It is a response to the romanticized stories of the American West (m)

Posted on August 28, 2026 at 04:55:56 PM by Spirit

...and western expansion in general. Violence and blood soaked savagery is a universal part of being human. It's not an easy book to read.

I find The Road uplifting (really). The dad protects the son against everything. When they meet the family at the end the son trusts them, while the dad can't. Yet he protected him to the point where society can be rebuilt. I take it as a message to parents to protect and assist their children, but that no matter how much you protect them you have to let them go eventually.

I can reread The Road, but other than Suttree I find McCarthy tough to re-read.

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Thread:

Blood Meridian - someone asked me to make a post when I finished it - By KeiTh August 28, 2026 at 04:37:47 PM
- Thanks Keith, it was me. - By gbmcq August 29, 2026 at 12:04:49 AM
- Agree on Lonesome Dove, it's near the top for me. Absolutely outstanding in every way. * - By Scouser August 28, 2026 at 07:53:46 PM
  - A great book* - By syrfan August 28, 2026 at 10:01:42 PM
  - Might re-read it. Just downloaded For Whom The Bell Tolls.* - By Alpo August 28, 2026 at 08:22:48 PM
    - Love Hemingway, but not a fan of For Whom The Bell Tolls, thought it was a slog.* - By Scouser August 28, 2026 at 08:56:23 PM
- I’m almost done, has been my travel book. Had a college student discussion across the aisle on one flight - By plug August 28, 2026 at 05:44:50 PM
  - I was an English Major and don't believe you that she was hot.* - By mattb August 28, 2026 at 06:48:26 PM
    - I will admit it’s a low bar for a 50ish guy talking to a college student who was probably 23. * - By plug August 28, 2026 at 07:46:56 PM
      - I think she really liked you.* - By Alpo August 28, 2026 at 08:18:50 PM
        
        almost certainly posting something on her board of English majors, “so, I met this hot guy reading Blood Meridian on the plane and…” * - By plug August 29, 2026 at 11:14:56 AM
- I found it annoying that he kept using words no one has used since the 1800s** - By Brad August 28, 2026 at 05:07:15 PM
  - Stick a buskin in it.* - By jjwalker August 28, 2026 at 05:16:41 PM
    - Such words are a rowel to his hindquarters * - By Spirit August 28, 2026 at 05:19:30 PM
- It is a response to the romanticized stories of the American West (m) - By Spirit August 28, 2026 at 04:55:56 PM
  - Also, have you read other books in the Lonesome Dove series? * - By Spirit August 28, 2026 at 05:07:35 PM
    - I just purchased the other two but have not started them yet. * - By Scouser August 28, 2026 at 07:54:51 PM
- The Road is probably the best intro to Cormac imo* - By Daytripper August 28, 2026 at 04:38:38 PM
  - NCFOM imo. All the Pretty Horses is much more straightforward too.* - By mattb August 28, 2026 at 06:37:58 PM
    - true* - By Daytripper August 28, 2026 at 08:08:07 PM
  - yeah agree. for Keith Hernandez - also read All the Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men* - By el fuego August 28, 2026 at 04:42:22 PM
  - Re: The Road is probably the best intro to Cormac imo* - By KeiTh August 28, 2026 at 04:40:28 PM
  - I hated that movie* - By tem August 28, 2026 at 04:40:21 PM
    - did the book dirty imo, didn't like it either* - By Daytripper August 28, 2026 at 08:08:35 PM

The Victors

It is a response to the romanticized stories of the American West (m)