The Road

[Yamu]

I just finished up with Cormac McCarthy's new novel, The Road, and I was wondering if anyone else had had the chance yet. The narrative style took a bit of getting used to, but once I made the concession that the book was written in paragraphs rather than chapters, I couldn't stop reading.

This is one of those stories that I can't comparitively say is "better" or "worse" than other Post-Apoc fiction because of the "apples to oranges" factor. It's not your typical wasteland narrative, and honestly, I don't know WHAT to call it... it's not a character study, it's not a series of vignettes, "literary portrait" is far too cheesy... the book left something with me, though, a vivid and indelible image that I'm glad I'll never be able to lose. It's wasteland is probably one of the starkest I've ever encountered, and this is one of the few PA books I've ever read that have succeded in giving me an emotional impression of the true bleakness of life after civilization, that've ever left the survivability of the main characters in real question. Life is cursed and death is arbitrary and no one here has a sense of humor about it.

Anyone else have any impressions?

 

[4too]

''The Road'', On The Road

''The Road'', On The Road





Am preparing for a Thanksgiving Holiday trip.

Went shopping today for the traditional largesse I dispense to the many players in our extended family, gift boxes of cookies and calendars, odd stuffed creatures, and bargain bin software.

Found a CD version, unabridged for half the price of the typical 'new' released audio books.

Was planning on listening to 11th, 12th, 13th volumes of Patrick O' Brian's Audrey / Maturin series during the trip. Seven to 7.5 hours plus with two gas and or pee stops. Long hours intercede as I am passed between the relations.

So in the midst of all this celebration of plenty and modern American mobility ...
I will listen to ''The Road'' as I drive south, tomorrow morning.



Will have a tenuous dial up connection at my destination, so any commentary may have to wait or be lost in the hustle of the the season.


Almost 5 p.m., not a lot of day light left.
Uncle 4too's got to pack the rusty truck and start wrapping those token offerings.

Driving weather looks good for late November, no freezing rain to evoke the Cumberland Blues as I down shift to climb the Gap.






4too

 

[Bradylama]

My English professor recommended the book, and having read up to page 76, I'm very impressed so far. I'm saving the rest for the Christmas trip to Louisiana, though. Right now I've found myself caught up in The Lies My Teacher Told Me.

 

[Yamu]

Mmm. Great book as long as it's read as a footnote to history and not a replacement. Probably won't tell you too much you didn't already know, but it's nice to have concrete details to quote.

And 4too: drive safe and have a good trip, man.

 

[4too]

Shades Of Gray

Shades Of Gray



Yamu,

I am not sure if I missed this detail, how old do you think the boy is?
It's the only time passage record that comes to mind.

This is a world of everlasting overcast and perpetually blowing ash.
A land where the sun don't shine and lost track of time.

A gray dessert of twilight and night.

Knowing the count of years the survivors have been picking over the ruins,
might convey to others how bleak this post apocalypse is portrayed.

Was hustled through the Green Valley Book Fair yesterday,
one hour , twenty minutes, and 44 dollars plus change the poorer.
Occurred to me that all books described in The Road are soggy wads of decomposing fiber. Hardly the intellectual foundation of reconstruction that blessed the monasteries of another post apocalypse, romantically / unromantically labeled ''The Dark Ages"".

Survival horror.

Survival horror so starved of the dramatic pornography of nex gen action adventure (with rPG elements) that a TV budget could easily handle the screen play.
TV only?
Or anorexic indi showing at Redford's mountain festival.
Too literary lean to anticipate EA, Atari, and especially BethSoft contriving a video game that MUST be bundled with every movie release under this brave new, nex gen marketing horizon.






4too