Paul’s review of Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West > Likes and Comments
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I’ve never forgotten an observation I read which was, to paraphrase, that it feels like McCarthy is trying to make every individual sentence the climax of the novel.
I wish goodreads would allow users to "shelve" reviews because this one belongs on the top shelf. Well stated, well written, amusing, on point, honest. Kudos.
Not that you need moral support for your decision to jack it in, but i needed 4 attempts before i "succeeded" in reading this book and ... now i can say that i've read it. (whoopdedoo!)
Like you, I've taken 2 stabs at this book and both times I was left wondering what the hell had I just read. Yes the landscape, carnage, and Judge jump out of the pages but overall this is just try hard material for lit alumni to dissect in 50 years.
Astute observations and you've captured my true feelings towards this book quite well.
I've Child of God and Sunset Limited are my go to publications from CM.
Thanks Mitchell, Jeff & Fer! - that's a great observation, Mitchell....
Of the books you mentioned in your review I have only read one. And I was not encouraged to read more. All the pretty horses was a good book for me and I believe it is his classic. Although I didn't like the realism his writing style challenged me with. It did change my opinion on what a good cowboy book should read like. After reading your negative review I feel we are on different paths through the classics and to each his own. What is a review and what is a criticism and can they be the same thing. Your point is well taken and I doubt if I'll read anymore of his.
yeah, it's among his worst books (though still quite good imo); I think Suttree should really be the critical darling
I didn’t love the book, some aspects resounded strongly with me and I overall enjoyed it, but thank you for putting into words my frustrations with the book.
If you like Child of God, I recommend another of his Appalachia books, Outer Dark. Suttree has a lot of sweetness to it, without violence or horror - true Americana. Meridian is overrated, it does have historical basis if you look up Glanton. Too many critics looking for symbolism.
Blood Meridian is the only thing by Cormac McCarthy that I ever tried to read, and like you, I had to give up before I read a hundred pages. And I found it so repulsive and pointless that I've never had the slightest urge to read anything else of his.
So thank you for making me not feel bad about that.
I read it in the early 2000s and loved it but a difficult book to be sure. A few years ago (must have been from your first attempt) you had one of my favorite lines about it: the bible as written by Sam Peckinpah. I love that.
Anyway, you don't have to finish this and I don't have to finish Ulysses (I tried once in college).
I don't agree with you but that's a good review. I like the violence, I prefer the writing style of this novel (and Suttree) instead of McCarthy's later works but I smiled at the first comment in this page.. maybe Cormac tried to make every sentence the climax of the novel. Maybe this novel is too much. Too much description, too much violence and to much "like the". Maybe this is not a masterpiece but I really enjoyed it. ...it's Okay, we can't like the same books =D
Superb review. I couldn't agree more with your take on it. "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" was precisely my summation. Thanks for the artistic delivery of this masterpiece review!
Oh dear. Blood Meridian is on both the Boxall 1001 and the Guardian 1000 list, which usually means I'll find it interesting. Although those lists also have "Women in Love" and "The End of the Affair", so I have learnt not to fully trust them.
no list can be fully trusted, not even mine!
Paul wrote: "no list can be fully trusted, not even mine!"
Very true. You liked Lolita so much that you have given it five stars twice! I find that a bit in excess. Joke aside though, you rated Love in the Age of Cholera four stars, and I almost rage quit that book several times, so I know I won't always agree with your book choices.
Hey Paul, first time commenting on one of your reviews for me. I’ve been an admirer of your reviews over the years and have mostly agreed with and appreciated your ability to express why a book is a worthwhile read or not.
I’ve gotta say though, I think finishing this book would help you deal with all of your issues you present here. I had a similar experience to you, trying a few times, but now that I’ve finished I was blown away and wanted to start the thing again. It’s ending really is worth it and I think the book makes you work to get there and you are rewarded. There are so many hidden eggs throughout this book that really get lost in the prose, you’re so busy slogging through it that it’s hard to look around when you’re in it.
I do believe that it’s possible to review a book without finishing and I know you say you’re done, but I would love to know if you feel the same way had you got to the end.
Hi Lucas - well, alas, for me, the great flaws of Cormac's style and the sheer oppressiveness of the thing overwhelmed me, as you can see. I don't think I will be returning any time soon...
I also can't stop going "oh look, another simile"! I agree, half the prose is staggering, vivid and sticks with me. The other half is pretty ass
Wonderful review … sometimes I like to read books sarcastically - this might be one of them …
The more I read, the less interested I am in style. McCarthy has fallen into that groove for me.
well if ever there is a modern author that is all about style it is him.
I was underwhelmed for the first 100 pages, and then something flipped for me and I couldn’t get enough. Not sure if you made it that far, but wanted to share that it really does get better haha. More scenes with the judge, more scenes that move some plot along. But I get it. Not everyone has to love it!
This was a masterpiece of a review. I laughed aloud.
