Today we're celebrating the birthday of one of America's greatest novelists of the late 20th century: Cormac McCarthy, the author of some of our favorite dystopian and Southern Gothic books. McCarthy is a Pulitzer Prize winner and recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant, and his books have spawned numerous film adaptations, most notably the Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men. If you haven't gotten a chance to read McCarthy's works, here are our suggestions for where to start:

Blood Meridian (1985)

This harrowing book about the violent and disturbing exploits of a roving gang in the American Southwest cemented McCarthy's reputation as a great American novelist. If dark, bloody Westerns are your thing, you'll love this thrilling and often stomach-turning tale, which focuses on the anonymous protagonist "the kid" and the brutal, fearsome gang member Judge Holden.

All the Pretty Horses (1992)

The first book in McCarthy's "Border Trilogy," All the Pretty Horses is a Western novel about the teenage John Grady, who, forced to leave his family's Texas ranch, journeys to Mexico with aspirations of becoming a cowboy. This sweeping coming-of-age story, which includes more romantic themes than McCarthy's earlier work, won the National Book Award for Fiction in 1992.

The Road (2006)

The Road is McCarthy's most recent novel, and one of his bleakest. An unnamed father and son roam a post-apocalyptic wasteland, seeking food, resources, and shelter to survive the coming winter. Along the way, they evade cannibals, marauders, and other violent survivors as they struggle to stay alive and reach the sea. This frightening book was adapted into an acclaimed film, starring Viggo Mortensen, in 2009.

No Country for Old Men (2005)

This thriller, set in Southern Texas in 1980, follows three characters in the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong: welder Llewelyn Moss, who discovers millions of dollars at the crime scene; assassin Anton Chigurh, who has been hired to track the money down; and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, who is hot on both their trails. 

Suttree (1979)

McCarthy's fourth novel is unique amongst his oeuvre for its wide scope, lighter tone, and semi-autobiographical elements. Suttree is about the fringe communities and outcasts of Knoxville, Tennessee, with Cornelius Suttree, a poor fisherman who has rejected a life of wealth, as its protagonist. Many of the colorful cast of lowlifes and debaucherers described in Suttree are drawn from McCarthy's own life.

Got any other favorite reads by Cormac McCarthy? Let us know in the comments!