The Road

The Road, by Cormac McCarthy, is what I would consider a quick but lingering read. The story was engaging and at some points I felt like I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. While I seemed to fly through the story, when the last page was turned, it was still with me.

The story depicts the travels of a young boy and his father, making their way through the ash-stricken land they used to call home. The man is able to recall the past-the days when the sun would shine and when the ocean was blue-but the only life the boy knows is trying to survive on the road. The relationship between the man and the boy, who remain nameless the entire story, fluctuates as tensions between them rise and fall. The boy has an inherit goodness about him, trying his best to encourage his father to see the best in people, but their situation almost forces the man to question everything and everyone. However, there is a bond shared between them that is strong and fierce; they depend on each other at every moment. It is touching to see how the two of them respond to the events that transpire, and how they are able to grow and learn from each other.

Throughout the story, both characters pose unanswerable questions that force the reader to almost reevaluate their own life. The story leaps off the pages, and while it is a dark and dreary tale, it conjures up some feelings of hope. During a time when humanity has reached its bottom, the boy and the man are able to demonstrate love and charity. They are determined to 'carry the fire' no matter what they encounter.

The writing is lovely, and McCarthy uses his writing style to ensure the reader understands the bleak life of his characters. It is one continuous story, with no chapter breaks, just like the road the boy and the man are traveling. There is no way out; the only way to get through it is to keep going. And it's worth it.