Books I've Read in 2009: Part 1

"Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West," by Cormac McCarthy

Out of Cormac McCarthy's books (even The Road), this book is often called his masterpiece, and perhaps the most difficult to read. One of Cormac McCarthy's themes is kindness juxtaposed with violence, but this book takes it up a notch. One reviewer admitted that McCarthy is a genius, but wondered if McCarthy was mentally sane after reading this book. And after reading it, it's a valid thought. Blood Meridian is a Western, and tells the story of a 14 year old boy thrown into a gang of scalpers on the Mexican Border. His main antagonist is Judge Holden, a 7' tall man who is a murderer, child molestor, and..you get the idea. The story follows the two main characters through a period of several decades-juxtaposing pure evil with humanity.

I can't say I'd recommend this to anyone, in fact I'd tell anyone to be sure they can handle violence.


I enjoyed this book. The author is a cousin of my mom's, and he writes pretty well.

"Cold Train Coming" by Larry Barkdull

Cold Train Coming is the story of two boys living in a small western railroad town. They end up taking care of a dog who lives at the train station who has been there since his owner's body was taken away to family back east several years before. The dog waits for every train, waiting for the owner. The boy's story becomes entangled with the dog's and it makes for a quick, enjoyable book.

"The Partly Cloudy Patriot" by Sarah Vowell

Essays by Sarah Vowell, there's a lot of history and commentary in this books. The type of fun, random, obscure history that makes you go huh, that I didn't know.

I like Vowell, definitely better than Sedaris and maybe almost as well as Klosterman. This book has some great essays, but is dated.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (Confessions of Georgia Nicolson Book 1)by Louise Rennison

Bridget Jones ruined chick-lit (and I liked Bridget Jones). That being said, it was actually a pretty cute lil' book. I just couldn't get into this story.

"God a Biography" By Jack Miles

Finally finished this one. Great, thought-provoking literary critique of the God of the Old Testament. This book was eye opening and changed my perspective of God.