A man and his son wander through an ash-filled America. The apocalypse has happened and the entire world is cold, gray, and lifeless. There are no animals. There are few people, and those that exist are likely planning to kill you and steal everything you own. It isn’t an atmosphere to raise a child in, but the man has no choice. He must keep himself and his son alive, must keep them moving, even though he isn’t sure what’s out there to live for.
What a dark, creepy read this was. There isn’t a single happy moment in this book. Virtually the whole of the narrative consists of the man and his son, neither of whom have a destination in mind, trying to find food, get warm, and avoid any of the other people, or creatures, wandering the road with them. It seems as though the world burst into flames, but the actual cause of the apocalypse is never made clear. At one point the boy and man run into another survivor, but he clearly states that they have no common cause because they did not survive together. This really made me wonder exactly what happens – but McCarthy never tells us.
He also never tells us anything about the evil that stalk the land, simply that they’re there. These creatures – I assumed they were vampires or something like that – eat people. Adding to the pervasive feel of danger is the endless fall of ash and the constant corpses they come across everywhere. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it must have been for the boy; we’re never told how old he is, but he wasn’t alive before the apocalypse happened. He has never experienced the world as his father has.
Miraculously, though, he still has a sense of good, a desire to help people, which is simultaneously childish and incredibly wise. Out of the literal ashes of the world, a good spirit has risen, and even though the rest of the book is dark I would never say that all hope was lost, even when I worried that they were close to death. Even more hopeful is the fact that the father and the boy clearly still love each other and strive to live even when it looks like all is lost. The power of the human spirit is incredible and is in large part a reason we can still care for and worry about these characters in a world that is otherwise unrecognizable and terrifying.
The Road was completely different than I expected, but almost more powerful in its own way. The air of mystery lent it terror, but the relationship between the boy and his father is really at the heart of this novel. Recommended.
I am an Amazon Associate. I purchased this book.
You’re right, this is a very powerful book. It’s been a few years since I read it but my husband just read it over the summer.
Stephanie´s last post …Q&A with Helen Brown
I really struggled with this novel. It’s not that McCarthy isn’t a good writer…clearly, he is. The book was so dark and despite the hope he was trying to show, I just wasn’t seeing it. I got so depressed….argh. Of course, that’s likely what he intended.
Michele@ A Reader’s Respite´s last post …Quick- grab a pen and paper
I think I’d have to be in the right mood to read this one since it’s so dark.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last post …Winners!
Interesting–
I assumed the evil creatures stalking the land were other human survivors.
I couldn’t find anything hopeful in this book, it just seemed darkness upon darkness, and so it didn’t really work for me. If I’d seen those rays of hope, it might have– the writing was certainly very powerful.
Laura @ ImBookingIt´s last post …Audio review- Sofie Metropolis by Tori Carrington
Laura – that’s EXACTLY how I felt! I’ve always felt a tad guilty because I didn’t love this as much as everyone else seemed to. His writing is spectacular, but I was left without hope at the end.
Michele@ A Reader’s Respite´s last post …Quick- grab a pen and paper
I need to get back to this book eventually. You are such a beautiful writer, Meghan!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last post …Giveaway- A Visitors Guide to Mystic Falls- Your Favorite Authors on the Vampire Diaries
Wasn’t there a movie based on this book? It didn’t sound as creepy as this does.
I bought this book a few months ago after reading such good things about it. I have actually never read any McCarthy before, but I do have a copy of Blood Meridian on my shelves as well. I think that after all I have read, I am fully expecting this book to be very dark and sobering, but it’s interesting that you also say it’s a bit hopeful. Fantastic review! I am going to have to get to this one soon!
zibilee´s last post …Prousts Overcoat- The True Story of One Mans Passion for All Things Proust by Lorenza Foschini
I keep going back and forth on whehter I want to read this one. Your review has me leaning towards “yes.”
S. Krishna´s last post …Sunday Salon
This was the first book my book club read a year ago, and we all loved it. It is an incredibly powerful dystopia novel, and the evil gangs roaming the roads are terrifying! A dark and dismal book would be perfect for a rainy day read.
Have you seen the movie? I’ve been avoiding it, but I’ve heard it keeps to the book really well.
Great review. I think you did a better job of finding the hope in this novel than I did. That said, I think McCarthy was coasting a bit on his style here. I’ve seen that a few bloggers recently have reviewed “Blood Meridian,” and if this one hasn’t tired you out, check out BM. Parts of it were harder for me to read than The Road…much gorier…but it’s an amazing book.
Ellen´s last post …Classic Reread- Kate Chopin’s The Awakening
I haven’t read this book but did see the movie which was extremely bleak. Not that I think the book is not because by all accounts (including yours) it is. I don’t know that this is one that I’ll pick up the book to see the differences on I think the movie gave me enough to work wtih.
Michelle´s last post …Michelle is From Mars This Book is From Venus 2
Wasn’t sure where to post this. Just popping by to let you know how much I’ve been enjoying your blog, and to tell you I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award
For more information go to:
http://thebookwormchronicles.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/one-lovely-blog-award/