The future seems bleak. Nuclear holocaust has destroyed what was formally a magnificent world. No living thing remains other than human beings; no cows or chickens, no geese, not even any insects or trees. The entire world is gray. There are simple pleasures in life. A can of coke, dusty with grime, seemingly centuries old. Some seeds, not tasty, but edible. And then there is the boy. The boy knows nothing of comfort, and yet he never complains. The man remembers the night he was born almost as vividly as he remembers the night his wife left. He knows the boy will not make it through the winter, and so he travels. He travels even without possessions, almost without hope, to the South, toward the sea. Will they make it? Only time will tell.
Cormac McCarthy is one of America's most celebrated novelists. Born in 1933, he has written ten books, including The Road and No Country for Old Men. His 1985 book Blood Meridian won the honor of being among books chosen for Time magazine's list of 100 best books written between 1923 and 2005. His book The Road was also listed in 2005 as Time Magazine's best book written in the last ten years. There is speculation that McCarthy will at one point be nominated for the Nobel prize in literature, as well.
The Road is an astounding tale of nature and perseverance, of hope and deliverance. It is appropriate for all audiences young adult and up, and is sure to be on any avid reader's wish list.
"McCarthy doesn't flinch in describing the brutality of human nature in the absence of law and moral code, yet provides a tender love story between a man and his son as they struggle to survive through a post-apocalyptic world. The Road shows us the importance of not necessarily spirituality or religion, but rather faith in humanity and oneself. This novel's no-nonsense style had a grip on me from page 1, and reaffirmed that for all of us, perception IS reality."
— Andy (5 out of 5 stars)
A powerful tale of a post-apocalyptic world. A man and his son make a journey through devastation, a journey of peril and hope and survival. The winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for literature. An Oprah pick and an American Library Association notable bo
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“Illuminated by extraordinary tenderness…Simple yet mysterious, simultaneously cryptic and crystal clear. The Road offers nothing in the way of escape and comfort. But its fearless wisdom is more indelible than reassurance could ever be.”
— New York Times“The Road is a wildly powerful and disturbing book that exposes whatever black bedrock lies beneath grief and horror. Disaster has never felt more physically and spiritually real.”
— Time“The Road is the logical culmination of everything [McCarthy]'s written.”
— Newsweek“A dark book that glows with the intensity of [McCarthy’s] huge gift for language…Why read this?…Because in its lapidary transcription of the deepest despair short of total annihilation we may ever know, this book announces the triumph of language over nothingness.”
— Chicago Tribune“No American writer since Faulkner has wandered so willingly into the swamp waters of deviltry and redemption…[McCarthy] has written this last waltz with enough elegant reserve to capture what matters most.”
— Boston Globe“We find this violent, grotesque world rendered in gorgeous, melancholic, even biblical cadences…Few books can do more; few have done better. Read this book.”
— Rocky Mountain News“The love between the father and son is one of the most profound relationships McCarthy has ever written.”
— Christian Science Monitor" This book is a tombstone. Let's hope we never see it come to pass. "
— Tim, 2/7/2014" An interesting take on a post apocalyptic America. Sad story line but keeps your interest through out. Decent but sad ending. "
— Hilarry, 1/31/2014" Sparse prose that is as bleak as the story it tells. Completely believable dialogue (such as it is). You really believe that the two characters are living the story and feel for them at every turn. Probably the most heart-wrenching book I have read. "
— Ian, 1/18/2014" With limited conversation between characters, the author manages to show their connection and struggle. "
— Rai, 12/31/2013" One of the most haunting books I've ever come across. Beautifully written, emotional, cold, and heartbreaking, with a strain of regret and longing that gets across the existential and Gnostic overtones of everyday existence. "
— Jordan, 12/28/2013" The atomspherics if this novel are exceptional, but I found the story itself to be rather trivial. In my view, the only reason it became so popular, other than being short, is that it portrays a father doing what a father is supposed to do, protect his son to the best of his ability. In the male-bashing culture of contemporary America, that is seen as news, and may well account for why Oprah chose it for her book club. "
— James, 12/28/2013" Realmente devastador, mental y emocionalmente. La logra completa de principio a fin. "
— Agustina, 12/14/2013" A compelling tale, but it irked me on a technical level - I can't wait until I'm such a big name in publishing that I don't have to bother with proper punctuation.., "
— Tessa, 11/15/2013" I loved this book! Well written and great for those whol love the appocolyptic type of books. "
