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How to Read Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (Patreon)

Published:
2022-03-31 18:03:27
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian is a brutal, beautiful, and inspired visionary masterpiece.

This postmodern novel also poses great cognitive and emotional challenges to many deep readers.

So today we’re having a discussion on how best to prepare for a ride through McCarthy’s dusty red wasteland.

We’re talking about the prose style of Cormac McCarthy, the violent nature of the novel, peripheral reading assignments, recommended reading pace, the McCarthyian Metaphor, the frightening character Judge Holden, and much more.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 introduction to Blood Meridian
  • 3:00 why read this difficult novel?
  • 5:30 my recommended edition
  • 6:30 McCarthy’s prose style
  • 7:30 polysyndeton & Biblical prose
  • 9:20 peripheral reading assignments
  • 10:58 reading the first page together
  • 16:30 reading aloud slowly
  • 17:00 the importance of perseverance
  • 18:30 etymological excavations
  • 20:00 lexis, language & consciousness
  • 21:00 McCarthy & the Santa Fe Institute
  • 22:20 the McCarthyian Metaphor
  • 24:20 the prose-poetry of Blood Meridian
  • 25:58 Judge Holden’s philosophy
  • 27:00 “War is God”
  • 30:00 the character of the Judge
  • 35:10 how to read symbolism
  • 37:00 poetry & dream journals
  • 40:00 the violence of Blood Meridian
  • 41:30 historical analogues & scalp-hunting
  • 43:20 westward expansion
  • 45:20 why read such a violent book?
  • 47:30 the pace of Blood Meridian
  • 48:50 structure & chapter synopses
  • 49:20 McCarthy’s one-sentence
  • 50:30 dialogue, dialect & foreign languages
  • 51:30 Blood Meridian as postmodern novel
  • 53:10 a guide to marginalia
  • 55:00 rereading & recommended pacing
  • 57:30 the benefits of group reading
  • 59:00 let us know your thoughts

Questions for you:

1) What is your current relationship with Cormac McCarthy? Is this your first reading or a reread of Blood Meridian?

2) What are you expecting to get out of the novel? Is there anything you find daunting or intriguing?

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

Previews only

How to Read Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (10 Tips)

📚 Read Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian with Hardcore Literature: https://www.patreon.com/hardcoreliterature/about ———————————— 🎙️ https://open.spotify.com/show/70IZA24... (Subscribe to the Hardcore Literature Podcast on iTunes & Spotify) 🏫 https://hardcore-university.teachable... (Hardcore University, Exam Preparation Courses) ✍🏼 https://benjaminmcevoy.com My Personal Website ———————————— Hardcore Literature Lecture Series ———————————— 📔Contents Page: https://cutt.ly/CmNhRY3 🎖️ War and Peace: https://cutt.ly/U3nzGma 🎭 Shakespeare Project: https://cutt.ly/B3nxHH7 🐳 Moby Dick: https://cutt.ly/K3nzVKf ☄️ Blood Meridian: https://cutt.ly/P3nz6Qp 🍂 Wuthering Heights: https://cutt.ly/N3nxxYt 🇮🇪 Ulysses: https://cutt.ly/x3nxQmN 🚂 Anna Karenina: https://cutt.ly/vmNhAWv 💀 Crime and Punishment: https://cutt.ly/rmNhFt5 ⚓ Persuasion: https://cutt.ly/amNhX7b ☕ In Search of Lost Time: https://cutt.ly/5mNh8oD ⚔️ The Hero’s Journey: https://cutt.ly/UmNjrE3 🌸 Siddharta: https://cutt.ly/YmNjuzi 🎠 Don Quixote: https://cutt.ly/cmNjoK4 ❤️Shakespeare’s Sonnets: https://cutt.ly/nmNlW7V 🇫🇷 Les Misérables: https://cutt.ly/J3YixoA 🕯️ The Turn of the Screw: https://cutt.ly/nToAQQ3 🖋️ Dickens Seasonal Read: https://cutt.ly/9ToAybt 📖 Middlemarch Serial Reading: https://tinyurl.com/45rv965c ———————————— 0:00 introduction to Blood Meridian 3:00 why read this difficult novel? 5:30 my recommended edition 6:30 McCarthy’s prose style 7:30 polysyndeton & Biblical prose 9:20 peripheral reading assignments 10:58 reading the first page together 16:30 reading aloud slowly 17:00 the importance of perseverance 18:30 etymological excavations 20:00 lexis, language & consciousness 21:00 McCarthy & the Santa Fe Institute 22:20 the McCarthyian Metaphor 24:20 the prose-poetry of Blood Meridian 25:58 Judge Holden’s philosophy 27:00 “War is God” 30:00 the character of the Judge 32:42 Judge Holden’s war speech 35:10 how to read symbolism 37:00 poetry & dream journals 40:00 the violence of Blood Meridian 41:30 historical analogues & scalp-hunting 43:20 westward expansion 45:20 why read such a violent book? 47:30 the pace of Blood Meridian 48:50 structure & chapter synopses 49:20 McCarthy’s one-sentence 50:30 dialogue, dialect & foreign languages 51:30 Blood Meridian as postmodern novel 53:10 a guide to marginalia 55:00 rereading & recommended pacing 57:30 the benefits of group reading 59:00 let us know your thoughts

