Hey, everyone. I thought that after the frivolous post about the rainbow pig, it would be a good time to get serious. So, what is more serious than a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel by Cormac McCarthy? The title is The Road.
This was the first novel that I've read by this author. He has an odd style in many ways, but I like him. His brevity is admirable. It is impossible to read this book without feeling a tug at your heart.
The story takes place in the aftermath of a nuclear war. A man and his young son are trying to travel south on the highways of a post-apocalyptic country. They are heading south because of the cold weather caused by an atmosphere shrouded in ash. The man realizes they can never survive the winter in the northern climes.
They have no car, bicycle or vehicle of any kind. Their few belongings are stuck in a grocery store shopping cart which they have salvaged. They are faced with the daunting task of walking hundreds of miles.
There are few survivors of the war. There is no electricity, gas, or law enforcement. There is no government. The only survivors are packs of men that seem barely human, having resorted to cannibalism to survive.
The man and his son are never given a name in this book. Neither is anyone else. Name another book that does that!
The tale of an existence scratched out by a man and boy, scavengers in a bleak and dying world, is certainly grim. It is compelling on several levels. As a father I can tell you that it grabs you hard because nothing is as scary as failing to provide for your kids, whether its food, shoes or safety.
As a young person, I've been on the road; broke and sleeping in ditches. I've had to deal with aggressive people. This book brought back many memories of difficult travels.
This book should be 'required reading' for all those folks who, due to their high office, have their finger on Armageddon's trigger. There are consequences for aggression. I rate this book as 4 stars out of 5.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
PS: Yes, this is now a movie, but I haven't seen it.
This was the first novel that I've read by this author. He has an odd style in many ways, but I like him. His brevity is admirable. It is impossible to read this book without feeling a tug at your heart.
The story takes place in the aftermath of a nuclear war. A man and his young son are trying to travel south on the highways of a post-apocalyptic country. They are heading south because of the cold weather caused by an atmosphere shrouded in ash. The man realizes they can never survive the winter in the northern climes.
They have no car, bicycle or vehicle of any kind. Their few belongings are stuck in a grocery store shopping cart which they have salvaged. They are faced with the daunting task of walking hundreds of miles.
There are few survivors of the war. There is no electricity, gas, or law enforcement. There is no government. The only survivors are packs of men that seem barely human, having resorted to cannibalism to survive.
The man and his son are never given a name in this book. Neither is anyone else. Name another book that does that!
The tale of an existence scratched out by a man and boy, scavengers in a bleak and dying world, is certainly grim. It is compelling on several levels. As a father I can tell you that it grabs you hard because nothing is as scary as failing to provide for your kids, whether its food, shoes or safety.
As a young person, I've been on the road; broke and sleeping in ditches. I've had to deal with aggressive people. This book brought back many memories of difficult travels.
This book should be 'required reading' for all those folks who, due to their high office, have their finger on Armageddon's trigger. There are consequences for aggression. I rate this book as 4 stars out of 5.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
PS: Yes, this is now a movie, but I haven't seen it.
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