The Road (Oprah''s Book Club)
6 journalers for this copy...
My first Cormac McCarthy novel,and I've now understand why he is held in such high regard. The Road is wonderfully written in sparse and percise language. I disagree with those who find this a 'depressing' novel. It does take place in a post-apocalyptic world, which is a savage place. But the father & son effort to survive in this cruel place is riveting and touching. The father is the obvious care taker in finding the basics for their everyday survival. But it's the boy who rescues his father's humanity. The Road deserves all the praise it has received.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Being released at the November 11th Boston Bookcrossing Meetup at Algiers, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
Being released at the November 11th Boston Bookcrossing Meetup at Algiers, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA
I've always wanted to read a book about how life would be like in a post apocalytic society, where people are forced to live harsh but simpler lives and in doing so discover the things that really matter, like family, community, and home.
The focus on the father/son relationship also appeals to me, as I'm close to my own father and sometimes wonder how fathers and sons are supposed to communicate. I think it's taken my dad a long time to accept that I might know things that he doesn't, that I might be better at some things, that there are things he can learn from me, just as I've learned from him, that it's a two-way street. He's become so used to his role as teacher that he has trouble becoming the student. For instance, it's quite an experience teaching him how to use a computer, but it's time well spent.
Update 4/14/2009
I finished this book a while ago and forgot to make a journal entry for it. I really enjoyed the writing style - it was very sparse in it's descriptions, and yet over time the bond between father and son was so vivid and powerful.
The setting they were in seemed to create a hopeless situation - beyond the vague goal of reaching the west coast neither of them knew where they were going, or what they'd find there, and it was a constant struggle to find and keep enough food, shelter and clothing to survive. I kept wondering, is it their love for eachother, that bond, that forces them to keep going, where someone else might have given up and been driven mad or perished?
I shed a few tears at the conclusion, even though it was building up to it and I saw it coming it was still emotionally charged, without feeling forced, tacked on, or manipulative.
The focus on the father/son relationship also appeals to me, as I'm close to my own father and sometimes wonder how fathers and sons are supposed to communicate. I think it's taken my dad a long time to accept that I might know things that he doesn't, that I might be better at some things, that there are things he can learn from me, just as I've learned from him, that it's a two-way street. He's become so used to his role as teacher that he has trouble becoming the student. For instance, it's quite an experience teaching him how to use a computer, but it's time well spent.
Update 4/14/2009
I finished this book a while ago and forgot to make a journal entry for it. I really enjoyed the writing style - it was very sparse in it's descriptions, and yet over time the bond between father and son was so vivid and powerful.
The setting they were in seemed to create a hopeless situation - beyond the vague goal of reaching the west coast neither of them knew where they were going, or what they'd find there, and it was a constant struggle to find and keep enough food, shelter and clothing to survive. I kept wondering, is it their love for eachother, that bond, that forces them to keep going, where someone else might have given up and been driven mad or perished?
I shed a few tears at the conclusion, even though it was building up to it and I saw it coming it was still emotionally charged, without feeling forced, tacked on, or manipulative.
Picked up at April Bookcrossing, Algiers Cafe.
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Released at October Book Crossing.
Released at October Book Crossing.
This book is definitely worth your time. It was a lot different than what I expected. I think harrowing is a great word to describe it.
Picked up at December Boston MeetUp, just in time for next month's bookclub!
Very dark and sometimes even deadening story of a man and son travelling and trying to survive in the landscape left after some kind of civilzation ending event. THe background is left vauge and the novel only focuses on their struggle to survive. It's very powerful and really drew me in but I was left wondering why at the end. They suffer and struggle until it ends. The only thing I was left wondering was, is it better to be alive or dead? I don't think that is the message that is meant.
Journal Entry 9 by amyem at Algiers, 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Sq. in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA on Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (1/12/2010 UTC) at Algiers, 40 Brattle Street, Harvard Sq. in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Planned for release at January Boston Meetup
Planned for release at January Boston Meetup
Just got it at January 2010 Boston Bookcrossing.