Toadvine is branded with an HT. It stands for “horse thief”. It was a way to warn others of his character. Obviously at some point prior to the story he was caught by the law for the unforgivable crime of Grand Theft Equine.
Calling McMurtry “trash” is a bit harsh. Sure it’s not Faulkner, but who ever said it needed to be? Not everything needs to be literary and high brow. There’s a place for purely entertaining fiction in this world, same as there is a place for complex, literary fiction.
He called lonesome dove trash hahaha. Its funny because I was reading lonesome dove and was looking for other westerns. I was reccomended no country for old men. I had no idea who cormac mccarthy was. Anyway, while picking up no country i saw blood meridian next to it and was taken bybthe title immediately. It was the hard cover version with the intro by harold bloom. I grabbed it and after reading one page i put lonesome dove away amd never finished it. Blood meridian blew me away. I had no idea what it was about at all. I just thought the title was badass and the internet said it was a western. Read it 12 or so years ago. Probably read it at least 10 times by now all the way through. Ill just pick it up sometimes now and read a random passage and i love it.
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the astrological references in this novel, including the meaning(s) of the book's title. Thank you as always for the series.
@Dominic Romani Thanks, yeah I've read sepichs ideas on it, but as you know symbols don't just have one meaning and people can bring new perspectives into the conversation.
@@johndavidebert Maybe a reference to the 'Noon-tide Demon' {daemonum meridianum? The Evening Redness in the West inverts Jacob Boehme's Morning Redness Rising in the East. If the latter is a symbol of spiritual regeneration and illumination the former seems to signify darkness and degeneration?
Would you agree that the youngster Jimmy Blevins in All the Pretty Horses might be the same character as The Kid? Both were dangerous without being actually bad guys? Both were very young and on their own. BTW, importantly, trifling with the Judge is not the problem -- you do not cause him to do anything -- he is always the mover, he does not respond to you, you have no choice of whether he deals with you or not.
No, it’s not trash just because you don’t think it’s “literature.” To me, it’s a lovely story filled with rich characters and themes. Blood Meridian is engrossing in a different way. Both have their place in my opinion.
@@Jake-xr8wv I KNOW he did, cuz my McCarthy play-list was missing them when I checked it after he uploaded the first Blood Meridian video: ua-cam.com/play/PLtLVoWfvzaYoN-BA_6GpoSWCyvQ86E6qD.html
@@Jake-xr8wv I've taken them down because I'm working on a book about him. If people watch the videos they won't read the book. Make sure to download my Blood Meridian vids because I will probably also take them down at some point.
Enlightening commentary as always, thank you John! Btw there's a great movie about William Walker by Alex Cox, called "Walker" - big recommendation for anyone who liked Blood Meridian
One of the great American novels. Though I'll quibble and say that Warlock by Oakley Hall is a great western novel prior to BM that transcends the genre
I took them down because I am working on a book about contemporary literature, with a large chapter on McCarthy. If people watch the videos, they won't buy the book, as I've learned.
fascinatingly abstract commentariat .. i had never considered the schizmatic nature of the mason dixon line .. r u familiar with the work of Adam Curtis ? .. it is very 'collagey' .. i think u might like it :]
So the kid at various times of the book is set apart from the culture of violence around him. In the tent with reverend green after the judge takes control we get the indication the kid is the only one without a gun in the tent. So we get this religious congregation possessed so to speak by the judge and the only character that doesnt get possessed and start shooting or going crazy or have a gun is the kid. This little nuance also speaks on the religious attitude towards guns in the US. And the religious leader is the judge.
Bruv you missed out the old anchorite!! That scene pretty much sets up the philosophy of the novel. The old hermit has seen the darkness and is afraid of his own, he does not embrace it like the judge but hides from the chaos of the material world/hell and is tempted by it still. The way of the transgressor is hard. God made this world, but he didnt make it to suit everbody, did he? I dont believe he much had me in mind. Aye, said the old man. But where does a man come by his notions. What world's he seen that he liked better? I can think of better places and better ways. Can ye make it be? No. No. It's a mystery. A man's at odds to know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to know it with. He can know his heart, but he dont want to. Rightly so. Best not to look in there. It aint the heart of a creature that is bound in the way that God has set for it. You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it. You believe that? I dont know. Believe that
I agree with that. We meet 3 or 4 people before the judge that “father” the kid, and they share different philosophy’s on life/war. The Mennonite and captain white have opposite philosophies and the hermit and judge have asymmetric philosophies. The hermit keeping the heart as a keepsake is like how the judge kills the kid at the end and maybe even takes his heart and weighs it in his hand to judge its weight
book so good that the judge came to life and decided to review it
💀💀💀
John’s look here is what I imagine when I think of the Judge.
right. LOL thanks otherwise I would have missed this Easter egg.
