I’m not sure why but I enjoy reading post-apocalyptic stories. Stephen King’s The Stand is my favorite such story, followed by S.M. Stirling’s Dies the Fire and the rest of the books that follow.
I just finished Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, and while I found the writing style engaging, it didn’t grab me like the others. It would be silly to say the ending was not convincing, but when you reading about stories that are set in after THE END, that criticism is a waste of time.
Anyone else read this book? What do you think about it? Worth the time?
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Hi Miguel,This is what I wrote about The Road back in April 07:I just finished Cormac McCarthy’s allegorical The Road. No names, no dates, no technologies mentioned – only a bleak landscape populated by starving survivors of some unnamed cataclysm, all described in gorgeous language. Depressing enough that every 11th grade English teacher will slap it into his/her curriculum for years to come and royalties will flow into perpetuity. McCarthy is a smart guy.http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2007/4/22/sisyphus.htmlIt was written in reflection on frustration with having constantly update and re-write one’s professional materials.I did not care for The Road as much as I did for some of McCarthy’s other books like All the Pretty Horses. A little too bleak.And yes, The Stand is still about the best of the genre. If you can fine Hiero’s Journey, it’s good too.All the best,Doug
Hi Miguel,This is what I wrote about The Road back in April 07:I just finished Cormac McCarthy’s allegorical The Road. No names, no dates, no technologies mentioned – only a bleak landscape populated by starving survivors of some unnamed cataclysm, all described in gorgeous language. Depressing enough that every 11th grade English teacher will slap it into his/her curriculum for years to come and royalties will flow into perpetuity. McCarthy is a smart guy.http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/2007/4/22/sisyphus.htmlIt was written in reflection on frustration with having constantly update and re-write one’s professional materials.I did not care for The Road as much as I did for some of McCarthy’s other books like All the Pretty Horses. A little too bleak.And yes, The Stand is still about the best of the genre. If you can fine Hiero’s Journey, it’s good too.All the best,Doug
My book club read The Road last year to mixed reviews from the group. Some were absolutely enthralled with the post-apocalyptic tale and what man becomes when there is nothing left. Most of us had issues getting past how depressing the novel was. Personally, as a new mother, it was just too emotional for me to read about a man and his son trying to survive. But it always good (for me anyways) to read outside of my comfort zone. Besides there is always a good discussion when we don’t agree on the book 🙂
My book club read The Road last year to mixed reviews from the group. Some were absolutely enthralled with the post-apocalyptic tale and what man becomes when there is nothing left. Most of us had issues getting past how depressing the novel was. Personally, as a new mother, it was just too emotional for me to read about a man and his son trying to survive. But it always good (for me anyways) to read outside of my comfort zone. Besides there is always a good discussion when we don’t agree on the book 🙂
“Hiero’s Journey,” wow, Doug. I read that years ago! The guy who is part of a priestly caste and rides a moose or some other critter. Thanks for the memory. I’ll have to go find that book! Something to do on my visits to Half Price or Amazon.You know, that’s exactly right…these days, it seems that the more bleak the tale, the more likely it will be thrown into the curriculum. It’s as if the only way to reach today’s youth is to bring them to their knees with tragic tales of woe.Then, there is “Twilight,” vampiric love that puts a vampire in the place of protecting a human against other vampires while fighting its own nature. Ah well.I haven’t read McCarthy’s other books but will have to. My preferred genre is sci-fi and fantasy. I’ll have to keep investigating.Thanks,Miguel
“Hiero’s Journey,” wow, Doug. I read that years ago! The guy who is part of a priestly caste and rides a moose or some other critter. Thanks for the memory. I’ll have to go find that book! Something to do on my visits to Half Price or Amazon.You know, that’s exactly right…these days, it seems that the more bleak the tale, the more likely it will be thrown into the curriculum. It’s as if the only way to reach today’s youth is to bring them to their knees with tragic tales of woe.Then, there is “Twilight,” vampiric love that puts a vampire in the place of protecting a human against other vampires while fighting its own nature. Ah well.I haven’t read McCarthy’s other books but will have to. My preferred genre is sci-fi and fantasy. I’ll have to keep investigating.Thanks,Miguel