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The Road

McCarthy, Cormac (Book - 2006)
Average Rating: 2 stars out of 5.
The Road


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In this postapocalyptic novel, a father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. They sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what,

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In this postapocalyptic novel, a father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. They sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food--and each other. This book boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. It is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation.--From publisher description.

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Imprint: New York : - Alfred A Knopf
Pages: 241
Edition: 1st ed
ISBN: 9780307265432, 0307265439
Language: English
Awards & Distinctions: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, 2007
Notes: Publisher description for "The road" --- "A searing, postapocalyptic novel destined to become Cormac McCarthy's masterpiece. A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food--and each other. The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation."
Statement of responsibility: Cormac McCarthy
Characteristics: 241 p. ;,25 cm.
Author (Original Script): McCarthy, Cormac
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*FYI if you've never read this book, there are reviews below this that could be interpreted as spoilers.

Oct 02, 2012
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  • bookwormjeph rated this: 3.5 stars out of 5.

probably the most harrowing book I have ever read. I finished it with a sense of their being no hope if the future ever played out like this.

Thought provoking and disturbing, maybe because it has the realism that this genre doesn't usually have. Read it then read it again. Then watched it on dvd. I deperately wanted a happy ending where everything starts to come right but you know that it wont. The boy and his new family will have a slow demise. Only question, how do they manage to feed the dog??

Jul 02, 2012
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  • galactickim rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

I found this book hard to put down. Just read it!

Jun 24, 2012
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  • daisy73e rated this: 3 stars out of 5.

Depressing, a dark gray story

Jun 23, 2012
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  • eahyatt rated this: 4 stars out of 5.

Beautifully painted and deeply moving. McCarthy uses sparse language to show love and devotion amidst deepest crisis.

Apr 03, 2012
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  • lindseyluce rated this: 4.5 stars out of 5.

I really enjoyed this novel. It is about a man and his son trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world. The story mostly focuses on the relationship between father and son with the backdrop of the end of the world. It can be a bit slow in the beginning but quickly picks up. There are some disturbing issues that are addressed but it makes sense in this story. I highly recommend this book.

Mar 16, 2012
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  • everydayathena rated this: 4.5 stars out of 5.

I had to muster my strength to read this novel - I usually like to read something with a little 'ray of hope' and I was pretty certain that this book was not going to have one. "The Road" is the grim and incredibly dark story of a father and son in a post-apocalyptic world. They travel in search of the coast, scavenging food and provisions from the ashen wasteland. They are battered by the elements and careful to evade the gangs of cannibals who scour the land, preying on the vulnerable. The novel has stirred plenty of reflective thinking on my part - I marvel at the nameless protagonist's devotion to "keep carrying the fire" for his son in the most desperate setting one could ever imagine. McCarthy's writing style is stark yet poetic. My favourite lines (they gave me shivers): "At the tide line a woven mat of weeds and the ribs of fishes in their millions stretching along the shore as far as eye could see like an isocline of death. One vast salt sepulchre. Senseless. Senseless."

Mar 14, 2012
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  • ShadowFX84 rated this: 4 stars out of 5.

This was a great story. I found the role of the father to be truly moving and selfless. The son's story was absolutley heartbreaking. The characters were well drawn, and the story well paced and enthralling. The only reason I can't give this book 5 stars is, I found the lack of punctuation to be distracting. It detracted from the book overall and gave it an ametuerish vibe. I loved this book though. Don't miss it!

Jan 31, 2012
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  • NanoEagle19 rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

This was an excellent book. Not too often do you get a book that starts in the middle of nowhere, and it works well. This book begins with a scene where the unnamed father and son are already on their journey. Their relationship makes this a good choice not only for an avid reader, but to an audience that wants to know about a close relationship. This father-son bond drives the two to the limit. It is impossible to explain how powerful this novel is without actually giving anything away. It does start off a bit slow, but once you’re a couple of pages into it (I’d say around 30), it gets really really good. Highly recommend

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Aug 31, 2012
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  • jacqulyn123789 rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

jacqulyn123789 thinks this title is suitable for 15 years and over

Mar 16, 2012
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  • everydayathena rated this: 4.5 stars out of 5.

everydayathena thinks this title is suitable for 17 years and over

Atomicapples thinks this title is suitable for 15 years and over

Sep 21, 2009
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  • gailygirl rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

gailygirl thinks this title is suitable for 19 years and over

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May 03, 2010
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  • westiestimestwo rated this: 2 stars out of 5.

Pulitzer Prize, Oprah's Book club, apocalypse, cannibalism, fathers and sons, Nuclear war, survival, hard to read

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Sep 26, 2009
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  • gailygirl rated this: 5 stars out of 5.

The Road Movie

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Sep 02, 2009
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  • drewsattack rated this: 4.5 stars out of 5.

The Road

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