Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy: Vicious, vivid and fascinating, an allegory of the American west, Blood Meridian is certainly a contender for the Great American Novel, whatever that is. So long as there are readers for Moby Dick, this one will stand: “His feet are light and nimble. He never sleeps. He says that he will never die. He dances in light and in shadow and he is a great favorite. He never sleeps, the judge. He is dancing, dancing. He says that he will never die.”