My rating would have to fall between Good and Excellent. A unique writing style that was a little confusing at times but a very quick read. I love the setting in the post-apocalyptic world. Although the destructive force isn't stated it is easy to assume from the clues. When self preservation isn't enough this story demonstrates the strength of a parents devotion to his child. The suffering is graphic, the decisions forced on them make you question what would you do, who would you help when faced with your own survival. I am a huge fan of stories of this nature. The world as we know it destroyed, men reduced to animal instincts. On that line as well this story is brilliant. The author obviously did his research and thought out many compelling situations that would face the last of the survivors after years of suffering. My dislikes, I wish this story could have been much longer. I would have loved exploring the years before. The details of the events leading up to the story. And of course what happens next? With out giving anything away, what more happened to the characters? Obviosly this book wouldn't be what it is if the author had to include everything that I wanted. Starting the story where he did was an excellent touch but it leaves you hungry to have more. I have more questions than answers but that is the nature of the beast. I read this book cover to cover in two days which is normally difficult for me due to lack of free time. I made free time! Sequal please!!Read full review
I was assigned to read this book for my college literature and composition class and I was surprised at how good the actual story is. It is written in beautiful language, and has an incredible story about a father and his son in post-apocalypic America. They are heading south, where its warmer, and encounter several distractions. The only problem I have with this book, which is a BIG problem, is the grammar. My professor told us about this, and that it is something that Cormac McCarthy often does, however after about a quarter through the book I couldn't understand if the characters were talking or if it was being narrated. It is similar to this: The boy looked up at his dad and asked are we going south. Yes the dad said to the boy, that is where we are going. Because it is warm there right, the boy said. The dad thought for a second yes that is exactly why we are going there. (No quatation marks or paragraph changes) Once you get used to this however, it becomes a great book.Read full review
The author lays out the typical bleak outlook of a world following Nuclear fallout. A desolate, bleak & depressing world which consumes the spirit as quickly as it consumes the survivors who walk it. This story centers on a father & son (neither given names, which points at lack of life) making their way south. Where from? Doesn't matter. Where to? South; but it doesn't matter. The story is a bleak & too realistic look at what awaits those that have the misfortune of surviving a world-wide holocaust. The book is not broken in to chapters; it is laid out in short sentences, short paragraphs, short sections that only further communicate desolation of a world left after a fallout that remains unexplained. It can be assumed, from descriptions of remnants of a world that no longer supports life & the world that once existed, that a nuclear fallout has claimed the majority of society & society's excess. To further personify the death that surrounds the the man and the boy is the lack of quotation marks in speech. This literary tool very clearly places in the reader's mind the fact that we may as well be reading conversations of the dead. Surprisingly intense in descriptions of cannibals & the dead, there is no happy news to be found in the pages of this book. What can be seen is the commitment of a father to deliver his son, to see the boy is kept alive & nurtured. What can be learned from this, aside from the obvious pointlessness of World War III, is that relationships can overcome the most bitter of circumstances. The final word of the book is fitting; "mystery". Life is a mystery, death is a mystery, man's arrogant pursuit of power which will lead to world destruction is a mystery. The fact that the trek south & the encounters along the way lead to no direct result is about as clear a anti-war statement as one can make. But deeper still is the relationship between the boy & the man. A father & son who battle what's left of the world in search of some sort of life. The relationship is a study of people at their lowest, most vulnerable place in the half-life in which they exist. Most important is the realization that, despite all odds, relationships, good or bad, are key to man's survival. Ultimately, we have a study of what a slim few of us may someday face. Depressing & pointless, the story arrives at a quasi-climax that points to what a relationship of trust & understanding can do to accomplish the impossible. There is no true resolution (could there be considering the topic?) & there is no real closure, but this adds to the absolute fact that life is about the people around us; a world populated by fewer than a common neighborhood provides little interaction. The book is excellently written; literary genius places the desperation & loneliness of life in a destroyed world front & center in an insightful & clever layout. The fact that a relationship, one which includes little discussion but pure unadulterated dependence, can lead to a possible positive outcome in a stark, cold & bleak world is uplifting in the midst of complete desolation. All in all, this is a quick read (finished it in 3 days) that points to the deepest & most desperate need of man; survival, no matter what. Looking for a light read? Move on. This will have you singing the blues. If you seek a study of personal struggle in spite of all evil unleashed against a father & son, resulting in an ending relating brutal truth, read on; you won't be disappointed.Read full review
