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paukinra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abortion, Cannibalism, Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Eating disorder and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Miscarriage, and Pregnancy
erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a #FOMO Lighthouse Library Bookclub read for June 2023, and I really had no idea what it was about. I was amused that I had already read "The Road" by Jack London which is also a really cool book, though published 99 years earlier.
My overall impression of this book was that it was like a zombie apocalypse story, minus the trees and the zombies. In a non-descript North America that has been razed by fire, a man and his boy walk south in the hopes that they will get to warmer weather, and find it easier to survive. The main characters are known simply as the man, and the boy. This sort of increases the feeling of the bleakness, because for the most part, people are few and far between, and so you don't need a whole heap of names to disambiguate people.. and those names you do get from people are arbitrary and fairly meaningless.
Obviously this is a story of survival, and the balance of grief, hope and faith. As they travel down a highway they have to overcome obstacles both physical and emotional. The narrative is a mix of procedural descriptions, and poetic prose. It almost feels like the pretty bits are mismatched to the story, but I figure you have to have some fancy bits for your essays about the Literature (crozzled means with dark crispy bits on the outside.. like bacon). Typically the poetic observations are those of the end of day; musings that find one just before sleep after a long day of slogging through the countryside. It might help to have a dictionary nearby, because you don't get a Pulitzer by only using common words. There is a harsh poetic beauty to describing a highway full of burnt out cars whose occupants were scorched inside as they tried to flee the firestorms.
My overall impression of this book was that it was like a zombie apocalypse story, minus the trees and the zombies. In a non-descript North America that has been razed by fire, a man and his boy walk south in the hopes that they will get to warmer weather, and find it easier to survive. The main characters are known simply as the man, and the boy. This sort of increases the feeling of the bleakness, because for the most part, people are few and far between, and so you don't need a whole heap of names to disambiguate people.. and those names you do get from people are arbitrary and fairly meaningless.
Obviously this is a story of survival, and the balance of grief, hope and faith. As they travel down a highway they have to overcome obstacles both physical and emotional. The narrative is a mix of procedural descriptions, and poetic prose. It almost feels like the pretty bits are mismatched to the story, but I figure you have to have some fancy bits for your essays about the Literature (crozzled means with dark crispy bits on the outside.. like bacon). Typically the poetic observations are those of the end of day; musings that find one just before sleep after a long day of slogging through the countryside. It might help to have a dictionary nearby, because you don't get a Pulitzer by only using common words. There is a harsh poetic beauty to describing a highway full of burnt out cars whose occupants were scorched inside as they tried to flee the firestorms.
Ten thousand dreams ensepulchred within their crozzled hearts.
I really loved the descriptions of coming upon windfall resources, and in my own mind, I would have stopped my journey if I found plenty of resources.. or at least had a breather. Maybe I'm too risk averse to survive the holocaust of a continent. From what happens it doesn't look like radiation is a part of it, so this is a different take on things than other apocalyptic stories like Mad Max.
It was certainly an interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Kidnapping, Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Terminal illness, Child death, Gun violence, Murder, Body horror, Physical abuse, Stalking, Violence, Vomit, Blood, Cannibalism, Chronic illness, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
lilybear3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
I've been curious about this book for some time and I finally got around to it. When reading and reviewing this book in 2023, it's important to remember this book was first published in 2006. I didn't initially see why this book won a Pulitzer Prize, however, at the time and for all of it's hidden intricacies, it is great.
On the surface, the book is very straightforward and sentences are mainly stating what a character is doing or feeling, what the environment is, etc. However, every now and then, we get a poetic and philosophical paragraph that wants the reader to stop and think. This book is not a feel good book and there are some gruesome imagery at times, but it's not extremely pessimistic either. There is hope, even if just a little. Other themes are love, loss, grief, and humanity.
I think this modern classic is really accessible, the writing isn't too complicated, except for a few words here and there that I didn't recognize. I've seen other reviews question why there aren't quotation marks when characters are speaking and the lack of apostrophes in contractions like "cant." These details are intentional. As a reader, I could still understand who was talking based on how dialogue is laid out in other books. I'm speculating here, but I think it represents the fall of structure and formality, almost all of humanity is gone. It might also be hinting at the lack of education and need for written language.
I love a dystopian and I love that there are so many scenarios that fit that description. There aren't a lot of details as to why the world has turned out this way, but I kind of like that the reader doesn't know and that is left to their own imagination. I thought it might be a statement on environmental issues, but we just don't know. Obviously, reading this in 2023 has made me compare it to more recent media like "The Last of Us," but I don't think that's a bad thing. Both The Road and "The Last of Us" have similar themes, as mentioned above.
I could write an essay on this book. I wasn't sure what I was walking into (I encourage you to do this with any book you read), but I ended up enjoying this a lot. I couldn't put this book down.
On the surface, the book is very straightforward and sentences are mainly stating what a character is doing or feeling, what the environment is, etc. However, every now and then, we get a poetic and philosophical paragraph that wants the reader to stop and think. This book is not a feel good book and there are some gruesome imagery at times, but it's not extremely pessimistic either. There is hope, even if just a little. Other themes are love, loss, grief, and humanity.
