I just finished reading No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, it is excellent. I think the movie completely did it justice and reading it really made me appreciate Javier Bardem's performance even more because he makes a succinctly written character completely come to life. Tommy Lee Jones' character, Sheriff Bell, is really the driving force in the book and there is a lot more reflection from him, which is what I think gives the book a bit more heart than the movie. Also, there is an awesome scene with Llewellyn (Josh Brolin) and a hitchhiker he picks up that is not in the movie and is some of the best dialogue and sweet/sad scenes I have ever read.
So that said, I've been thinking more about the central reason for the conflict in this book - money. I think it really says something about greed (perhaps only my greed), that when I saw the movie I didn't really find it that odd that Llewellyn took the money. I guess I could picture myself trying to get away with taking it all as well - but reading the book, I wondered if it wouldn't just have made sense to take $100,000 or so. Would you be able to walk away from 2.4 million and just take a few packs of $10,000 bills? I mean, how many times have I daydreamed about finding a bag full of money and all of the amazing things I would buy if I found it, how many of my "problems" would it solve? But realistically, it is just so crazy that Llewellyn takes that money and decides to fight for it - throws away his whole life and his wife's life and many others, for MONEY.
I'm having all of these anxieties and stresses and disappointments about money lately and really, even if I had no bills and no debt, I wouldn't live my life any differently. I don't even think I would quit my job if I won the lottery - as all-consuming as it can be, it still gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction. And I sure as hell would not give up my way of life for a bag of 2.4 million dollars.
So, oddly, reading this tragic, dark, tense book has given me comfort and made me freak out a bit less about money. I don't think that was quite McCarthy's intention, but there you go.
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I know. It's such a balancing act. Being responsible and smart with money, but also letting go of greed and desire and living life focused on the important things. Money is also important, but it needs to be mentally and emotionally in its proper place. Suze Orman has a book called "Women and Money" that I started reading that I think has a pretty decent philosophy and a 5 month plan to get your finances in order. She talks about how women are often so capable in every area but money and she explores why and what we can do about it. Check it out.
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