Comments

mark sanford gross

Hi. This is later than the rest but knowing this book was part of HCL caused me to join in at a supportive level. I've been listening for a while now and the program is awesome and 'addictive." So much more than just on the surface of what you bring, Ben, is truly admirable and I'm excited to join in.

David Kaczkowski

Hi Ben, are you planning to do another lecture into a Cormac McCarthy book? Me and a fellow book club member are looking to read another Cormac since we loved Blood Meridian, any advice on where to go next?

Joan Wilson

I’m accepting the challenge! This will be a first read. As someone who spends time around horses, I think I might have an advantage. Plus our son is a cowboy in Montana; we visit often and ride in the mountains, gather cattle, brand, and, for me, watch others rope (I’ll haze), doctor cows, heifers, calves and the occasional bull. The cowboy lifestyle is often seen as glamorous, but less seen is the brutality and onerous side.

Justin LaCasse

Giving this a read after devouring "Lonesome Dove." This is another book I can say I have never really been interested in, but will give it a shot. I'm not a huge fan of overtly gory material, so this is a bit our of my comfort zone.

Josie Gimmestad
>>199148289

I’m here too because of lonesome dove! Happened to have this one sitting on my shelf so I thought why not give it a go alongside lonesome dove.

NORMA FIGUEROA

Also here because of Lonesome Dove, which I am in the middle of and loving it. I’ve always been interested in this book, but since it was recommended as a complementary read, I’m gonna give it a go Very thankful for Ben’s lectures …..

Steve Horan

I’ve read several Cormac McCarthy books including The Orchard Keeper, the books of The Border Trilogy, No Country For Old Men, and several readings of The Road, but this will be my first reading of Blood Meridian, so looking forward to it. Don’t know what I’ve been waiting for, perhaps destined for a curated reading with Ben and the HLBC

Rob Hilliard

This sounds like a real tricky one... meaning the want (almost need) to read it, but the feeling of having to put it down due to it's violence and gore. I had in my mind to take this one on our family vacation (our son's high school senior class trip to Mexico - beautiful resort) - but I am learning that it's probably not the best choice, for a handful of reasons. So, that leads me to this sort of odd question: Can you recommend any "lighter" read as a good option for me to take on this trip? I can peruse my own den library for options, but I thought I would try to ask a more relative to the HLBC reading list; one that may be more aligned to who and what we are currently reading this year. Any thoughts or recommendations? If all else fails, I might just take a Bradbury short story collection with me, as he is my all time favorite author, all things considered, and he always opens my imagination with his myriad metaphors. Might be just right for relaxing in the sun, by the pool, on the beach, etc. - oh, and it's only a week vacation, so no need for an additional wrist-breaker of a long novel ;) - but also not something which I need to devote my sole attention to and worry about taking notes and researching as I read. It might sound like I have my mind made up - I really only just thought of Bradbury - I have many of his works to chose from, having already read Fahrenheit 451 (actually my favorite book), The Illustrated Man collection, and The October Country collection, to name a few... but I have yet to dive into The Martian Chronicles or Golden Apples of the Sun, and those are right here staring at me.:) But if you have any other ideas or options to help me in this oddball request... Ben... anyone... please throw them my way here. One other I'm just now thinking of might be some Hemingway? His simpler prose may be better for this sort of read/stop/read kind of thing? Not sure? I have a handful of his works too (The Old Man and the Sea, The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and a short story collection, to name a few) What do you think? Good options? or Should I go a different route, altogether? Apologies for the longwinded comment, but this group is filled with knowledge and wisdom, so I thought who better to ask? Thanks!

Rob Hilliard
>>80960260

That's a great way to look at these personally-neglected reads. I have so much to read, so much to experience, and I think I will adopt your "destiny" take on this, too. That makes it feel even better when catching-up. Good one!

