“The Road” by Cormac McCarthy is a very unfortunate book. I don’t mean to say that it is terrible, because that is far from the case. Rather what I mean is that it is very unfortunate to have had perhaps one of the worst adaptations into film I have ever seen.
McCarthy is perhaps best known to the majority of the world as author of “No Country for Old Men,” primarily due to the film. But to be honest, “The Road” is truly where McCarthy reaches his ape as an author.
The book is a gritty, depressing take on the “post apocalyptic” genre. For those unfamiliar with the themes there in allow me to explain. The world as you know it has ended. This could have been from nuclear war, bio-terrorism, global warming, or aliens crashing on earth. Whatever the reason the world is desolate.
McCarthy seems to be unbothered by many of the tropes within the genre, and instead focuses on the relationship between a man and his son. They travel together, trying to beat a winter to the ocean. On their way they come across cannibals, slavers, and various other people, all looking for a way to survive in the hostile world.
Unfortunately the author (of this blog) can’t discuss the true power of this book without giving away the ending. For those of you who saw the film and turned off, please give the book a chance. Despite McCarthy’s writing style (or perhaps because of it) the books reads phenomenally fast, while still being one of the densest pieces of literature to ever have been written.
10/10, but your mileage may vary.
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