The Road in Read by Theme

Oct 24, 2013 Sofia rated it liked it

Shelves: inspirational-fiction, library-read, read-2013

*All my reviews contain spoilers*

I finished reading this book a few days ago -normally I write a review right away when the book is fresh in my mind and my feelings on it are at their most vivid. However, this is probably the first time I read a book and felt so indecisive on my feelings about it, as a whole. I think I am one of the very few reviewers who don't either hate it to all hell or call it the best book ever written.

This book has to be considered in two separate aspects. This story of *All my reviews contain spoilers*

I finished reading this book a few days ago -normally I write a review right away when the book is fresh in my mind and my feelings on it are at their most vivid. However, this is probably the first time I read a book and felt so indecisive on my feelings about it, as a whole. I think I am one of the very few reviewers who don't either hate it to all hell or call it the best book ever written.

This book has to be considered in two separate aspects. This story of an apocalyptic world where the human race has managed to fuck itself into a burned, grey, sullen ash that has either killed everyone off or left those alive starving, stealing, wishing they were dead. The two main characters, a father only identified as 'Papa' and his young son, who -you guessed it -is only identified as the 'Boy'. Years and years have gone by since the the cataclysmic destruction, but you aren't really sure exactly HOW long, and it only hints at it in this story.

The story itself is intriguing. I think that is where I found interest: this is something that is not too far off of the radar of reality with the way our environment is progressing. We could very well see ourselves in their predicament. I felt that the writer was so descriptive in his story-telling that I could FEEL the cold, barren wilderness. I could SEE the ash covered ground and grey blanket of nothingness that surrounded this duo. As hopeless as their situation was, there was still hope -for what, I don't know. But the question is provocative.

Now, with all that said, let me bullet point what I felt to be distracting/confusing/irritating (or a combination of all):

- The son, who apparently had been BORN into this life of nothingness, fear, and despair seems to either be 'shivering with fear' all the time, or asking questions that he already knows the answers to. It was as if he had never seen ruin or decay or knew why they had to keep watch of their surroundings.

- I agree with some other reviewers that other than the father wanting to keep them from danger, I really did NOT see a connection between father and son that was remarkable or special in some profound intimate nature. They existed together and watched out for each other, but that was it.

- I know the writer was trying to write in a manner that was descriptive of the story, but the lack of punctuation, quotation marks, chapters, or even paragraphs was confusing, and at times, downright annoying as shit. I kept having to read back and try and figure out who was saying what. I know that writing is an art and when an artist feels the need to change the 'rules', it must be for some reason either only known to him or something that dramatically makes the story. Quotation marks, would have still made this a good story.

This book left me with a lot of questions about their journey: what was the father's insistence to travel towards the coast? What did he think would be waiting their for them? I thought they should have stayed at that underground bunker they found for as long as possible, considering there was food and a decent amount of shelter; why put your son at the risk of continued travel? What really happened to the wife? (the movie goes into a lot more depth about their relationship prior).

All in all, this book kept me interested; I read it in a few days, actually. Yes the writing and composition was questionable, but the story DOES have depth and does make you question your own mortality and asks the 'what would you do if.." question. Would I EVER have thought this was Pulitzer-worthy? Probably not. I didn't hate like and I didn't love it, but any book that has me still thinking about it days after I've finished it speaks volumes in itself.

I would recommend it. ...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Mariah rated it liked it

"Yeah, but stories are supposed to be happy.
They dont have to be.
You always tell happy stories.
You dont have any happy ones?
They're more like real life."
Cormac McCarthy, The Road.

I found "The Road" to be a very unhappy story...not a bad story at all, a very good one in fact, but unhappy, very bleak and at times nearly laborious.

Without a glimmer of hope it was hard to keep following the man and the boy at times.
However,like when watching an intense scene in a horror movie, not wanting to watch ...more

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Sep 15, 2017 Sagheer Afzal rated it it was amazing

The work of a master. Elegant prose that manages to be simple and yet profound. A story that is tersely written and yet beautifully told. Genuinely a book to re-read.

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Nov 22, 2009 Kayla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, books-i-have-reread, reviewed

I recently reread this book for a Dystopian Literature class and I decided to change my rating from 3 stars to 4. When I first joined goodreads, it had been a little over a year since I had read The Road when I rated it. I can understand rating it 3 stars because not a lot in this book sticks in your mind and it's easy to recall it as bland with little happening in it. However, now that it is fresh in my mind, I know that's not really true. This novel is brilliant. The impassive narrative voice ...more

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Apr 29, 2009 Diana rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction

I really liked this book. This is the first Cormac McCarthy book I've read. I have seen a couple movie interpretations which lead me towards his writing, but I didn't really know what to expect.
The story operates on so many levels that nearly anyone can read it and enjoy it. On the most basic level the story of a post-apocalyptic world and a father-son relationship is both exciting and emotional. On top of that there are amazing allusions to the Christian religion. Whether you believe in Christi ...more

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Nov 16, 2014 Dash Williams rated it liked it

I was initially annoyed with this book.

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Jul 31, 2010 Katie rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult-fiction-general

Took me forever to read this book because it is so incredibly depressing. But one of the best books I've ever read....which is ironic. It was great. And I'm relieved it's over. ...more

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