Scott W

Cormac McCarthy is one of my favourite writers. I've read The Border Trilogy, Child of God, The Road.. and most of Blood Meridian, but not all of it. I love the language in his books and the rawness of his stories and how his characters deal with the practical horrors of 'real' life - no office politics or pop culture reference rabbit warrens here, just humanity laid bare. I read just over half of Blood Meridian a couple of years ago. I don't remember putting it down because of the gore and violence, but now I think about it, the last scene I remember reading was incredibly graphic, so I suppose it must have had something to do with it. It seems odd to me now that I didn't finish it since I love McCarthy and remember reading the book fondly.. but something made me stop I suppose. I am looking forward to re-reading this book with the club and Ben's lectures, at a slower pace, aloud a lot if possible, and sucking the marrow out of it more like I've learnt to do here at HLBC. I expect to be challenged by it, like before, but I expect to persevere this time. I am looking forward to our discussions. I've got my Picador paperback copy here ready to go.. just enjoying the last couple hundred pages of Moby Dick at the moment, which I'd quite like to finish before starting Blood Meridian, but we'll see.. I'm more used to having two or three books on the go now than I used to be. I will be looking out for symbolism and allusions more this time. I was reading very fast a couple of years back, but I want to 'live' the novel this time. I might read some Faulkner in preparation as I've never read As I Lay Dying. I will try to up my poetry although that is at an all time high at the moment as it is. I might read some Western short stories if I can find any.. they might make an interesting contrast; recommendations welcome.

Steve Horan
>>80963767

I too am a fan of Bradbury with both Fahrenheit 451 and Something Wicked This Way Comes. My favorite short story of Bradbury is The Veldt, in The Illustrated Man, this one leaves a lasting impression. Enjoy your trip, Rob.

Fíonn Kirwan

I read it late last year for the first time was blow away by the beautiful descriptions in the background of horrifying actions. I'm looking forward to spending more time and attention on imagery that fascinated me. God their was so much first time around I just wondered into the next without delving deeper. Definitely going saver this like a good whiskey just sip ,sniff and taste till you find the next flavour.

Rob Hilliard
>>80973550

Scott, I have only read The Road from McCarthy, but I have a couple others as audiobook on Audible. And I fully intend to join in on the group (deep) read of Blood Meridian. That said I’m marking down the others you have read, for future ref. Your descriptions make them definitely sound worth an undertaking. Cheers!

Lisa Doyle

Blood Meridian brought me to Hardcore Literature. While looking on YouTube for lectures about the book, I came across Ben. What a treasure I discovered. I am a huge fan of McCarthy and am rereading his books in publication order in preparation for the new releases.

Bib Giacobbe

Ah....Blood Meridian. Similar to Lisa above, BM being part of the 2022 curriculum for the book club was the deciding factor for me to join. McCarthy is probably my favorite author and Blood Meridian tops my list of books. This will be my 3rd reading of BM. On my last read, I followed along with the audiobook version and I highly recommend it. The narration is done by Richard Poe and he does an admirable job. Cormac's prose deserves to be heard as much as read. For anyone interested, there is a great podcast called Reading McCarthy and the latest episode features Richard Poe. I must admit....I still visit eBay occasionally just to have a peek at the Suntup edition and consider putting in an offer. That thought lasts maybe a second or so....but one can dream, right? "The Judge is a man who speaks in the language of stone, of trees, and the bones of things". What a great line, Ben.

Doug

Looking forward to reading this one again. A few years ago, I picked this book up, having never read McCarthy, thinking it would be an easy read in the vein of some other books I enjoyed that were set in the Old West; by authors like Larry McMurtry and Charles Portis. I didn't get far into the book before I found out what a different thing it was. After I got my bearings, I enjoyed it, although I never felt that I really "got it" for some reason. Since then, I've read several other McCarthy books, all impressive. Reading Blood Meridian with this group should be great.

Ellen M

This will be my first read and Ben, you’re making me nervous! 😂 If it’s so brutal as to stop readers from finishing, yikes- but I’m really happy to have our community along for the ride. I’ve only read the The Road and No Country For Old Men, and I’m feeling like I’ve been missing out on some great reads with so many members naming McCarthy as their favorite author. I’m already thinking about what other books of his I’ll try next Ben, and others: I’m having trouble finding the Picador version. My local bookstores can’t order it (odd) and there are only used copies on Amazon.. should I get the used or any suggestions for a runner up version?

Jason Fuhrman

Just joined the book club! Happy to have the chance to re-read Blood Meridian. It's been a few years, and I feel I read it too quickly. Happy to be taking a deep dive into it.

