The Road by Cormac McCarthy

[MrFranklyShankly]

Hi all, I downloaded a sample chapter and think I was enjoying it, but I dont know!!! It's a bit on the expensive side on kindle (well more than I usually spend!!) so is it worth it??? Any reviews would be great, thanks a mil.

Frankly

Its wonderful and heartbreaking and got me a serious Cormac McCarthy habit.

You should be able to find it in paperback in charity shops though, I've seen it often.

It's beautifully written, and desperately grim. You'll never forget it, though you'll probably wish you could.

One of the best pieces of writing I have ever read - but so bleak & sad & desolate.

It's a very good book. Very well written. Very bleak.
I also saw the film.
It does stay with you.

I thought it was awful, extremely grim.

Worth reading, you will never forget it.

I read it three years ago and it is still with me. Incredibly harrowing.

I agree it does stick with you after reading it. I watched the film after I read the book and that was exactly how of imagined it.

Thanks so much for all the reviews folks....well I've got it (on kindle!!! ) thought I'd treat myself think I am going to enjoy it if that's the right thing to say! The fact so many of you said it stayed with you and made you question things, sounds like a book I'd want to read. Thanks again ;-)

I read it but wished I hadn't. Well written etc, but just so sad and desperate. The film traumatised me! (I saw the film then read the book to see if it was really that awful)(it was).

Brilliant book. Sad and depressing but beautiful.

I agree with Zachary. I will never-ever be able to forget it and wish I could.

Please, let us know what you thought about it.

It is pretty bleak. Similar in content to horror movies, if you like that sort of thing (I don't).

One of the best novels I've read. Very dark - but brilliant. His prose are marmite though - people love or hate the style. Couldn't face the film.

I love the author, but wish that I hadn't read this book. As a previous poster has said. it's stuck in my mind (and not in a good way) for years. I vastly prefer No Country for Old Men, especially the final paragraph, which is so beautiful.

Bleak as heck, but brilliant. I can't bring myself to re-read it. I read it while pg and I was a wreck.

Personally it did nothing for me but Dh read it twice and he never re reads books. He kept looking at me in disgust and muttering 'how the fuck can you not like it, it's brilliant?!'

I think he saw himself and ds walking the planet in survival mode

Then we had to watch the film too...

I watched the film first, and thought there was something ambiguous in one scene which could have been subtly pointing to a brighter future, so I had to read the book to see if it was intentional or not

I thought the book was brilliant though. So dark, but mind-blowing. I like his restrained writing style. I must try another of his books.

As others have said, brilliant but grim and very close to the film. There are definitely a few parts I wish I could forget though

Well now I'm reading it, I'm not so sure, it is REALLY bleak, dont know what to do finish it or not, it's really haunting or scary, I feel like I'm there and it give me the creeps a bit, don't know what to do, I'm reading it but my head wants me to close it up and stop but my hands won't let me!!! I really don't think I could hack the film, I'll keep going, even though I feel like I'm going to have to bleach the inside of my head after! The writing is sooooo good though, think that's what has me hooked ;-) maybe should have started with no country!

I was totally immersed in it, could not put it down.
Utter desolation. Fantastic.

I felt like you, MrFranklyShankly. I actually didn't want to finish it, but did. At the time I thought it was a brilliant novel, although unbearably bleak. However, as time has gone by since I read it (and it haunted me for a good few months) I began to feel that I'm not sure it is such a great work really - I felt manipulated and horrified, but what else? What is his point? There's no hope or redemption there, is there? Hmm ... still got mixed feelings. I gave away my copy - couldn't bear to have it in the house.

I think I prefer On the Beach by Neville Shute. Just as bleak, somehow not so grim.

One of the very few books I have never finished. Hated it.
DH read it after me - finished the last page & promptly launched it across the room, declaring it was the worst book he'd ever read!

I started reading it on a plane last year, got about 3/4 through and we landed. It went missing and when I found it I'd forgotten where I'd got up to (it's on a shelf about 2feet away from me, I'm going to have to finish it aren't I?)