What a quote! It is a very challenging book. but worth struggling to the end! Glad you felt the same :) Will

@@thebrothersgwynne it’s one of those books that’s impossible to adapt. James Franco and Tommy Lee Jones have been trying for 16 years.

Good to see another fan of BM! It is a book that is truly an experience, one I will never forget, one that has had a huge impact on me. Thanks for watching! Ed

It definitely causes strong responses from readers, both ways. Glad you loved it as well! I agree, it is difficult, but so worth the struggle. Thanks for watching :) Will

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed. It is a book you either love or hate. Hope it clicks with you :) Will

Awesome to hear that he is! One of our favourites as well. Will

So bleak! But somehow so engaging. Blood Meridian is so different, but I hope it clicks with you :). Either way, I hope you try No Country For Old Men afterwards. Will

Blood Meridian is very different, but I loved them both, Hope you do as well! Will

Stick with it! Ed

@@thebrothersgwynne after watching this video, I’m convinced!

Thanks for watching!

I think if you weren't a fan of The Road then this still wouldn't be your cup of tea, or meed, or water... Thank you for watching! I would recommend trying No Country For Old Men as it is very different to McCarthy's other works. Ed

Really glad you're enjoying it, mate. It's a fascinating fusion, one that sticks with us! Ed

I completely understand that! My re-read was much more enjoyable as I felt I understood the story to a higher level - though I will never be sharp enough to dig out all of the philosophical references and deeper meanings. It is certainly an experience. Yes I know what you mean! Thanks for watching😊 Ed

Just finished it. Was about half finished on October 7th when the Israeli conflict happened and went through a horrible depression due to carnage overload. After a couple of days reflection finished it. Made extensive notes and will definitely reread and expand notes. I’ve never seen the westward expansion of the US in this light before. It is a brutal book but necessary.

McCarthy was born in Rhode Island and raised in Tennessee. Although, he lived in El Paso for a good while.

It is for sure! Will

Very good point! The 18th century wasn't the nicest of times to be alive... The writing is beautiful and brutal isn't it. Ed

That's the ticket! Thank you😊 Ed

I have not read All the Pretty Horses. but Ed has and he said that it is very different, with Blood Meridian being written in a more archaic/biblical style. It has the classic McCarthy landscape description though, which I think we all enjoy. Will

Blood Meridian is a much more challenging read than The Road or No Country For Old Men or All The Pretty Horses. It's a very literary book.

Definitely grim dark as well. Hopefully you try some of his other words. The Road is bleak, but a very different style and not as brutal. Will

@@thebrothersgwynne I just might 🤔

All of his books are grim and dark.

I don’t know what that means but yes

It's a shame it did not click with you. I guess it is one of those you either love or hate. I agree, The Judge is so, so interesting! For me I thought that without engaging with the themes of prejudice and racism, Cormac McCarthy would have gone against what he is intending. Seems to me like he is looking at the brutality of America during this period, demeaning the idea of the American Dream and exposing the horror of the time, whilst not giving explicit judgment so that the reader can decide that it is wrong for themselves. This is part of the appeal of Blood Meridian to me. I feel he is shining a light on a period of time that was profoundly racist, and whilst it is abhorrent, we have no doubt that it is historically accurate, and I think that this is McCarthy's point. That America was not built on peace and love and goodwill to all, but exploitation and brutality. If he took out some aspects, such as the focus on racism, it would seem like he was justifying it, to me and Ed anyway, But I guess that's part of the beauty of books, that people can take entirely different things from it. Thanks for watching! Will

@@thebrothersgwynne Appreciate the thoughtful and detailed response, and enjoyed the excellent review by you and Ed. Perhaps if I revisit it at another time, it will resonate more. In any case, I thoroughly enjoy your channel - keep up the great work!

Try The Road by McCarthy if you want the constant despair without the racism.

If we mentioned every book that had a role to play in influencing Blood Meridian then the video would be many more hours long.

That's a brilliant summary! Ed