Cormac McCarthy: The Road

[A Boy Named Seo]

Just finished "The Road" by Cormack McCarthy. It's the haunting story of an unnamed father and son trudging through a dark, post-apocalyptic world following an unspecified (but probably nuclear) annihilation. As the two try to survive off the scorched, barren earth that provides nothing but more challenges, a beautiful bond forms between them as they both try to provide for each other and stay sane in a mad, new world. It's beautifully written, but dark, haunting, and a fucking depressing painting of desperate humans doing anything and everything to survive. Highly, highly recommend it.

[A Boy Named Seo]

cooby wrote: It does sound depressing. Does anybody else live, Seo?

It is depressing. Damn thing made me cry even, and it's hanging with me now, too.

There are other humans that survived, but in their desperate and starved conditions, none are trustworthy. The boy calls them "the bad guys" and clings to hope that there are other "good guys" out there somewhere. He's empathetic and hopeful, and it kills the father that their circumstances may crush that from him.

It's so good.

[Guest sharpie]

="OlerudOwned"] ="A Boy Named Seo"]It is depressing. Damn thing made me cry even, and it's hanging with me now, too. There are other humans that survived, but in their desperate and starved conditions, none are trustworthy. The boy calls them "the bad guys" and clings to hope that there are other "good guys" out there somewhere. He's empathetic and hopeful, and it kills the father that their circumstances may crush that from him. It's so good. Agreed, I loved it. And "fucking depressing" summed it up pretty nicely.

Also agreed on The Road. He's writing at the top of his game these days - a rare thing in a long career.