Bib Giacobbe
>>80997207

Hi Ellen. You can always just go for the Suntup edition. Someone is offering a discount on his copy, which comes in at a mere $1,300 US!! But seriously, I'd simply go with used....it's pretty much all I buy nowadays. I'm quite finicky and always go with hardcover if I can. If that's the case, Like Ben mentioned, the Modern Library edition is a nice one. Enjoyed your "beach" post, Ellen. Reminds me of the days when I went through the same process when having to choose music for a long drive....pre Spotify days. And your mention of The Old Man and the Sea may have planted a seed. It's been a long time since I read any Hemingway....

Jenny Housley
>>80990072

Thanks Bib, I have just downloaded the Richard Poe audiobook today as I thought I might need some “trainer wheels” to get into this book. I have done this with Middlemarch too when I was having trouble engaging. Reading and listening really bought it to life for me but it does have to be just the right voice at the right pace.

hardcoreliterature
>>80976322

I love that description, Fíonn! Savouring like good whiskey - that's the perfect way to appreciate Cormac McCarthy. Reminds me of my university days when I was part of the Single Malt Whiskey Club. We all chipped in to taste three different bottles each month, and we had representatives from the distilleries come and teach us all about them. It's the warm kind of inebriation that creeps up on you and then overwhelms you :) Good times.

hardcoreliterature
>>80984370

I must thank Cormac McCarthy for bringing you here, Lisa :) It's so great to have you reading with us. And how exciting you're reading his books in publication order. I would love to hear your personal ranking once you get through them. I've already preordered his new ones, and can't wait to read them!

hardcoreliterature
>>80990402

I thought the same thing when I first came to it, Doug. I was reading Larry McMurtry at the same time (incredible writer - Lonesome Dove is great), and I was devouring pulp westerns and watching the big name directors. Like you, it didn't take long before I realised that Blood Meridian wasn't the same. We could call it an anti-western. I can't wait to hear your thoughts :)

hardcoreliterature
>>80999016

Welcome to the book club, Jason :) I'm thrilled you're sharing your reread with us, and can't wait to hear your thoughts! Having a few years between readings is always good - it will be interesting to see what new lived experience you bring to the work.

Michael Kwong

What a perfect time to have this video! I was in a searching mode these days, thinking what to read next. There are many great reads in the book club that I haven't started yet, but I was just not in mood for any of them (sad!) So i was just reading The Stand these days. But now I have finished my project few days ago, it is the time for me to pick up something challenging again! Hopefully I can stick to Blood Meridian this time, along with Moby Dick, a chapter a day for both, and ofcoz some Shakespeare if I am determined :)

Mahmoud

It’s finally time! Though it will be a first read for me, I can’t hope for or imagine a more ideal way to approach the work than with you Ben and my fellow readers. This has been one of my most anticipated reads since it was announced for our reading schedule. I have actually been hoping to read it for a few years now but the intimidation factor kept it at bay. I come with some prior exposure to McCarthy, having read The Road and No Country for Old Men. My plan is to eventually read his Border Trilogy and the rest of his entire work. Thank you for that excellent introduction that anticipated, addressed and alleviated several personal questions and concerns. The video really helped provide the context for an elevated reading experience. Glad to revisit the High Romantic poets and finally read some Hemingway. I’m confident the history of modernism and post-modernism literature lectures will only enrich it.

Caroline P

Hello Bookclub friends, I admit that I am worried about this one. It is the violence with children involved that is making me most anxious. I did love The Road, which I hear is not his best work. But I am going to join in and might listen on audible a bit as well as read. I have heard such amazing things about this one so I will at least give it a go….Gulp…

Caroline P

I have the book here in front of me and have decided to do my 10 pages a day in the mornings. I go to a coffee shop each day after my dog walk and have a nice long read over coffee. I think an early morning reading shock might work with caffeine and maybe I will read Anna Karenina in the evenings to put me in a different world for bed time.

Noah Devaney

Hi guys, my name is Noah and I just joined the club today so this is my first group read. I have no previous experience with McCarthy and feel a bit overwhelmed and underprepared for the challenge. This hour long intro was very helpful and I very much look forward to sharing the journey with you guys.

Caroline P
>>81031169

Hello Noah, welcome to the group. I joined a few months ago and felt a little new and unprepared too, but the group is brilliant, everyone is so friendly and we all come from different backgrounds. Anyway, I think we are all looking forward to the challenge with this one. Hello 👋🏻

Pierre Bolkonsky

This is the book that made me join the club. I only read The Road by McCarthy, but what a book that is. It affected me deeply. Some of my favourite movies are also based on McCarthy's novels. I must have watched No Country for Old Men and the Road half a dozen times over the years. Fun times ahead!

