I just started reading Blood Meridan for the first time and I was kinda shocked to see the casual use of one of the worst slurs in the English language. I’m just wondering if this is a Huckleberry Finn thing and “justified” in some way? Or more like a Pulp Fiction situation where Tarantino seemed to throw it in there just because he could? Because honestly, I know this is close to being a modern-day classic but there are a lot of amazing books out there I’ve not yet read and I don’t know if it’s worth it to pollute my brain like that or just move on to something else.
It’s a brutal book but worth pushing through. I have always loved the way he uses Spanish dialogue, FWIW!
I understand what you mean though with comparison to Tarantino in that many McCarthy books have been made into movies for the masses, the whole shock value factor…but like others have said I think it’s more about the time period in this situation. And the brutality of the characters