Understand the tradition within which McCarthy writes. He has noted his favorite writers as Fyodor Dostoevsky, James Joyce and Herman Melville. He is frequently compared with fellow Southern writers William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. His most distinctive writing characteristic is his spare, extremely descriptive style, and he often reveals or suggests themes and plot subtly through this prose.
Focus intently while reading and do not be afraid to reread sentences several times. McCarthy's descriptive prose often does not introduce characters or provide outright biographical information on them. It also often consists of long sentences without commas. Racing to finish a McCarthy book greatly hinders your ability to understand and enjoy his art.
Research the history of the author himself. "Suttree," McCarthy's semi-autobiographical novel and perhaps his greatest, tells the story of a young man who forsakes a life of privilege to live among the homeless and denizens who inhabit the banks of the Tennessee River. McCarthy's penchant for traditional simplicity and rediscovering the simple country-born values that shaped him are evident in both the character of Suttree and the main characters in several of his other novels, most notably the Border Trilogy's John Grady Cole. Furthermore, McCarthy has stated that good manners and family are two of the most important things in life, ideas evident in his novels.