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Mitchell
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Apr 04, 2020 05:25AM
I’ve never forgotten an observation I read which was, to paraphrase, that it feels like McCarthy is trying to make every individual sentence the climax of the novel.
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I wish goodreads would allow users to "shelve" reviews because this one belongs on the top shelf. Well stated, well written, amusing, on point, honest. Kudos.Not that you need moral support for your decision to jack it in, but i needed 4 attempts before i "succeeded" in reading this book and ... now i can say that i've read it. (whoopdedoo!)
Like you, I've taken 2 stabs at this book and both times I was left wondering what the hell had I just read. Yes the landscape, carnage, and Judge jump out of the pages but overall this is just try hard material for lit alumni to dissect in 50 years. Astute observations and you've captured my true feelings towards this book quite well.
I've Child of God and Sunset Limited are my go to publications from CM.
Thanks Mitchell, Jeff & Fer! - that's a great observation, Mitchell....
Of the books you mentioned in your review I have only read one. And I was not encouraged to read more. All the pretty horses was a good book for me and I believe it is his classic. Although I didn't like the realism his writing style challenged me with. It did change my opinion on what a good cowboy book should read like. After reading your negative review I feel we are on different paths through the classics and to each his own. What is a review and what is a criticism and can they be the same thing. Your point is well taken and I doubt if I'll read anymore of his.
yeah, it's among his worst books (though still quite good imo); I think Suttree should really be the critical darling
I didn’t love the book, some aspects resounded strongly with me and I overall enjoyed it, but thank you for putting into words my frustrations with the book.
If you like Child of God, I recommend another of his Appalachia books, Outer Dark. Suttree has a lot of sweetness to it, without violence or horror - true Americana. Meridian is overrated, it does have historical basis if you look up Glanton. Too many critics looking for symbolism.
Blood Meridian is the only thing by Cormac McCarthy that I ever tried to read, and like you, I had to give up before I read a hundred pages. And I found it so repulsive and pointless that I've never had the slightest urge to read anything else of his.So thank you for making me not feel bad about that.
I read it in the early 2000s and loved it but a difficult book to be sure. A few years ago (must have been from your first attempt) you had one of my favorite lines about it: the bible as written by Sam Peckinpah. I love that.Anyway, you don't have to finish this and I don't have to finish Ulysses (I tried once in college).
I don't agree with you but that's a good review. I like the violence, I prefer the writing style of this novel (and Suttree) instead of McCarthy's later works but I smiled at the first comment in this page.. maybe Cormac tried to make every sentence the climax of the novel. Maybe this novel is too much. Too much description, too much violence and to much "like the". Maybe this is not a masterpiece but I really enjoyed it. ...it's Okay, we can't like the same books =D
Superb review. I couldn't agree more with your take on it. "Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" was precisely my summation. Thanks for the artistic delivery of this masterpiece review!
Oh dear. Blood Meridian is on both the Boxall 1001 and the Guardian 1000 list, which usually means I'll find it interesting. Although those lists also have "Women in Love" and "The End of the Affair", so I have learnt not to fully trust them.
no list can be fully trusted, not even mine!
Paul wrote: "no list can be fully trusted, not even mine!"Very true. You liked Lolita so much that you have given it five stars twice! I find that a bit in excess. Joke aside though, you rated Love in the Age of Cholera four stars, and I almost rage quit that book several times, so I know I won't always agree with your book choices.
Hey Paul, first time commenting on one of your reviews for me. I’ve been an admirer of your reviews over the years and have mostly agreed with and appreciated your ability to express why a book is a worthwhile read or not. I’ve gotta say though, I think finishing this book would help you deal with all of your issues you present here. I had a similar experience to you, trying a few times, but now that I’ve finished I was blown away and wanted to start the thing again. It’s ending really is worth it and I think the book makes you work to get there and you are rewarded. There are so many hidden eggs throughout this book that really get lost in the prose, you’re so busy slogging through it that it’s hard to look around when you’re in it.
I do believe that it’s possible to review a book without finishing and I know you say you’re done, but I would love to know if you feel the same way had you got to the end.
Hi Lucas - well, alas, for me, the great flaws of Cormac's style and the sheer oppressiveness of the thing overwhelmed me, as you can see. I don't think I will be returning any time soon...
I also can't stop going "oh look, another simile"! I agree, half the prose is staggering, vivid and sticks with me. The other half is pretty ass
Wonderful review … sometimes I like to read books sarcastically - this might be one of them …
The more I read, the less interested I am in style. McCarthy has fallen into that groove for me.
well if ever there is a modern author that is all about style it is him.
I was underwhelmed for the first 100 pages, and then something flipped for me and I couldn’t get enough. Not sure if you made it that far, but wanted to share that it really does get better haha. More scenes with the judge, more scenes that move some plot along. But I get it. Not everyone has to love it!
This was a masterpiece of a review. I laughed aloud.