DH and I have both read it. DH thought it was harrowing in parts, and said he couldn't describe it as enjoyable, although he was glad he'd read it. I enjoyed it immensely, found it monotonous in parts but I wondered if that was intentional to add effect. Not sure that helps!

DP has just finished it and thought it was excellent. I am halfway through it and am pretty gripped too, although I was sceptical to start with. It's worth reading for his use of language alone. Would recommend.

Yes, one of the best books I've read in the last few years. Has stayed with me, as they say. Truly sobbed like a baby at teh end, found it very frightening.

i tried, i failed

I couldnt get into it
DH loved it thhough

I've just ordered it from the library to read next, since reading a bit about it when I saw it suggested for MN bookclub.
It's being made into a film just now too, starring whatsisname? Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. Out autumn, so a good time to get the book read.

It's very good. Very harrowing. I cried buckets but was transfixed.

DH loves Cormac McCarthy and has read all his books. I don't like them.

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it is fantastic - read it and weep.

Yes, and it nearly killed me. It is brilliant, but SO harrowing.

Oh, I only got to about page 3 and he's written "off of"
I hope the writing's okay - as I think I'll enjoy the story.

I read it in a oner and was petrified but totally gripped. I'm normally an optimistic person but it really made me fear for the world. I read PD James' 'The Children of Men' around the same time, thank god they both have a glint of hope. Must try to read something more cheery.

I think it is either someting you can't put down because it is so harrowing or something you can't read for more than ten mins for the same reason. I'm in the second category. Brilliant book but it was just too real to take in in large chunks for me. I'd recommend it!

I read it twice and wrote a 3000 word essay on it as part of my degree. I loved it, but if your looking for a book to cheer you up maybe its a bad choice. I found parts of it very scary the first time round.

I thought it was really gripping but really horrible at the same time iyswIm. I didn't actually 'enjoy' it. I read it quickly & I believe it's a good, quick read once you get into it- it took me a while- but it was bleak & sad. Devastating really.

I do wonder what the catastrophe was? Nuclear war? Some virus?

We're actually discussing it at our book club tonight

Update to say that everyone in our book club seemed to love this! So I suppose I should highly recommend it. They all said the writing is really striking (it is). It's spare, bleak but gets the point across. As I said before, personally I didn't enjoy it nor did I think it's destined to be a classic, but I did appreciate it as a good, very well written book.

I know what you mean Maria, it isn't exactly a book you could use the term "enjoy" with is it? I read this, stopped and then managed to finish it a couple of months later - my dad had just died the first time and the book was just too awful for me to continue.

I'm thinking nuclear war, and if I said why it would spoil the book for anyone who hasn't read it. <cough cough>

I have just finished this and did "enjoy" it. I expected to plod through it as something worthy but I was surprised at how accessible and gripping it is.

I couldn't get through it, too harrowing and really nothing happens.

It was recommended to me by someone who's opinion I trust though, so I'm obviously not up to it.

Just finished it. Feel like I've been kicked in the stomach.
leaves a lingering feeling for a while after.

Looking forward to the film
Says it's the same screenplay writer that did Enduring Love, I'm expecting it should be okay.

Oh God, a film. I don't know if I could watch it but probably will.

It is represented in pictoral form here