The Judge after having fasted for 40 days whilst traversing the Arizona desert
Should've shaved his brows.
@Max Singer and has no eyebrows and is very fat
Hahah a bit, but he's too friendly looking.
As a Irish man, I'm proud to hear you mention King Mc Lir.
A dark surreal dreamlike and haunting meditation on violence by McCarthy. A true masterpiece.
Toadvine is branded with an HT. It stands for “horse thief”. It was a way to warn others of his character. Obviously at some point prior to the story he was caught by the law for the unforgivable crime of Grand Theft Equine.
😱 thank you for this insight!
Been looking forward to this! Thanks John!
This is a very good structured literary review. Glad I found it.
A gentleman and a scholar, thank you sir!
Perfect timing! Just finished the epilogue. My hearty thanks
Yes! I've been waiting for this!!!
Thank you☀🌲
Aw man John, I loved Lonesome Dove.
This book is so epic in scope and so deep in meaning I know I missed something in reading it. I loved it and we give it another read.
Hell yeah. That book rules
Calling McMurtry “trash” is a bit harsh. Sure it’s not Faulkner, but who ever said it needed to be? Not everything needs to be literary and high brow. There’s a place for purely entertaining fiction in this world, same as there is a place for complex, literary fiction.
He called lonesome dove trash hahaha. Its funny because I was reading lonesome dove and was looking for other westerns. I was reccomended no country for old men. I had no idea who cormac mccarthy was. Anyway, while picking up no country i saw blood meridian next to it and was taken bybthe title immediately. It was the hard cover version with the intro by harold bloom. I grabbed it and after reading one page i put lonesome dove away amd never finished it. Blood meridian blew me away. I had no idea what it was about at all. I just thought the title was badass and the internet said it was a western. Read it 12 or so years ago. Probably read it at least 10 times by now all the way through. Ill just pick it up sometimes now and read a random passage and i love it.
Huge incentive to read the novel, thanks.
Funny I've been listening to blood meridian the past few days. Now this. Coincidence? I think not...
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the astrological references in this novel, including the meaning(s) of the book's title. Thank you as always for the series.
@Dominic Romani Thanks, yeah I've read sepichs ideas on it, but as you know symbols don't just have one meaning and people can bring new perspectives into the conversation.
Yes, I forgot to discuss the title. Thanks for reminding me. I'll slip it in at some point here.
@@johndavidebert Maybe a reference to the 'Noon-tide Demon' {daemonum meridianum? The Evening Redness in the West inverts Jacob Boehme's Morning Redness Rising in the East. If the latter is a symbol of spiritual regeneration and illumination the former seems to signify darkness and degeneration?
Would you agree that the youngster Jimmy Blevins in All the Pretty Horses might be the same character as The Kid? Both were dangerous without being actually bad guys? Both were very young and on their own. BTW, importantly, trifling with the Judge is not the problem -- you do not cause him to do anything -- he is always the mover, he does not respond to you, you have no choice of whether he deals with you or not.
I rarely comment on UA-cam but I will in this case because Lonesome Dove is most definitely not trash.
It IS! Walgreens bestseller type stuff. You have to learn the difference between great literature and mere melodrama.
No, it’s not trash just because you don’t think it’s “literature.”
To me, it’s a lovely story filled with rich characters and themes.
Blood Meridian is engrossing in a different way.
Both have their place in my opinion.
Aye right that's the judge
Have you ever read Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe?
hi /lit/!
@@user-fw8wt4qo3o are we that obvious?
@@prestonhalle9818 stop shilling the book bud most people have heard of it by now lol
@@user-fw8wt4qo3o I’d just like to hear his analysis of it
I’m just messing with you man
Does someone know the name of the guy who uses the term "zone of cooperation"? Neilman?
