Blood+Meridian

The book produced a lively round of discussion, in part because of the power of the language and in part because of the awful coldness of violence throughout. There was some discussion about whether The Kid was a figure for possible good or "redemption" of all this chaos and violence, and whether The Judge was the great white whale.

I found the book extraordinarily moving as a document of the founding of our country in blood, violence, and lawlessness. It reminded me of "Deadwood" the TV series in its very careful use of language and the starkness of its emotional landscape, in contrast to the richness and awful beauty of the Western desert it describes repeatedly. I hope others of you will add to these notes about the novel. I definitely want to read McCormack's trilogy that begins with All the Pretty Horses.