i've read "blood meridian" (twice!). what i'm reading now outdistances cormac, i think: roberto bolano's "2666," specifically chapter four, "the part about the crimes." i'm about 80 pages into that chapter and if things continue on their present course, i do not think i will need to read the word "rape" again for about 26 years.
I finally finished off Blood Meridian last week, and as much as I've heard only great stuff about 2666, based on your description I don't think I can face it just yet. I need something lighthearted for now... I'm thinking John Hodgman's latest, perhaps.
YEP AND YEP.
It is very good, but crushing my brains. I had to put it down.
I picked up Plainsong by Kent Haruf and Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson. I just finished the Road, again, as I'm teaching it this semester.
Lately I've been immersed in LOTS of short fiction: Gish Jen, Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Denis Johnson, Murakami (butchered his name, I'm sure--the After the Quake collection is wonderful), and about 392828 more.