The Road

In a sentence, I enjoyed this book, but for me, the hub-bub surrounding it wasn't warranted.

At a time when post-apocalyptic has become chic, it's not surprising that The Road would cross my path. The text is narrated well, and McCarthy struck a nice balance in his descriptions. I was appropriately “in” his world without having to be brow-beaten by flowery adjectives. With the writing, I appreciated the focus on a sense to orient the reader. I felt empathy for the main characters, and of course, I was glad to see the boy have a chance to soldier on.

The language effectively puts the reader on notice at times when the man and boy are alone, seemingly waiting for something to happen. McCarthy puts me on-guard, waiting for something to happen on the next page, just as the characters were waiting for something to befall them just around the next bend. While that was effective, it muted the action that did occur. The horror of knowing the people in the basement would be eaten - bland because the reader is the keyed up for the entire trip leading up to exploring that house. In this sense, art mirrors life (as any of us living through the Covid-19 pandemic can attest), but it put the book at a steady flat-line for me.

Overall, I'm glad I read this, and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to build up their contemporary classic repertoire. When all is said and done, though, I just wanted a little more.