Monday, January 11, 2010

The Road...The Book





I just finished reading The Road. It's the kind of book that I just need to talk about. Jon-Erik?? I admit, I read it  with caution. I am a sensitive reader and don't like to be bombarded with things that my brain can't handle, things that don't necessarily make a story better, but are there to shock, at least shock me. The book was surprisingly clean. I think the movie manages to fill in the gaps for the audience and make it rated R. That is one of the reasons I will not be seeing the movie. TMI: Too Much Information. I loved the book, as painful as it was to read at times. I felt like the author wrote so simply and didn't go into graphic details with some of the horrific scenes that take place, but allowed the reader to imagine those scenes at his/her own level. I had to keep reading. I felt like if I didn't, the characters in the book might die in my absence.  They couldn't possibly survive one more freezing night or day without food, if I put the book down. I wanted someone to tell me it was all going to be o.k. in the end, but I didn't dare ask Jon-Erik, because part of experiencing the story fully is the not knowing how it was going to go for the boy and his father. They didn't know. They could die and that would almost seem better than living after seeing what they must do to survive and how little there was to live for.  I don't want to spoil it for anyone. The most I will give you is this description on the back of the book:
THE SEARING, POSTAPOCTALYPTIC NOVEL DESTINED TO BECOME CORMAC McMARTHY'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 it's vision, The Road 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.
If anyone wants to do a book club with this book, I would love to. We can discuss it over lunch. Can you have a book club if you only meet once? I'm not asking for a long term commitment, just this book, this one time. Anyone interested??? I will gladly read it again and I recommend Thai food for our discussion, although I'm flexible on the food. Email me.



2 comments:

  1. Maria. This is Stephanie Larsen. I didn't want to say this on facebook just yet, but I started a blog myself! It's supposed to serve as my own personal book club... with myself... Anyway, I read a new book every month and then give my commentary. I'm set for January, but I could schedule The Road in for February?? I do adore Thai food.

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  2. maria, I read the book about 2 years ago...and it was so moving and stirring to my soul, I sent a copy to my mom to read, so I would have someone to discuss it with. Hauntingly good, and I'm now a big fan of the author. I'm glad you like it. I felt the father's deep level of protection for his son in a way that was urgent and complete (if you will). Absolutely amazing.

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