wonderful in his way as McCarthy or Borges are in theirs. In his non-fiction he is a more personable John McPhee. I'd read part way into the Reader and thought to send a copy to a friend, introducing Graves as "Here's somebody I'd like you to meet." Got a few pieces farther in the Reader, thought of someone else. And now I need to send a third copy.

The "McCarthy read this stuff!" was coy. But it's not misleading.

Go read John Graves.

- John Sepich - 21 November 2006