I think this modern classic is really accessible, the writing isn't too complicated, except for a few words here and there that I didn't recognize. I've seen other reviews question why there aren't quotation marks when characters are speaking and the lack of apostrophes in contractions like "cant." These details are intentional. As a reader, I could still understand who was talking based on how dialogue is laid out in other books. I'm speculating here, but I think it represents the fall of structure and formality, almost all of humanity is gone. It might also be hinting at the lack of education and need for written language.
I love a dystopian and I love that there are so many scenarios that fit that description. There aren't a lot of details as to why the world has turned out this way, but I kind of like that the reader doesn't know and that is left to their own imagination. I thought it might be a statement on environmental issues, but we just don't know. Obviously, reading this in 2023 has made me compare it to more recent media like "The Last of Us," but I don't think that's a bad thing. Both The Road and "The Last of Us" have similar themes, as mentioned above.
I could write an essay on this book. I wasn't sure what I was walking into (I encourage you to do this with any book you read), but I ended up enjoying this a lot. I couldn't put this book down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Murder, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Cannibalism
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Self harm, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Pregnancy
avilareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
heartbreaking, with a running current of hopelessness. some of the most beautiful prose i have ever read. truly a masterclass on apocalyptic fiction.
i have some issues with the ending, i felt like it did not align with the themes and ideas that had been set up by the entire book. but honestly, aside from the last 5 pages, it was a perfect novel in every respect.
i have some issues with the ending, i felt like it did not align with the themes and ideas that had been set up by the entire book. but honestly, aside from the last 5 pages, it was a perfect novel in every respect.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Pedophilia, Child death, Rape, and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Vomit
j_2112's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
The depravity of man is real. But this book was too disgusting for my liking.
Thought provoking. Writing style is good, but just felt like a Hemingway knockoff.
Really don't think this should have won the Pulitzer.
First book I've read with no chapters and no quotations for dialogue. Interesting read.
Thought provoking. Writing style is good, but just felt like a Hemingway knockoff.
Really don't think this should have won the Pulitzer.
First book I've read with no chapters and no quotations for dialogue. Interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Cannibalism, Child death, Dysphoria, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Infertility, Murder, Death of parent, and Genocide
revolution666's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment, Torture, Murder, Gun violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Child death, Cursing, Gore, Rape, War, Pregnancy, Grief, and Animal death
babarabab's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Death, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Cannibalism, and Gun violence
lindsayerin's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Gore, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Trafficking, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
weirdodari's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
So this book completely wrecked me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Death, and Blood
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Road is a book that manages to be both brutal and beautiful. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world and features a father and son, constantly travelling, walking and pushing their cart, trying to survive and find somewhere better. I liked the feeling of being dropped immediately into the action. There’s no world building to speak of. As the story progresses we learn more about what the world is like - bleak, desolate, dog-eat-dog- but never why. In many ways it’s not an enjoyable read and in places is truly horrific.
And yet all that is balanced by the beauty of the pure, simple love between a father and his young son . There are so many tender moments between the pair such as when the father tries to give some of his food to his son but the boy recognises what is happening and refuses. Or when the father tries to protect his son from some of the more horrific sights, or tries to calm his very real fears, despite feeling terrified and helpless himself.
McCarthy’s writing is sparse and unadorned which I think suits the setting and tone very well. There is no need to elaborate on either the horrific conditions of the world, the very real immediate threats they sometimes face, or the strength of their love for each other. All were obvious and elaboration would have detracted rather than added to the atmosphere or the reader’s understanding. McCarthy is a master of showing, not telling. We were never told of the man’s visceral fear, anxiety and desperation but we were certainly shown it, in effective yet undramatic ways.
I was struck by the young boy’s kind heart, his desire to share what they had, to try and help others and to assume the best of people. This was in marked contrast to his father, whose focus was solely of keeping his boy safe and felt that they couldn’t risk trusting or helping anyone. In light of the ending of the story I can’t help but see a message in this difference.
For me this was an unforgettable read, one that wasn’t always enjoyable but was superbly written, and where the desolation and brutality was balanced by the lovely and beautiful.
And yet all that is balanced by the beauty of the pure, simple love between a father and his young son . There are so many tender moments between the pair such as when the father tries to give some of his food to his son but the boy recognises what is happening and refuses. Or when the father tries to protect his son from some of the more horrific sights, or tries to calm his very real fears, despite feeling terrified and helpless himself.
McCarthy’s writing is sparse and unadorned which I think suits the setting and tone very well. There is no need to elaborate on either the horrific conditions of the world, the very real immediate threats they sometimes face, or the strength of their love for each other. All were obvious and elaboration would have detracted rather than added to the atmosphere or the reader’s understanding. McCarthy is a master of showing, not telling. We were never told of the man’s visceral fear, anxiety and desperation but we were certainly shown it, in effective yet undramatic ways.
I was struck by the young boy’s kind heart, his desire to share what they had, to try and help others and to assume the best of people. This was in marked contrast to his father, whose focus was solely of keeping his boy safe and felt that they couldn’t risk trusting or helping anyone. In light of the ending of the story I can’t help but see a message in this difference.
For me this was an unforgettable read, one that wasn’t always enjoyable but was superbly written, and where the desolation and brutality was balanced by the lovely and beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Cannibalism