The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Warning to those who appreciate lighthearted stories: this one is heartrending.

In The Road, McCarthy paints a landscape of ruin. Ash covers every surface, from the ground to the trees and abandoned buildings. Even the snow and rain carries ash. No more birds or fish or animals and very few people. Perhaps this is the result of nuclear fallout. The catastrophe is never specifically explained, but this is something mankind brought upon itself, and its effects are worldwide. The things that once were - the modern conveniences we take for granted - are a thing of the past. Against the bleak landscape, relationships are distilled and masks fall away. In such a world, survival is the rule.

The main characters in The Road are a man and his son. They are traveling across the once United States from somewhere in the north to the southern coast, and this book is the story of that journey. The two are never named in the story. They are simply called 'the man' and 'the boy,' and this seems very intentional: even their individuality, their names, are casualties in a dead world.

This new world of ash and soot is dangerous. The man and boy are constantly looking for food to eat and useful supplies, but there are worse dangers than hunger. Small bands of strong and armed people have people enslaved, and cannibalism is common. Bands of men roam the countryside, brandishing guns and iron bars with which to terrorize others. Anarchy is the rule of the day.

And yet ... And yet, the man and the boy are still a father and son. The man cherishes the boy and exists to protect and guide him. When he feels like giving up, thoughts of the boy keep him carrying on.

A father's love for his son shows through clearly throughout, but there is a special sweetness in scenes like the one when they find a Coca-Cola. The man opens the can and gives it to the boy to drink. He tries to give him the whole can, but the boy insists that his dad have some too. The boy complains about having to keep an eye on his father; otherwise, the man would take care of his son and not take enough care of himself.

Their conversations add further texture and realism to the characters. Many, many times, the man will explain something to the boy (in answer to a question) and then say, "okay?" The boys replies, "okay." And the man follows up with one more, "okay." If he thinks the boy is upset with him, the man will ask, "Are you talking?" meaning, "Are you talking to me?" I'm not doing it justice here, but in the context of the story, these conversations sound genuine.

For the man and the boy, there is a constant tension between helping others and preserving their own lives. The boy wants to help people, but the man has to be realistic. He tries to show mercy for the sake of the child. To the boy, he and his father are "the good guys" and they "carry the fire."

This story moves along well. The writing is fast-paced and moving, and it brings up a lot of heavy questions. When he misses the world that once was, the man is sometimes sad, but more often angry. His anger often comes out at God, and he wrestles with questions of meaning. It's not enough to bog down the story or turn it into a theological treatise, but it lends a great deal of believeability to the book.

I really had a difficult time sticking with The Road. It's well written, engaging, but very sad. I started reading this once before and quit, because it depressed me. Still, at the recommendation of a good friend, I took another stab at it. This time, though, I listened to the audio version in the car. And I'm glad I did! The reader was very engaging, keeping the story moving and using distinct voices and realistic tones for the voices.

Now, one last consideration: Is this a book for your younger teens to read? No. Absolutely not. I don't think that most of them would stick with this one anyway. The subject matter is brutal, the descriptions of dead bodies too much.

I am glad I read this one. There are beauties and realities that strike a stark contrast to the death and destruction surrounding the main characters. This story is thoughtful. It's both depressing and healthy to consider the true depravity of mankind.

Maybe that's one reason I appreciated the audiobook so much. I didn't have the opportunity to put the book down and think about it too long. I couldn't re-read passages. And that's okay.