Kevin Lau

My mother listened to the audio book, my father watched the movie, and here I am, having just finished a printed copy of this magnificent book.

A man and his son walk a road in a post-apocalyptic world with one goal: Make it south, to the coast, to survive the winter. With only a pistol with two bullets, their supplies in a grocery cart, and each other, they struggle to survive from starvation and avoid the danger that lurks in the darkness that surrounds them.

“The Road”, in itself, is a masterpiece. It is a collection of poems written simply and used to tell the story (so, yeah, cool your jets, grammar nazis). The story is intriguing, the details vivid, and the prose gripping. The world Cormac McCarthy creates is realistic and quite disturbing. There were times when reading the book when I cringed or had to re-read some parts because I couldn't believe what I had just read. And the overall stories of good and evil and a bond between a father and son are extremely well executed.

“The Road” is perhaps one of the best of the post-apocalyptic genre, being both well-written and containing a great plot and great characters.

A high-concept sci-fi drama that spirals into surrealism. Can't recommend it enough to those who want something simultaneously emotionally gripping and philosophical while keeping you on the edge of your seat while the protagonist spirals into madness under the pressure of looming death and what it means to those around him.

A really good epistolary novel that gets a bit frustrating at times for not trusting the reader enough to grasp subtext. There's a small, but prominent, subplot regarding unsent letters that feels like it's cheating the narrative to explain things that can already be understood through the sent letters, creating a sense of mystery and tension that ends up being both predictable and softens the blow of the ending. Other than that, though, it's a decent read!

This being so popular might be one of the best things to happen to pop culture. Yeah, it's an easy read that's meant to be fast paced, really catering to the ADHD mindset, BUT, woven through its silly premise and low-brow humor are great characters learning to hold onto their humanity in times of uncertain doom. Empathy fuels this book, and I can't wait to see it further explored.

Feels like Brandon Sanderson writing on autopilot, but not in the same vein as Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians. There's a decent skeleton to the story here, but would have greatly benefited from having more time in the oven.