Nefarious

So I just finished Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. I searched for a discussion thread but couldn't find one. Several mentions of the book in various threads, etc. but nothing discussing the book itself. I've read (in order) The Road, No Country for Old Men, All the Pretty Horses, & The Crossing. I've enjoyed them all but The Road & BM have had the biggest impact.

I'm curious as to people's interpretation of the final chapter.

Thoughts on the ending or the book in general? Where does it rank for you amongst his other works that you've read?




And finally, as for Nicholas Sparks. While I was digging around for articles on Blood Meridian, etc. I came across this recent interview from the self-ascribed "Hemingway incarnate".

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/...terstitialskip

Cormac McCarthy? "Horrible," he says, looking at Blood Meridian. "This is probably the most pulpy, overwrought, melodramatic cowboy vs. Indians story ever written."
Even hearing a passage about a sunset in which "the mountains in their blue islands stood footless in the void like floating temples" doesn't sway him.

....

Any he thinks are overrated?
"I don't like to say bad things about others."
Except McCarthy? "He deserves it," Spark says with a laugh.
Asked what he likes in his own genre, Sparks replies: "There are no authors in my genre. No one is doing what I do."


Here's a follow-up that was done, as well.

http://www.movieline.com/2010/03/a-c...las-sparks.php

In a recent USA Today piece about you, you had strong words for Cormac McCarthy.
That was a small snippet of a very long conversation. I was actually surprised he put that in. What would be your question? Look — The Crossing Guard? His early work? Very strong. [EDIT: WTF is he talking about? The Crossing, I assume?]

What did you think of The Road?
I’ll be honest, I like his earlier work. You know what? I get that too. A lot of people say, “I like The Notebook.” That was my first book! I’ve done 15 things since then! That’s very common. I think it’s intrinsic to anyone who’s an author. They can have a certain number of books and they can like one more than another.

Supermallet

Well, Nicholas Sparks sure sounds like a dick.

clappj

What about Harlequin?

Sean O'Hara

Don't insult Harlequin authors.

printerati

I really need to read it again, as it has been over ten years since I last did, so the details obviously aren't fresh in my mind. I never got the sense that things went down the way you think they did, however.

djmont

I've heard a lot of smart people say similar things about McCarthy, so Sparks isn't alone. I really need to read him one of these days.