The Road

Over Thanksgiving break, I was able to take time and read Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." Though it was a little bit eerie and sometimes depressing, I think it is one of the most well-written books I have ever read. The setting is somewhat vague: sometime in the future after an enormous disaster has destroyed most of mankind and its resources. The characters are simply called the man and the boy, and the book is based on their journey "to the south" and their struggles along the way. Trust, love, religion and the difference between right and wrong are strong themes in the story that develop as the man and the boy come face to face with challenges not many Americans face today. Starvation, hypothermia, cannibalism and the temptation to lose hope are all around the corner, but the bond between father and son help keep their faith. (SPOILER!) The man eventually dies of a sickness he develops, leaving the boy alone in an unsafe and unpredictable world. McCarthy leaves this sad ending with some hope, however, when a group of travelers pick up the boy and provide him with food, comfort and a new family to travel with.
"The Road" made me consider how thankful I should be for the blessings I have. It was also a fantastic piece of descriptive writing that takes readers on a journey of a motions, making them think. "The Road" is a movie currently out in theaters, and I'm hoping to see it soon! Though I'm not sure it can measure up to the book, it seemed to get good reviews and the trailer looks compelling.