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Carol's Reviews > The Road
The Road
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A dark and brooding meditation of a man and his child’s struggle to survive in a society that has decayed and collapsed around them. This is a short but thought-provoking novel with an unconventional narrative style…full of ambiguity. Names are never used and the reader has only a vague notion of the cataclysmic event that preceded the story. The detached tone and obscure details render the novel all the more menacing as it mirrors the reality of living on a planet without our massive world infrastructure.
Post-apocalyptic novels are not what I usually choose to read. However, I was mesmerized by this book. For me, it was like living a little slice of what it might be like after some catastrophic occurrence. Because of 9/11, our constant fear of terror attacks and all of the current wars and unrest in contemporary society, it almost felt prophetic.
Post-apocalyptic novels are not what I usually choose to read. However, I was mesmerized by this book. For me, it was like living a little slice of what it might be like after some catastrophic occurrence. Because of 9/11, our constant fear of terror attacks and all of the current wars and unrest in contemporary society, it almost felt prophetic.
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Connie
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rated it 5 stars
Jul 30, 2014 09:46PM
Great review, Carol. The ideas in this book stayed with me for days after I finished it.
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Connie wrote: "Great review, Carol. The ideas in this book stayed with me for days after I finished it."Thank you, Connie! It certainly was thought-provoking!
Some of the plot of McCarthy's famous novel reminds me of Life and Times of Michael K which I recently read! Isn't it amazing how we can draw endless connections among literary works? Everything seems to be related in this world of books and readers! :)
Dolors wrote: "Some of the plot of McCarthy's famous novel reminds me of Life and Times of Michael K which I recently read! Isn't it amazing how we can draw endless connections among literary works? E..."I've just opened your link and the synopsis does remind me of this novel. I've added it in anticipation of your review, Dolors.
You nailed it Carol. A very well written review!
Perfect review Carol!! This is one of my favorites. I agree, there is a detached tone to this that really hit me in the gut. It felt like the 5th and final stage of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's Five Stages of Grief.
Thanks, Arah-Lynda. I'm always flattered by your comments!
LeeAnne wrote: "Perfect review Carol!! This is one of my favorites. I agree, there is a detached tone to this that really hit me in the gut. It felt like the 5th and final stage of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's Five S..."Thank you, LeeAnne! That's an interesting and thought-provoking comment to ponder. I did get a sense that the man had accepted and then learned to live with his new reality.
Very nice review, Carol. I've read a couple of McCarthy's books, but haven't made it to this one yet. Will have to remedy that soon.
Zoeytron wrote: "Very nice review, Carol. I've read a couple of McCarthy's books, but haven't made it to this one yet. Will have to remedy that soon."Thank you Zoeytron. This is my first McCarthy. I'm not sure if it's similar to his other books. It's dark but compelling.
Carol stated "Post-apocalyptic novels are not what I usually choose to read. However, I was mesmerized by this book."Same here Carol. It is a mesmerizing read.
Carol wrote: "Carol stated "Post-apocalyptic novels are not what I usually choose to read. However, I was mesmerized by this book."Same here Carol. It is a mesmerizing read."
Thanks for stopping by, Carol. I always enjoy your comments.
Love the way you summarized this Carol, still dancing around deciding if I'll read it myself. Thanks
Florence (Lefty) wrote: "Love the way you summarized this Carol, still dancing around deciding if I'll read it myself. Thanks"You must be in the mood for something very dark. Thanks for your comments, Florence.
I was positive I had put this on my to read shelf long ago and recently noticed that it wasn't on there. I really want to read this, especially after reading your review. Adding it again!
Thanks :)
Deanna wrote: "I was positive I had put this on my to read shelf long ago and recently noticed that it wasn't on there. I really want to read this, especially after reading your review. Adding it again!
Thanks :)"
Thank you for always leaving such kind and thoughtful comments, Deanna. I read this some time ago and remember that it is very dark but compelling.
Mesmerizing indeed.Carol wrote: "This is my first McCarthy. I'm not sure if it's similar to his other books. It's dark but compelling."
This was my first McCarthy too, and like you, I loved its poetic sparseness. I've only read one other (Outer Dark), which had at least as much grim agony (of a different kind), but lacked the beauty of words, imo.
It was a bit too bleak for me. But yes,a good book.
Lucie wrote: "It was a bit too bleak for me. But yes,a good book."I've just noticed this comment, Lucie. Yes, it was bleak as I remember. I've planned to read more of this author in 2019. Thank you for your comment!
I read this because my son is studying it at school, otherwise I might not have touched it. Glad I did, but it was very bleak. Lovely review, especially your point about anonymity.
Ian wrote: "I read this because my son is studying it at school, otherwise I might not have touched it. Glad I did, but it was very bleak. Lovely review, especially your point about anonymity."Thank you for your interesting comment, Ian. I read this some time ago and I'm curious about how your son interpreted this novel.
Carol wrote: "Ian wrote: "I read this because my son is studying it at school, otherwise I might not have touched it. Glad I did, but it was very bleak. Lovely review, especially your point about anonymity."Th..."
With the resilience of youth, I think he saw it simply as a story, rather than a portent of the future.
