Rating: 4 out of 5
THE ROAD
by Cormac McCarthy. (Vintage Books, 2006)
Review by Erin Gurry
McCarthy has created an unforgettable post
apocalyptic world where a father and his son are
on a journey with one purpose. They are merely
attempting to exist. Pitifully hopeless, the duo
is forced to continue a desperate trek in search
of basic necessities. The boy, innocent, yet
perceptive and the father, driven by the need to
protect his son, proves to be an admirable
combination. They spend each day rummaging through
deserted houses and abandoned stores looking for
fuel and sustenance. Nights become a seemingly
unending time of anxiety and waiting. The cold is
worse than unbearable but to light a fire would be
a far greater risk, as the desperate times have
led others to pillaging and unimaginative acts of
cannibalism in an effort to survive. Their
drifting continues along desolate terrain, ashen
and barren streets, and deserted property where
optimism has become extinct.

McCarthy creates an utterly memorable relationship
between the two central characters. It is a
beautiful bond accurately capturing the turmoil of
a father concerned with the welfare of his child.
The vivid setting is captivating in it's authentic
interpretation of a world completely devoid of
civilized life. McCarthy has created an
exceptional read we can only hope will never
occur. The magnitude of The Road is an intense
account of determination and survival you must
read.

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