Great stuff. I have picked up Blood Meridian and never finished it. Like everyone else, I have heard nothing but great things about him. In the contemporary American scene, I have enjoyed T.C. Boyle and David Foster Wallace a great deal. Another American, William Styron wrote a 80 page or so essay called "Darkness Visible". If anyone has read it, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it. I can't speak highly enough about how it tackles the afflictions of depression and addiction.
As for the Pearl Jam tune, that's a deep cut I have never heard (beautiful tune)....love them and they are on regular rotation in my workouts. They carry that dark edgy power I tend to gravitate to, lol. And Vedder's connection to The Who, whom he idolizes, made me smile. Again, a deep cut from By Numbers....great song and I agree it's down to brass tacks where alcoholism is concerned. BTW, I'd classify much of their discography as high art for what it's worth