Michelle Marcoux

So excited to be jumping into this one with everyone! Amazing video, Ben. It has calmed my nerves a bit with giving me the reassurance that this is the perfect group to brave this book with. I absolutely adore Cormac McCarthy’s writing and have read and reread quite a few of his books, but this one has honestly intimidated me for a while. So many times, I would reach for it on the shelf but then end up rereading a different one from him instead. I am not sure if it is the violence that makes me nervous, or just the thought of not being able to comprehend the full scope of the material in the book. Part of me maybe worries about the potential of having a “negative experience” with an author I hold as one of my favorites. But as Ben mentioned, even if it is difficult there is always something we can take and learn from that. I think I first fell in love with the magical way in which McCarthy can describe settings. You honestly see, feel, taste, and smell every element of his world. Then it was falling for his way of being a true master at depicting the darkest sides of human nature with the most beautiful of poetry and captivating methods of storytelling. Like Scott did an amazing job of describing it, it is “humanity laid bare.” It is great to see how the club is coming to this read with so many different backgrounds, some readers new to McCarthy, some new to Blood Meridian, and some “seasoned vets” with the book. I think that gives us a unique arsenal of ways in which we can help each other along the way with this one, and a great book family to offer support too 😊.

hardcoreliterature
>>81012647

What a great coincidence, Michael! I’m rereading The Stand at the moment too, off the back of Carrie, Salem’s Lot, The Shining, and Night Shift. I’m thrilled that you’re on board for Blood Meridian, and Moby Dick and Shakespeare too - nice combination right there :)

hardcoreliterature
>>81019190

I envy your first reading experience, Mahmoud, and will be keenly looking forward to hearing your first impression. Along with Moby Dick, Blood Meridian has been the book I’ve been most excited to discuss. It sounds like you’re already very much a McCarthy fan as you’re planning to read his whole oeuvre! How exciting that we have two new books of his coming out later this year :)

hardcoreliterature
>>81019837

I loved ‘The Road’ and think it’s a great work, but ‘Blood Meridian’ is certainly god-level McCarthy. The novel definitely has some passages that I personally find upsetting (I’ll point them out as we come up to them), but I think everyone here who has enjoyed a Tarantino movie will be able to get through this one :)

hardcoreliterature
>>81027947

That’s a beautiful morning routine, Caroline! I love how you’ve split those two books - Blood Meridian as a stimulant, Anna Karenina as a sedative :) very nice!

hardcoreliterature
>>81039642

Me too, Pierre :) The Road’s father-and-son relationship completely choked me up. The Coens did a tremendous job with No Country, didn’t they? I would love for them to do Blood Meridian!

hardcoreliterature
>>81044669

Thank you, Michelle. This group is definitely going to make the Blood Meridian reading a special experience. As you point out, we’ve got new readers and veterans, all from different backgrounds, and all of those different perspectives are going to help us get so much out of the work :) I completely relate to not wanting to have a negative experience with an author I love. I’ve experienced this a good few times now. Given how much you love McCarthy’s work, I have a strong feeling that Blood Meridian will be a big payoff for you! Everything you love about his prose-poetry style is definitely here in the novel in great amounts :) I can’t wait to hear your first thoughts!

Vicky

I’m looking forward to this but also my only McCarthy previous read is Child of God which still stands out for me as one of the single most twisted up disturbing (I admit brilliant) things I’ve ever read (or indeed watched because the movies just as bad) 😱😱

Bib Giacobbe
>>81056667

Hi Vicky. Indeed, Child of God is quite disturbing, among other things. It was McCarthy's last dive into southern gothic literature before moving on to Suttree (1979), which apparently took him 20 years to write. Of all the McCarthy novels to choose from, what made you pick this one as a starting point? I'm interested and curious. I also had the good fortune of being gifted, just this past Christmas, a first edition copy of Child of God so I have a soft spot for it. I haven't even attempted to watch the movie because of all the bad press I have read about it. As well intentioned as James Franco may have been, this one flopped.

Vicky

Bib I came across the movie on a recommendation and was affected by it; I work in mental health and at times forensic mental health so the way that the development of folk who are cast out, neglected, abused can lead to attachment issues and at times awful acts is of interest to me and I thought the movie did it brilliantly. When I realised it was based on a McCarthy book I immediately read it . The movie may have flopped but I thought it was amazing.

Vicky

The way the first page made me feel in terms of being able to visualise it and the poetry of it reminded me of how I felt reading the start of Grapes of Wrath (a favourite) for the first time ‘To the red country and part of the grey country of Oklahoma, the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth’

Michael Littlefield

This will be my fourth rereading of "Blood Meridian". It's a novel that I am in awe of with the power of language, especially with the fever-dream imagery that McCarthy conjures. The scene of the Indian attack is so vivid and yet dreamlike that it's hard to tell if it's really happening. When I'm reading the novel my mind's eye conjures imagery from the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, such as "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" and "Navajo Joe". After I saw "The Proposition" for the first time, I started adding the Australian outback with the old west. Living in Arizona, between Tucson and Nogales, has only added further depth by adding the smells and sounds. I'm hoping to gain a better appreciation of the symbolism that McCarthy uses throughout the novel, especially in how they relate to The Kid and Judge Holden (who is among the most frightening characters in all of literature for me).

