Slow Plot, Violence, and History

[Benjamin]

As an introduction to Cormac McCarthy I don’t think the Blood Meridan was a good choice. I feel that the plot moved extremely slow with unnecessary violence. I understand he was trying to convey the violence of settling west and “war” but it just seemed very graphic. I can see why it was important to read to have some understanding of American history and the scalping of Indians and a view into times of settling the West. Based on other reviews of McCarthy’s other books I think I will try reading a different book. I did enjoy his metaphorical writing just not the violence.

[Richard]

having read 5 McCarthy's now (All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, Cities on the Plain, The Road and Meridian) I can only say I don't really know why I finished any of them and that I'm not moved to try any others

he alienates me as a reader and i come away aware I have read something important but not sure it was important to me.


The Road is his most famous book so try that one

[Benjamin]

Thanks for the comment Sandyboy. I agree with you on becoming aware you read something important but not sure if it was important to you. Others have also recommended The Road. If that doesn't thrill me I will be done with McCarthy.

[Richard]

i'm not sure The Road will thrill you, the thing with The Road is Cormac wrote it after becoming a father late in life. He looked at the world realising that he would likely die before his son was an adult. The Road came from that idea.

It's an elderly mans view of the world. It's economically written and powerful but it is also very emotionally manipulative. The movie even more so, if you're a parent one scene is nigh on unwatchable

A nice twist though is that his son gets all the royalties form the book

[Larryec]

Benjamin wrote: "As an introduction to Cormac McCarthy I don’t think the Blood Meridan was a good choice. I feel that the plot moved extremely slow with unnecessary violence. I understand he was trying to convey th..."
I also thought there was too much violence in the book and I didn’t feel like there was much of a plot. On the good side it was very descriptive clearly letting the ready know what was going on.