Blood Red Road Chapter 1 Quotes
How we cite the quotes:
(Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote 1
But fer the last year, whatever we do, however hard we try, it jest ain't enough. Not without rain. We bin watchin the land die, bit by bit. (1.9)
It's bad enough that our central family is stuck in a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic wasteland, but that post-apocalyptic wasteland also happens to be experiencing a serious drought. That's like getting a sunburn on a bruise—it just adds insult to injury.
Quote 2
Before Emmi was born, when Ma was still alive an everythin was happy [...] I didn't think there could be anybody ever lived who was taller or smarter'n our pa. (1.13)
Saba's family has seen better days. We might argue that she has an overly idealized view of the past to a degree, but there's no disputing that they're in a rough spot. With Ma gone and Pa mentally absent, the kids are left to fend for themselves, which is a lot easier said than done in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Quote 3
Fer a long time, I couldn't stand even lookin at her. When Lugh says I shouldn't be so hard on her, I says that if it warn't fer Emmi, Ma 'ud still be alive. (1.70)
Saba makes no bones about the fact that she blames Emmi for their mom's death. That's pretty messed up. We love Saba and all, but the way she treats Emmi is our least favorite aspect of her character. For real. It makes us cringe harder than an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Quote 4
Jest like the land, Pa's gittin worse an his eyes look more'n more to the sky instead of what's here in front of him. (1.10)
Saba's dad has always been obsessed with "reading the stars," but everything went into overdrive when the family started struggling. These days, he spends so much time thinking about the future that he hardly pays attention to the present.
Quote 5
Ain't you figgered it out yet? It's all in his head. Made up. There ain't nuthin written in the stars. There ain't no great plan. (1.49)
Although Saba doesn't know how to feel about Pa's mystical vibrations, Lugh knows exactly what he thinks about it—it's a bunch of hogwash. This leads to a great deal of tension between Lugh and his dad, and Lugh even considers leaving home.
Quote 6
The door creaks open. Pa's head appears.
Are they here? he says. Have they come?
You seen this comin. You read it in the stars. (1.239-241)
This is a big moment, because Pa seems to already know that there will be men coming to kidnap Lugh. He even seems to predict his own death. That's pretty trippy, and it also seems to prove that his fortune-telling abilities are authentic, right?
Quote 7
But then he said it's called chaal an it's poison to the mind an soul, an if anybody ever offers us any we're to say no. (1.88)
Here's our first introduction to chaal, the designer drug of choice here in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Blood Red Road. It's nasty stuff, as you might imagine. It also happens to be the thing that this entire society is built around. Yeah, as you might have guessed, that's bad news.
Quote 8
Lugh thinks fer a moment. Then he says, Love makes you weak. Carin fer somebody that much means you cain't think straight. (1.101)
That's a pretty messed up thing to say, especially to your twin sister. But it also shows us how harsh the world these characters are inhabiting is, and how significant of an effect that has had on Saba and Lugh. Love is a luxury they can't afford.
Quote 9
Lugh's gone.
Gone.
My golden heart is gone. (1.312-314)
Saba puts on a tough front, but it's achingly obvious that she loves Lugh with an intense passion. For real—most people would save language like this for a romantic partner.