The Road is one of the saddest and most horrific books I have read in a long time. As a first time McCarthy reader, I had high expectations given his reputation and career of critical success, and The Road displayed how masterfully an author can deliver high emotions, vivid storytelling, and deep questions about human morality and meaning in a lean text. Post-apocalyptic dystopian novels are not my go-to, but The Road presents the genre at its very best. A little really goes a long way here. Instead of bogging the text down with explanations of what went wrong, the politics of the new world, and action-packed scenes, McCarthy offers the simple journey of one man and one boy, as they take life one day at a time in a world where death lurks around every corner. The simplicity of the narrative gives the real meaning behind the story room to breathe, and allows us as readers to observe how desperation and hardship affect a father and son, both as individuals, as well as their relationship. Through them, McCarthy asks so many important questions that we all can relate to: What is good and what is evil? What is the value of continuing on despite the inevitability of death? Does it help or hurt to dream? When should we put others before ourselves? What things are worth remembering and keeping when the future seems doomed?
This is not to say that there is no action or drama at all. And when threats and other characters show up, they leave a strong impression. There are multiple horrifying confrontations with cannibals, and the one in the house is particularly disturbing. Our protagonists are attacked, stalked, and confronted periodically throughout their journey, and even when they are going about their business in silence, the air of tension is palpable and will leave you holding your breath.
The one struggle I had with this book was that it took a while to settle into the narrative and the pacing. Much like George Saunders’ Lincoln In The Bardo, I would strongly recommend reading The Road in large chunks over a short period of time. Without marked chapters, the novel seems designed to be read as one continuous narrative, maybe even in a single sitting.
I will definitely read some of McCarthy’s other masterpieces in the future.
“The man watched him. Real life is pretty bad?
What do you think?
Well, I think we’re still here. A lot of bad things have happened but we’re still here.”
The Once and Future Lit 