Steve Horan

What a great promo at the outset of reading the book. Thank you for giving me another reason for wanting to read this book with the club.

Steve Horan

I haven’t yet met the Judge, but I think most frightening characters in literature depends on your perspective. When I was a kid, I had to leave the room when the Wicked Witch of the West made her appearance in the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She was just too much to contemplate. The next day all the kids in school were talking about the movie, but it was just too scary for me. I wasn’t able to watch the whole movie until years later. Nowadays, I’d say Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier or Pennywise in the horror story It by Stephen King.

Bib Giacobbe
>>81093863

Hi Michael. The Proposition....an excellent movie. Thanks for the reminder. I have that one on DVD somewhere....will dig it out and give it another watch. I guess I have to reference Nick Cave here again - quite sure he wrote it and he did the soundtrack as well. Nick also did the soundtrack to The Road. And now that I mention Nick Cave.....I bought tickets months ago to see him concert tomorrow night in Montreal....just as my daughter tests positive for covid. So it looks like I may not be attending.... And speaking of Guy Pearce (main actor in The Proposition), he does a wonderful job in the FX version of A Christmas Carol. So funny story about The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, I remember as a kid having my little recorder set up by the TV and every time any of the Ennio Morricone pieces started playing, I would quickly hit the record and play button!! Love the movie and the soundtrack.

Annie

I’m glad for the Blood Meridian series, even though, and especially because I don’t expect I’ll be able to read it. Maybe I could try to skip around the violence, the way I did when reading Ceremony by Leslie Marmon Silko, but I expect it would still be a difficult read, possibly male-centered to such a degree that I would find it difficult to relate to, and find myself in it. But if I cannot go to this particular mountain myself, your series will bring the mountain to me! I may instead finish All the Pretty Horses, which I started a year ago. I remember my first experience with McCarthy’s polysyndeton, and especially this passage: “That night he dreamt of horses on a high plain where the spring rains had brought up the grass and the wildflowers out of the ground and the flowers ran all blue and yellow far as the eye could see and in the dream he was among the horses running and in the dream he himself could run with the horses and they coursed the young mares and fillies over the plain where their rich bay and their chestnut colors shone in the sun and the young colts ran with their dams and trampled down the flowers in a haze of pollen that hung in the sun like powdered gold and they ran he and the horses out along the high mesas where the ground resounded under their running hooves and they flowed and changed and ran and their manes and tails blew off them like spume and there was nothing else at all in that high world and they moved all of them in a resonance that was like a music among them and they were none of them afraid horse nor colt nor mare and they ran in that resonance which is the world itself and which cannot be spoken but only praised.” Swoon… And the nod to Shakespeare’s Juliet who “doth teach the torches to burn bright” in Alejandra who “was so pale in the lake she seemed to be burning. Like foxfire in a darkened wood.”

Ellen M
>>81116275

Steve I love the Mrs Danvers reference, isnt she beastly??! I think I’ll do a re read of Rebecca, I never tire of that book 👍

Scott Allen

I have read The Road and No Country. I attempted to read All the Pretty Horses, but my Spanish is too basic to be able to read that book. On some pages I found myself having to translate more than read. I have yet to read Blood Meridian, but I am really excited. I joined the club this last weekend for this book and I am looking forward to Ulysses later in the year.

Michael Kwong

A quick update on my reading of Blood Meridian. I'm in Chapter 6 now, and I am obsessed with McCarthy's writing. The prose are like lyric and so enchanting while reading it aloud. I can't help myself but bought the kindle version and audible version immediately. And ofcoz I have ordered the first edition of the upcoming two new books of his :) Reading Harold Bloom's view from How to Read and Why makes my chill as well! Now I'm so looking forward to the greatest villain of American literature. I know I have missed a lot from my first read now so I can't wait to reread it. And all those other books by McCarthy! Thanks a lot Ben for leading me into his mesmerizing world :D

