Here Come Da Judge
Posted by TFG on December 27th, 2007
I met a reader this week who is unfamiliar with Mr. Cormac McCarthy…that is to say, heard of him, never read him. I judged their bookie level high enough to appreciate the border trilogy, so I ordered it up as a gift - they’re real cheap on Amazon. Not that I’m any great judge of anything, particularly intelligence, but you know, if I can introduce someone to a great writer whom they’ll cherish the rest of their life, I feel like I’ve really accomplished something.
However, at what point do you spring Blood Meridian on the unsuspecting? Is the Border Trilogy enough to prepare for Blood Meridian? Because I think that’s one of the greatest novels ever written, and should be read by everybody. it needs the proper preperation, though, I think. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing stopping my recommendee from diving right into it, is there?
I’m on record for both Blood Meridian and Lonesome Dove as literary genius. They’re basically two poles that define the sphere of great American writing, for me. All else falls in there somewhere.
I really need to re-read Suttree, too.
OK, then, that was rambly. I’m thirsty for some book talk. Winter, you know…gets dark early. Lots of reading.
December 28th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
I gotta pick that up, ASAP, myself. I have a bunch of Christmas present books to knock off first, though, else they’ll think I didn’t appreciate them.
December 28th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Well, I agree that Lonesome Dove certainly is great. But Blood Meridian is too unremittingly violent. How could a novel about scalphunters ever be considered great? I would suggest Brockmeier’s The Brief History of The Dead, a page-turner. I would also push for anything by Michael Chabon, especially Wonder Boys & The Yiddish Policemen’s Union. Am reading his Pullet Surprise winner Kavalier & Clay at the moment. This guy is a storyteller, and he writes happy endings, something sorely needed nowadays. My Xmas present, Rubicon, a non-fiction narrative about the fall of the Roman Republic, is alleged to be in the great category, but I haven’t started it yet.
December 28th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Blood Meridian truely is great but many have a bad reaction to it. Too much violence. The movie will be coming soon. Let’s hope they choose wisely for the Judge. This Rubicon book sounds great
December 29th, 2007 at 12:41 am
I love Blood Meridian but I think Sutree is the greater literary piece. Blood Meridian is so fantasical that it slaps you out of pages and into “what the fuck did I just read?” I lost myself in Sutree.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:45 am
And I beg to differ with you on Lonesome Dove. Any book that takes a hundred or two pages to get going is not in the same ballpark as Blood Meridian.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Dude. LD doesn’t take a hundred pages to get going. He takes that long to introduce and define most of the many characters. I can’t say for Blood Meridian, but McCarthy’s trilogy all together don’t have a tenth as many important characters. McCarthy limits the numbers, for several intentional reasons, I reckon.
Anyhow, McCarthy, McMurtry, they are the same person; like Bachman is really King, Superman is Kent.
Proof: Have you ever seen the two of them together? QED.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:39 am
KM and I discussed this on Saturday, and I made the same point to him, JD. He agrees, somewhat.
December 31st, 2007 at 1:32 pm
b.m. wastes the competition fool. yo mammawasascalphuntr
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 am
Last spring, I finished all of Nelson DeMille’s books….read the first one in 1981. If you read the Det. John Corey series, please read them in chronological order. The main character narrating in 1st person harkens back to old radio….and “Corey” is hilarious. Nothing too deep here, but DeMille has been contacted by the CIA, inquiring as to his sources.
Happy New Year, KD