Book Review - The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Title: The Road
Author: Cormac McCarthy
Genre: Fiction/ Dystopia
Published: 2006
 
Description: A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food – and each other.
 
Review: In this gripping story by Cormac McCarthy, a father and sone are on their way to the cost. All they have in their possession is a shopping cart with a few belongings and a gun. Fortunately, they still have each other, because the road is long and life is hard.
 
In “The Road”, the world no longer looks as we know it. There is no more harvest, houses and stores have been looted, the only holdout is the road to the coast. Even though the father is almost certain there is nothing at the coast, there is still a glimmer of hope for his son.
 
Father and son continue to follow the road, but at the same time must be careful not to be seen by anyone else. Because it is every man for himself, you never know when someone has bad intentions. The father explained to his son that they carry the fire and therefore belong on the good side. On the bad side you have the people who steal or worse: kill other people.
 
In a world that has almost perished, everything is allowed. There a no more laws. The book is gripping, terrifying and emotional. As a reader, you get a certain picture of humanity as father and son try to survive in this post-apocalyptic world. Do you choose to survive for yourself or are there other options? Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is it hopeless?
 
The names of the father and son are never mentioned, yet the story feels personal and close. It is as if, as a reader, you are walking with them to the shore. You hope for the father and son that there is more than the road. The father has already seen a lot and his son, despite everything, is still innocent. The young boy knows nothing else, he was raised in this world.
 
It’s not a very spectacular book, it’s focused on the characters, not so much on the plot. It’s a slow book, which may scare you. There is some repetition here and there and there are some moments that drag a little bit. But for the rest, “The Road” is a fantastic book.
 
Rating: 4/ 5