It's Heiner Muhlmann. Check out his little book MSC: Maximal Stress Cooperation
I think the judge is possessed by a powerful archetype refered to as the judge like how there’s a trickster, magician, ruler, dragon, demon.
He is immortal only in his infinite power as a spirit to reconjur itself in a new host.
Where'd your other McCarthy videos go?
I knew I wasn't crazy. I believe he had vids on the first 3 Mccarthy novels.
@@Jake-xr8wv I KNOW he did, cuz my McCarthy play-list was missing them when I checked it after he uploaded the first Blood Meridian video: ua-cam.com/play/PLtLVoWfvzaYoN-BA_6GpoSWCyvQ86E6qD.html
@@Jake-xr8wv I've taken them down because I'm working on a book about him. If people watch the videos they won't read the book. Make sure to download my Blood Meridian vids because I will probably also take them down at some point.
Enlightening commentary as always, thank you John! Btw there's a great movie about William Walker by Alex Cox, called "Walker" - big recommendation for anyone who liked Blood Meridian
One of the great American novels. Though I'll quibble and say that Warlock by Oakley Hall is a great western novel prior to BM that transcends the genre
Pynchon apparently loved “Warlock”, which I believe is well known but it’s not surprising. It’s a masterpiece in the world of westerns.
Lonesome Dove is an awesome book. Not trash at all
You have to learn the difference between great literature and melodrama. Two different things.
@@johndavidebert you have to learn the difference between sounding intelligent and being a pretentious asshole
The Judge!
Hi John, I was wondering what happened to your other videos on the earlier Mccarthy novels? It's a shame they are gone because I really enjoyed them.
I took them down because I am working on a book about contemporary literature, with a large chapter on McCarthy. If people watch the videos, they won't buy the book, as I've learned.
@@johndavidebert I’ll buy the book but can you send me the videos I like to listen to them my eyes aren’t to good these days
You're vaguely what I imagine the Judge looks like.
Ha ha! And I'm overweight too, but you can't see that in my videos! The judge is 6 foot 6 and weighs 326 pounds I think. A big ole fat guy.
fascinatingly abstract commentariat .. i had never considered the schizmatic nature of the mason dixon line .. r u familiar with the work of Adam Curtis ? .. it is very 'collagey' .. i think u might like it :]
No haven't heard of him.
A Skeleton's Key to Blood Meridian
I like that!
This is probably the manliest, or at least the dudeliest thing that’s ever appeared on UA-cam.
I like that compliment. Very cool, thank you.
So the kid at various times of the book is set apart from the culture of violence around him. In the tent with reverend green after the judge takes control we get the indication the kid is the only one without a gun in the tent. So we get this religious congregation possessed so to speak by the judge and the only character that doesnt get possessed and start shooting or going crazy or have a gun is the kid. This little nuance also speaks on the religious attitude towards guns in the US. And the religious leader is the judge.
Bruv you missed out the old anchorite!! That scene pretty much sets up the philosophy of the novel.
The old hermit has seen the darkness and is afraid of his own, he does not embrace it like the judge but hides from the chaos of the material world/hell and is tempted by it still.
The way of the transgressor is hard. God made this world, but he didnt make it to suit everbody, did he?
I dont believe he much had me in mind.
Aye, said the old man. But where does a man come by his notions. What world's he seen that he liked better?
I can think of better places and better ways.
Can ye make it be?
No.
No. It's a mystery. A man's at odds to know his mind cause his mind is aught he has to know it with. He can know his heart, but he dont want to. Rightly so. Best not to look in there. It aint the heart of a creature that is bound in the way that God has set for it. You can find meanness in the least of creatures, but when God made man the devil was at his elbow. A creature that can do anything. Make a machine. And a machine to make the machine. And evil that can run itself a thousand years, no need to tend it. You believe that?
I dont know.
Believe that
I agree with that. We meet 3 or 4 people before the judge that “father” the kid, and they share different philosophy’s on life/war. The Mennonite and captain white have opposite philosophies and the hermit and judge have asymmetric philosophies. The hermit keeping the heart as a keepsake is like how the judge kills the kid at the end and maybe even takes his heart and weighs it in his hand to judge its weight
one mans nihilism is another mans gnosticism
You should get a better mic. Your channel deserves to be huge.