This is the first book by this author I've read so it was interesting to see how his writing style would suit me. Although I don't believe the book should be considered one of the best books of the year it is a good book. While reading it, it felt rather like reading a short story than a novel which was a good thing. His experiment in character dialogue was worthy and appropriate for the setting of the story that was both hopeless and bleak. There's not much to say that doesn't have to be said, I suppose, while faced with the situation at hand in Mr. McCarthys book. As for the two main characters, the boy and his papa, while sympathetic to their condition, I wondered why I was reading only about their struggle and noone elses. Why was there so much focus on them when there wasn't much other than them trying to survive like the others in the book? I was left with the feeling of neutrality by the end of it. I can only blame myself for my reading choices, however hinting around at things and not filling in details as fully as the writer could is becoming a poor literary staple these days. I like to know the details and unfortunately this story leaves me with some unanswered questions that if answered would have made the story more deep and meaningful to me and I might would have come away satisfied. Still The Road was not that bad. A good short read that doesn't require too much effort to finish.Read full review
McCarthy paints a cold, bleak, picture of desperate action in post apocalyptic America. A man and his son, making their way south to get away from the ever colder northern winter landscape and to try and find other non cannibalistic survivors like themselves. They encounter savage people along the way that would kill and eat them, given the chance. The road they travel is littered with constant reminders of what was normalcy, and what has now replaced it. Burned bodies, shattered buildings, towns full of nothing but ghosts and picked clean of all sustenance, greet them along the way. They manage to find enough food to eat, but sometimes only just in time to ward off death by starvation.
This was a very captivating read. I picked it up one day, and had it finished the very next day; just couldn't pull my eyes away. This book jumps between past and present quite frequently and without telling you, so sometimes you have to read between the lines and figure it out, but it isn't very difficult, and you get used to it pretty quick. The imagery is amazing; the author does an incredible job of painting the pictures in your mind. Very detailed, very descriptive, and very moving images. The speech between the characters is limited, and doesn't burden you with wasted text such as 'he said,' and 'he replied'. Instead the dialogue is written without such extra words, so for the first few pages it is difficult to understand who is speaking and when they are speaking, but you quickly decide it's a much quicker way to read dialogue. If you're looking for a surprise ending, not sure if this is the book, but I found myself satisfied with the conlusion. It is left open enough for my imagination to fill in the blanks, but it ties up the loose ends enough for me to put the book down and feel like it was worthwhile reading it. Overall a great story that is very well written and a very very intriguing story. A different twist on a familiar theme. I highly recommend this book to others.Read full review
This book will stay with you. That can be a bad thing. For days after finishing this book I would find myself looking out my kitchen window and imagining what my world would be like if the unnamed catastrophe in the book occurred in real life. Part of this book seems to take place in Appalachia, which is where I live. The way the author describe these beautiful mountains as burnt and dead is horrifying. This book is beautifully written and the connection between father and son is touching, but it is by far the most depressing book I have ever read. It is the absolute worst case scenario of what can happen to a man and his son as well as to the human race in general. It is a masterpiece of literature but very depressing. Recommended
The author has a very unique writing style. It took some getting use to (and maybe I'm still not use to it) but he's so descriptive and detailed. So in the end I enjoyed the style. The book is love story between a father and son and their journey along "The Road". I won't give any details about what they go through, but I found myself treasuring my own daughter more and more as I kept on reading. I read about a book a month and was given this book as a gift. I didn't know what to expect but this ranks as one of the better books I've read. Like one of the other reviews I read about this book, I wish the book was longer. Regardless, I highly recommend this book.
I bought this book simply because it had been recommended by so many of my friends. That is also the reason why I continued to read it. I kept thinking it HAD to get better because all my friends loved it. I, however, found not much to like about it. The subject is depressing as is the landscape the two travel through. I found it very had to know exactly who was speaking on some pages - the father or the son. I figure this was done on purpose; "and a child shall lead them," but it's a style I found annoying. The book could probably have been trimmed by many pages if you take out the repeated descriptions of the devastated landscape. Those descriptions became redundant very close to the beginning of the book. Although the end left a shred of optimism, I would recommend NOT reading this book if you are the least bit depressed or are facing a difficult time. SO easy to slip into the dark mood. Not a book I enjoyed at all, on any level.Read full review
A dear friend has a son attending the University of Texas. He read it for class and recommended she read it. My friend knows I am an avid reader and asked if I had heard of it. I had not. I immediately ordered it and two other McCarthy books. This book is absolutely one of the best books I have read in years. I am up way past bedtime reading it. It is the story of America after a horrible earth destroying event. A father and son are trapped in the cold North and are trying to get to the warmer coastal part of the country. The road is filled with hunger, terror and wonder. Truly an awesome book.
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