Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD – This Trek is not for the Faint of Feels
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Reviewed by Mary Ann
I have always regarded literature as contrary to what many see as the time-honoured tradition of fiction – escapism. Whether it be the intriguingly cold mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, Tolkien's quaint Shire landscape, or even a brief skimming of Chatelaine for just the right way to consume brownies and lay off the pounds; emerging from a good reading often leaves us with a sensation akin to dark waters. We have come back from another world unlike our own.
And while I too have the same mentality, I also highly disagree. One may immerse oneself in a fictional realm for the sake of rewinding from real-world troubles, but there is also a deeper meaning to most literature that leaves me vigorously believing that these worlds so unlike our own reality exist to help us understand our reality.
Philosophies aside, this is still a review, and I bring up all this jargon solely because Cormac McCarthy's The Road displays what seems to be almost a symbol of what I was just blabbering on about to your poor little retinas.
Following the journey of a father and son known only as “the man and the boy”, it's a post-apocalyptic novel that spans over a period of several months, across a landscape blasted by an unspecified cataclysm that has destroyed most of civilization and, in the intervening years, almost all life on Earth. They are each other's “world entire,” and exist only out of love and dedication. The land is filled with ash and devoid of living animals and vegetation. Many of the remaining human survivors have resorted to cannibalism, scavenging the detritus of city and country alike for flesh. And . . . that's about as much of the plot that I can detail without really delving into what might be spoilers, or parts of the story that would demand more explaination.
And that sounds like a cop-out, I know, but trust me when I tell you that this is one of those rare reads that has a plot that can only described as “living”. The entire book itself has no chapters, no quotation marks, no pauses; only paragraphs – and I know that removes the whole virtue of giving readers a breather now and then, but that's the whole point. It feels like a long, treacherous, grey journey. It drags forward with each and every conviction, and forces you to drag with it. In the end, you are left with that bitterness and the ashes in your lungs. But you'll love every minute of it.
These unnamed protagonists project unto you what seems like a character study. And, yes, it's a grim one. This isn't a novel that romanticizes oblivion, or gains your facination through beautiful teens and sparkling vistas. It weaves a plot that just seems to happen. Like life, you've got two characters attempting to exist in an unpredictable state of chaos. They have been dealt a horizon and are now simply trying to live, the same way anyone else does no matter the state of the world. And the entirety of this novel revolves around how they do it, or at least try to.
Which brings me back to my first point – in The Road, you will not be escaping reality. Instead, this novel attempts to give narration and plot to human existence, not to a synthetic creation of one. You become these faceless characters, come back to the journey each time you open the book. You're still becoming immersed in a different world, but this is one that will leave you truly contemplating the one you live in.
So, if you're the type for glamourous or optimistic or safe reading, this may not be the book for you. It really is unforgiving in how dark human nature can get, but also how deeply compassionate. So if you've got loins of steel and the daring to play with your emotions, give this book a try. It may not speak to blue birds and the colour yellow, but you may just come to appreciate the pallet of McCarthy's landscape and your own morality – painted in various shades of grey.
12 thoughts on “Cormac McCarthy’s THE ROAD – This Trek is not for the Faint of Feels”
This book sounds like an interesting read. I remember watching the movie, which was very thrilling yet disturbing, but i never realized that it was originally a book.
I think I once saw the trailer, it was an ad on youtube so I skipped it, I just can’t handle disturbing images.
Hey Jane although it is disturbing you should watch it! It provides a realistic approach to a post apocalyptic world with captivating characters.
This is certainly a book that I will pick up over the summer and i am sure that i will enjoy it.
Oooo that seems cool, though, if I do muster the guts to watch it, I definitely won’t watch it at night.
Ooh, The Road was so bleak… The worst part of it for me was imagining this as a paren’t, your very worst nightmare, trying to protect your child in a world like that. *shudder* It really stuck with me, you are absolutely right that it’s not a safe read, and doesn’t shy away from the truly awful. Still, gorgeously written and very immersive in its atmosphere.
I read this book back in the fall and I fell in love with it. It is true what Ken had to say about it though: “The entire book itself has no chapters, no quotation marks, no pauses; only paragraphs – and I know that removes the whole virtue of giving readers a breather now and then, but that’s the whole point. It feels like a long, treacherous, grey journey.” This also makes the post-apocalyptic world more interesting because everyone is going to picture what goes on in the story differently from someone else. For anyone that also enjoys how books sometimes connect with video games, “The Road” is a very good read for anyone that has played “The Last of Us” on PS3. Even though these two have their noticeable differences, the themes are shared in common. If you have time this summer, I would definitely recommend having a look at both the book and the game.
Hey Joseph, just wanted to point out that I didn’t write the review, Mary Ann did! (I missed including that vital info the first time around, sorry Mary Ann!)
Having said that, THE ROAD was my favourite Cormac McCarthy book since BLOOD MERIDIAN — which is even more “not for the faint of feels” than THE ROAD, so beware, if you decide to read it!!
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM638436&R=638436
Hey, Jane, I agree that it really is worth stomaching. Even if you’re left dreading the apocalypse even more, it’s definitely not a character study you should miss! If you can’take the realism, I strongly recommend a read.
And Hyerin, I had no idea it was a movie until recently! XD I first heard that one of my favorite games, “The Last of Us”, was inspired by it. And after reading the book, I found out there was a movie too. Both worth checking out, that’s for sure. ^^
I’m glad to hear it! It’s one of those good breaks from the usual glamour of fiction these days. 😀 But then again, I like my books bleak and shocking, making me scared for the protagonists.
You’re right, what struck me really was how immersive this book was, despite having nameless characters. I think it’s because it allows us to fill in their shoes without jeopardizing how interesting they are or how invested we are in their journey. That’s a rare talent, and I think McCarthy pulled it off beautifully! I too can’t imagine having such strength in the face of the worst . . .
Lol. It was actually me who wrote the review! XD But I’m glad you enjoyed it and had some interesting things to say yourself. I too have played “The Last of Us” and LOVED it. I think the game actually drew inspiration from the novel too . . . I also agree that forcing you to feel as depressed as the characters really does allow you to become more invested. It’s as if you too are on the line, and you become more heavily immersed in this world you are vicariously exploring. ^^