Joel Duthie

Questions for Ben and the HCLBC team: What a grand idea to supplement our reading of Blood Meridian with some poetry. Are there poems that you would recommend that might complement this reading?? When Ben posted this Blood Meridian intro video the other day I nearly had a melt down. How will I ever catch-up? (Moby Dick 40% and Macbeth 50%). Reading is my single greatest pleasure but by god I’m slow - VERY slow! I was initially thrilled with Ben’s constant endorsement of slow reading but I think I may be even slower than that. For any other turtles like myself out there I wonder if a general board would be a worthwhile experiment or would it muddy things? I ask that because I can’t help but feel (this is my severe FOMO kicking in…) that participation in the discussions is best if one stays current with Ben’s posts and that the energy in a thread has a half-life. I am also curious what strategies other slow readers like myself have adopted. Where I have the ability to hyper focus on my reading for hours at a time (if I had hours) I don’t have that same ability with audio (likely a symptom of my ADHD) which I’ve tried as a supplement. Reading multiple books at once is also proving challenging but a paradigm shift that I’m excited about and sticking out. Looking forward to hearing anyones thoughts/strategies as well as Blood Meridian poem recommendations? Happy reading!!!

hardcoreliterature
>>81377448

Thank you, Joel :) You being halfway through Moby Dick and Macbeth is really great going. I must say that my own reading pace is quite a bit slower than the pace the club runs at with the lectures coming out too. Some of the books on the schedule have had the lectures appear over the course of a few months, but my first reading of them took a whole year. We’ve got some plans in place for the not-too-distant future to make sure that the conversations on the older videos can stay relevant and updated in a way that suits slow readers like you and me! So definitely something on the horizon, and I’d also be very happy to put a guide together specifically for slow-reading. This is a topic I’m passionate about. In the meantime, poetry recommendations :) My top choice would be William Wordsworth. Dipping into an anthology of his (Pocket Poets is great) would be a tremendous frame for McCarthy’s prose - poems like ‘My Heart Leaps Up’ and ‘Ode: Intimations of Immortality’ are strong influences). You’re already reading Shakespeare’s tragedies, which is perfect. William Butler Yeats would be another great choice. His poem ‘Sailing to Byzantium’ begins with the line: “That is no country for old men.” After Yeats, I would recommend Tennyson’s dramatic monologues (‘Ulysses’ and ‘Tithonus’ are great). If you have a good anthology, like the one edited by Harold Bloom, dip into any of the following and see which poets stand out to you: Shelley, Keats, Coleridge, Byron, Robert Browning, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson - I’m not saying that all of these are overt influences, but they’re a great representation of what poetry can do at its heights!

hardcoreliterature
>>81358238

Nice one, Michael :) You're speeding through! I love your description of McCarthy's prose. Lyrical and enchanting and mesmerising - I completely agree! I am keen to see what Harold Bloom said about Blood Meridian. I'll have to fish out my copy of How to Read and Why!

hardcoreliterature
>>81239769

I had the exact same experience as you Scott. It's no wonder why McCarthy has such a big fanbase of Spanish-speaking readers. His books demand one to either understand the language, be willing to translate, or have much of the book go over our heads. A really curious feature of McCarthy's aesthetic. And I'm thrilled to hear that you're excited for Ulysses. I've been wanting to talk deeply about James Joyce's masterpiece for years. I'm so happy we have such a great group who are prepared to read it!

hardcoreliterature
>>81120296

So many readers are tempted to skip around the violence, Annie (myself included). I think I’ll make a note of how many pages the violence takes up as we go through the lecture series. I have a feeling that half of the book would have to be cut. As for the book being male-centred, I must say that I find it difficult to read and relate to despite being a man myself. The overwhelming absence of women in McCarthy’s universe is unlike anything I have personally experienced before. I did have my secondary education in an all-boys school, but our sixth-form was mixed and the majority of our teachers were women. I can think perhaps only of prison as having that incredibly male-only environment. It’s a bleak and brutal world, one without much love or light. And what a fantastic passage you’ve shared exemplifying McCarthy’s polysyndeton - I love that!

Caroline P

Just dropping in to say I seriously debated whether to join in reading Blood Meridian. But I am finding it very hard to pace myself with it. Wow! This is incredible writing!

Scott Allen

I just read chapter 4. It is one of the most amazing pieces of prose that I have ever read. Beautiful and shocking and grotesque all at the same time!

