 2008-10-12 - Miserable but Persistent
If you're prone to hopelessness, this may not be the book for you. If you're the sort of person who goes to the worst case scenario, deals with that, and figures that any step up from that is an improvement, you might like this book. I did.
Some people keep fighting no matter what. They can't bring themselves to give up, no matter the size of the obstacle they face. For some people, they would rather go down fighting than give up. I didn't realize I was one of those people until I read this book. It's not a pleasant read, but it's one you will never forget or regret. Go for it.
 2008-10-12 - Masterpiece Masterpiece Masterpiece
No hyperbole here: The Road is a Masterpiece of American 21st Century Fiction. A seminal book of Fatherhood, Survival, Post-Apocalyptic Awe and Dread, Post-Consumer-Culture Imagining and Natural, Geographical Description.
Terms like "Terribly Excellent," "Devastatingly Beautiful," "Awesome in it's Simplicity and Affections," all apply to this tale of travel and scavenging, of a father and son heading South in search of The Good Guys.
Though some may feel this is a depressing novel, it is the opposite in full effect. The Father's hopefulness, made and alive in his son is the stuff of grand, all encompassing love and sacrifice.
Do not expect to be wowed with McCarthy's capable verbal violence of past tales. Here the tension is great, as palpable as in any novel I've recently read, executed with such literate precision and skill.
That's enough. Read this ASAP. Don't wait for the movie, or let that be enough. A film won't get enough, it's source material is too good.
A masterpiece, a classic, a BEAUTIFUL, ENGROSSING, AMAZING WORK OF ART.
2008-10-12 - Relentlessly downbeat
Honestly I don't know quite how to process this story. For starters I couldn't finish it. I was crying too much. Maybe that's a testament to the power of the writing, but I just feel like this book was written to be as emotionaly jarring as possible.
Do we really need such a relentlessly downbeat story to teach us about the power of paternal love?
However, the fact that I had such an intense emotional reaction is evidence of the authors skill.
In general I am a fan of post-apocolyptic stories but I don't think that's really the point of this novel. It's really about love. And specifically the merciless love of a parent for their child. It excludes all others without pity or remorse.
Actually now that I think about it, I get it.
 2008-10-10 - Did I miss something?
I still can't figure out what's so great about this book. I found it a bit bleak and very uneventful. Why couldn't there have been some more cannibalism?
2008-10-09 - 5 stars versus ANYTHING (except maybe the Bible)
This is a literary work of art by one of the greatest living authors. The subject matter can be dark, but for those giving it anything less than 5 stars... I guess those folks really need to do some homework.
Why am I reviewing it? This book is the single GREATEST Father's Day gift for a man with a child (especially a son) that I can possibly imagine. THAT is what this book is about, regardless of whether its sci-fi or lo-fi. It is a portrayal of father and son.
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