— Amie, 10/10/2013" The story is gripping. I had a very hard time putting the books down. It starts and stops abruptly, so I was somewhat confused at these points. The best way to describe it is walking into a movie about ten minutes late and leaving ten minutes early. The middle of the book is really great, though. "
— Michael, 9/21/2013" Very creepy apocalyptic vision of America after the bomb. "
— Lily, 8/1/2013" The only things worth living for are impossible. "
— Ephemera, 6/28/2013" Agreed with the Guardian that this was probably the best book of the 00s. Read it in one day. Just devastating. "
— Lorelei, 6/24/2013" Bleak and profound. I listened to it on audiobook, so some of the oddly structured paragraphs were probably easier to digest than if I had read it. "
— Jay, 6/10/2013" Love me some apocalyptic fiction and this is at the top of the list "
— Forrestt, 3/31/2013" almost soothing in its rhythm and repetitiveness and the insane, impossible beauty of the writing style. "
— Maud, 3/29/2013" Ok read, not on my list to recommend "
— Gjst, 3/27/2013" depressing, along with the somber tone of the book made it very hard to read, but at the same time beautiful... "
— Anne, 3/7/2013" I had to read it for a college course, but I'm glad I did. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. A VERY morbid look at what the future could bring if we ever experience the apocalypse. Highly recommend it. "
— Joe, 12/15/2012" Loved it. Evoked deeply emotional and visceral reactions. I cried like a baby. "
— Jason, 12/2/2012" I enjoyed this book, even though it was rough to get through. I would pass on this one if you are depressed in any way. I think the main take away from this book is that life sucks, and then you die. "
— Matt, 11/6/2012" Empty. Empty and hopeless are my two words for this story. A sad and touching journey of father and son. Very early you sense how this journey is going to end, but you hope for better all the way through. "
— Timo, 11/1/2012" Grim and great... His prose is always spot on. "
— Lapse, 10/12/2012" Loved this book. A somewhat hard read if you are the father of a young son. "
— Frank, 7/2/2012" A daunting and powerful book. It haunted me for days after reading it. I loved it, but it is not for everyone. The darkness and desolation in it are piercing; the glimmer of hope in it is inspiring. "
— Tracy, 2/5/2012" Phenomenal. One of the top five books I've ever read. Never have I seen despair so honestly, fully, and beautiful. His prose is like poetry. Absolutely breath-taking in every way. "
— Chrissyfred, 6/30/2011" Maybe my favourite book of all time, 'The Road' perfectly represents a complicated relationship between father and son. Everything else is just context. "
— Rebecca, 6/30/2011" i loved this book. it had its slow moments but it was a great read. the only thing i didn't like is the fact the mr McCarthy doesn't use quotation marks which makes it sorta hard to read =/ but it was a great book. but be warned its a tear jerker<br/> "
— Dobbs, 6/30/2011" Cormac McCarthy out does himself with this piece of writing. His style's cut and dry. If you'd like to know the symbolism behind his use of the only one name throughout the book, Elijah, I'll tell you if you email me. However, you must first prove to me that you read it. "
— LP, 6/29/2011" One of the most disturbing books I've ever read "
— Daniel, 6/29/2011" Just amazing. The story is simple. The language makes it. "
— Materurbium, 6/28/2011" McCarthy's Faulkneresque stream of consciousness writing style took some getting used to. I was hooked from there. This is one of the few works of fiction I have read in the last decade that has stuck with me. It makes you think long after it's over. "
— Jennifer, 6/28/2011" Very dark, well written novel. Probably the darkest book I've ever read. It engrossed me. "
— Maryrsmith, 6/28/2011" Not sure how to rate this. Good riveting read, different style, great survival details... not sure I really get it though! "
— Kathy, 6/27/2011" Still, a day does not go by without me thinking about this book! Very graphic...hopefully will never happen! "
— Christina, 6/27/2011" Punchy writing of a dreary and sad trek of father and son in a wasteland...I skipped ahead so many times nbut the book never got better for me... "
— Linda, 6/27/2011" I didn't like this book when I first started reading it -- I found it very difficult to get into. However, I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Then, though, then it was over. "
— Megan, 6/26/2011Cormac McCarthy (1933-2023) was an award-winning American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. The Road won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. All the Pretty Horses won the National Book Award. His works adapted to film include All the Pretty Horses, The Road, and No Country for Old Men—the latter film receiving four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture.
Tom Stechschulte (1948–2021) was an acclaimed narrator and winner of the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He had been a college athlete and business major when a friend dared him to audition for a play. He got the part and traded the locker room for the dressing room, eventually taking him to New York City and to recording audiobooks.