The Road by Cormac McCarthy — Book Review

I read this novel when it first came out in 2008, I was about to enter teenage years, and had no idea what to expect but fear. Slightly similar, if I may, to the novel background.

Back then I went to bookstores quite often(still now) stumbling upon Ian McEwan and Cormac McCarthy’s work. Later became fan of both.

The Road is simple and pure. No redundant narration or dialogue — — — A child and his father walked on the deserted land after a catastrophe destroyed the earth. They were heading for the seashore. The mother left long time ago for unknown reasons.

They met dying people who were trying to steal food from them, they met people who tried to ripped their belongings.

The child’s questions are simple, but not easy.

“Will we eat human beings?”

“No, we won’t.”

“But we just saw others did.”

“I will make sure that won’t happen to you.”

“Does God exist?”

“If we keep hoping, he will. “

Calm and tranquil. Contratry to the impression of the content background, the novel has a calming presence. We are all dying anyways, and the worst has already happened.

I didn’t see how this novel has to do with environmental protection, I see it as a means of striving to survive even after you know chances are little.

When they finally marched to the seashore, the father realized he was dying. But he passed on that image of fatherhood to someone else — — with strong faith, he told the child, “ Be strong. You’ll meet nice people for sure. Just be careful. And you can do good without me. I’ve passed on all the necessary skills to you.”

The moment the kid went out of the hidden bush where his father’s body layed, he met a guy who asked him if he’d like to join his family.

“ Are you a good man?”

“ I don’t know. But I think I am. Where is your father? “

“ He died. “

“ Could you show me his body? Just to make sure nothing left. ”

The kid led the guy to his father’s body, and they took all they needed, and covered the father with a blanket.

When the kid was back on the main road, a woman showed up and smiled, “Oh, you! Come here! “

So they marched, continuously to the unknown deserted land.

If everything was destroyed, what would be the purpose of life?

Strange as it seems, this is my bedside novel. I felt calmed and soothed. Almost 15 years later, I picked it up and read it again. The road seemed endless, and yet hopeful.