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Rhinoceraptor37 t1_itfuza9 wrote

I am currently only two chapters in and finding Blood Meridian to be brutal so far and I can only imagine it to get worse as I progress through.

I've only read No Country For Old Men and The Road, the latter absolutely breaking me and making me cry (as a 41 year old man I say that not to brag like it the book had some profound impact on me, as a dad it crushed me). The only book to ever do so to me as far as I can recall, especially so as an adult.

His writing style is very basic, to the point (meaning there isn't any unnecessary fluff, not that it lacks ability or skill). The absence of punctuation when it comes to direct speech is often confusing. Despite this I have loved both books I have read by him.

What other books of his would you recommend?

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NoxZ t1_itmvexx wrote

I saw you mentioned ordering the Border trilogy in another comment, but The Crossing (book 2) is genuinely some of the most stunning writing ever put to paper. The middle 100 pages or so especially has a beautiful dreamlike quality to it, almost like a collection of parables being passed down through generations, more like a spoken word mythos than literature. Can't recommend it enough!

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chairmanpete t1_itqd01n wrote

The section with the priest and the heretic is some of the most engrossing and beautiful prose I've read. I always revisit that chapter

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pfamsd00 t1_itgcm5t wrote

“Child of God”. Lester Ballard is a depraved sicko.

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SunnyNitez t1_itkt619 wrote

Blood Meridian is the farthest thing from basic writing and storytelling.

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Rhinoceraptor37 t1_itl60yp wrote

You either missed what I put int he parenthesis or chose to ignore it.

In fact take out the phrase about it being basic and just read the bit about his writing being blunt and to the point. You can see how that information in the sentence contextualises my statement and adds extra depth to the point I was making.

But hey, this is the internet and by all means jump on the smallest detail and scrutinise it rather than looking at the wider point being made.

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