The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Unabridged, 1 Jun 2007) Paperback

In a way, this book is responsible for my aversion to post-apocalyptic lit. I saw the movie adaptation of this when it came out, and of course knew that it came from McCarthy’s novel. The movie is bleak, to say the least, and I’ve thought back to it literally every time I’ve even considered watching or reading another piece of dystopian fiction. So having decided to give the novel a shot, I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it. “Enjoyed” might not be quite the right word, but it’s pretty close. The writing, obviously, is powerful & well executed. The characterizations are also suprisingly robust. I found myself really absorbed and, despite all reason & evidence, hopeful. The tenacity and strength inherent in this man and his son are impossible to deny, and hard to avoid catching. I can’t deny that the novel earns its reputation for desolation & bleakness. But as a whole, that was not the effect that I found it had on me. I actually did enjoy it.

Not for me. Kept waiting, No explanation of what was going on or how it came to be.