Cai Vail

I wasn’t sure if I was going to join in with this one, so I ordered it from the library ‘just to see’ - ha! The writing is wild and thick, and seems like the perfect compliment so far to the deep reading of Paradise Lost I’m doing currently. Definitely going to have to go find a copy at the bookshop now. I read and enjoyed All the Pretty Horses about a decade ago, but for no good reason just stopped there with McCarthy. Really looking forward to this.

hardcoreliterature
>>81558838

That's amazing to hear, Scott! I am totally with you on that. The prose is unbelievably rich. I still remember the first time I read the novel. I couldn't quite believe someone could write as beautifully, and brutally, as McCarthy.

hardcoreliterature
>>81575725

I am so happy to hear that, Cai! This seems to be a commonality among many of us. Picking Blood Meridian up reluctantly, and then being taken, forcefully, by surprise. It's an incredible experience. I love that you're seeing the parallels with Milton's epic :)

Heather Moore

It's interesting that you mention we don't understand what violence really is, and what war really is. I was discussing this recently with my hubby and some friends, and the ramifications of the synthesized portrayals in Hollywood. A particular example I specified, and how dangerous it was, was the one we see constantly where women are pitted against men and women come out of it just as well as men do. I watched a film a few weeks ago, I think it was a Marvel film, and a woman was hit hard by a guy much bigger than her and she barely moved from her spot. It alarmed me and the reason it did, is because there's a tendency, and I've seen it a lot recently, for women to think they are just a strong as men and that in order to beat them they just have to try harder. I find this incredibly dangerous. I mentioned during the film, that if that were real life, the woman would have probably been killed or permanently disfigured or disabled by such a severe hit to the face. It's so incredibly dangerous, because I've seen lots of young women recently repeat that they are just as strong as men, and that there really is no difference between the sexes. They are completely ignorant of biological differences; difference, and the reality of which could get them killed, but point it out and you're being misogynistic - yes, even us females are. It is soul destroying. Edit: This is my first reading of it. I read the first chapter today and found it to be really interesting, stylistically. The story is incredibly engaging from the off. I found the judge to be quite the character in the way he was able to incite a mob with no proof, and kill a seemingly innocent man just because he could, with just his words. Then I recalled the madness of crowds. and groupthink. Incidentally, I found I could only read it aloud, which fits in very well with what's advised.

Sam Phillips

Thanks for the great orientation video Ben. This is my first experience reading anything from McCarthy, though I vividly recall my sister raving about the Road after reading it more than a decade ago. There are two main things I'm hoping to get out of the book. First, I'm hoping to take on the hardcore literature philosophy of slow, deep reading using Blood Meridian as a first challenge. I must admit, I've been really grabbed by the book so far and have been speeding through it. But I definitely intend to go back and make a slower second, third, etc. pass, to take time to saver the passages I marked during the first reading, to search out various themes as they pop up throughout the novel, to journal on it, etc. The second thing I'm hoping to get out of the novel is some insight on violence, guided by a handful of specific questions: How does an artist represent violence truthfully? How does it benefit a person to meditate on violence? Can taking time to reflect on violence make a person better prepared to deal with violence? Is violence ever appropriate? Can reflecting on violence help a person avoid acting out violence? I'm also really looking forward to the lectures and the discussions they inspire!

Jude

I must admit I'm a little worried about this one too - I'm one chapter in and absolutely loving the prose style so far, and the Judge character sounds fascinating. But Philipp Meyer in his introduction writes, 'McCarthy wants nothing to do with internality.' I'm hoping that the philosophy will be enough to sustain me through this because internality is often what I seek most in a great work. I am really looking forward to going down the American west history rabbit hole though, a fairly unexplored territory for me as yet.

Christal Hillner

I have read All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men but not Blood Meridian. As this is my first book with Hardcore, I am hoping to improve my in depth reading skills and all get back to enjoying all the benefits more difficult literature has to offer. I am expecting the writing style, especially McCarthy’s dialogue, to be a challenge. I remember finding it very trying in No Country for Old Men. I have been exploring some Native American literature recently. I will be interesting to see how this reads in conjunction. I am concerned about the violence but am hopeful that I will be able to persevere while reading with others. I am very excited for my first experience here.

Jeffrey Rose

Loved the tips lecture on Youtube and joined the group based on that. I have read and listened to BM four or five times, and every time is a fantastic new experience. I look forward to hearing your and the groups opinions on a structured reading. I have a ton of materials adjacent to and literary essays about BM, but look forward to this series as another avenue to deepen my understanding of this terific book.

hardcoreliterature
>>92074597

Thank you, Jeffrey! I really appreciate that, and we're so happy you're here reading with us :) I'm also thrilled that it's BM that you're deep-reading with us. Such an extraordinary and important work!

Luke Harris

I have read BM once before a number of years ago. I remember being impressed by it but I don't think I fully understood all of it. I'm excited to re-read and slow down to help my understanding. Usually, I try to finish books as quickly as possible but I have joined this book club to slow down and commit to deeper reading. I've also got rid of the goodreads app on my phone as I was more interested in finishing the amount of books I was setting myself as a yearly target than really, truly understanding it. We'll see how it goes!