The Road

By: Cormac McCarthy

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2007

America is a barren landscape of smoldering ashes, devoid of life except for those people still struggling to scratch out some type of existence. Amidst this destruction, a father and his young son walk, always toward the coast, but with no real understanding that circumstances will improve once they arrive. Still, they persevere, and their relationship comes to represent goodness in a world of utter devastation.

Bleak but brilliant, with glimmers of hope and humor, The Road is a stunning allegory and perhaps Cormac McCarthy's finest novel to date. This remarkable departure from his previous works has been hailed by Kirkus Reviews as a "novel of horrific beauty, where death is the only truth".

McCarthy, a New York Times best-selling author, is a past recipient of the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. He is widely considered one of America's greatest writers.

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Critic reviews

"McCarthy's prose retains its ability to seduce...and there are nods to the gentler aspects of the human spirit." (The New Yorker)
"One of McCarthy's best novels, probably his most moving and perhaps his most personal...Every moment of The Road is rich with dilemmas that are as shattering as they are unspoken...McCarthy is so accomplished that the reader senses the mysterious and intuitive changes between father and son that can't be articulated, let alone dramatized...Both lyric and savage, both desperate and transcendent, although transcendence is singed around the edges...Tag McCarthy one of the four or five great American novelists of his generation." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)

A Father's Love

Couldn't stop listening to this artfully woven tale of a father's love for his son in this post apocalyptic story of tragedy and triumph on the road. So many layers in McCarthy's prose.

Amazing story

Expertly written. Sparse use of language but extremely powerful. First book to make me cry in a very long time.

Impossible to say in “how many stars?”

What this story is worth. I was only able to listen about 30 minutes at a time and then I would spend some time weeping. This is nothing like “apocalyptic novels “I have read before. There is no romance no adventure and very little “cool information about how to survive a disaster“. If there is “redemption“ it is hidden… Which is truthful. Really a kind of masterpiece. But brutal.

Great narration and heartbreaking story.

Very quick read. This story is poignant, emotional and personal. You find yourself cheering for the father and son and crying along with their losses.

Masterful Audible Performance!

If you could sum up The Road in three words, what would they be?

Struggle, empty, existence

What about Tom Stechschulte’s performance did you like?

Absolutely incredible performance. He brought the characters to life in that way that draws you in and makes you feel like you know them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book created a feeling of emptiness which made even the touching & tender moments less compelling & emotional. In a world mostly void of care in almost any regard it makes it difficult for a reader to connect. However, that being said I DID get somewhat emotional a few times.

Any additional comments?

The writing is creative and at times poetic. However the writing is trumped by the unbelievability of the setting & story. There's almost a Mad Max feel to the story. There's nothing wrong with that, but I felt torn as to how I am supposed to view where this world came from.

Captivating Road Trip Story

Loved it! A perfect read for our 9 hour road trip. Chilling and thought provoking story of a highly likely (sadly) post apocalyptic human experience.

Incredible

So descriptive and emotion evoking. I will read this book several times. Now to download more from this author. Love it!

Sparse But Beautiful

As I started this book, I immediately felt the sense that I was rereading The Gunslinger and that wasn't such a good thing since I did not particularly enjoy that book. As the book progressed, however, I settled into McCarthy's sparse prose. His story is simple but quite compelling and the setting is truly the protagonist of this book. The post-devastation wasteland is horrific and fundamental questions of quality of life, human existance, spirituality float in and out of the dialogue between father and son that is central to the book. I had so many questions that were left unanswered like HOW? WHY? WHEN? WHO? WHERE? But then it was clear that none of this really mattered to the characters - only survival and keeping on keeping on down the road were what mattered.

You will never forget this book

This book is often depressing, and always bleak. There were times when I just wanted to turn it off so that I would not have to endure what I feared was coming next. It is one of the three best books I have ever read or listened to in my 47 years on this planet. If you get this book, you will not regret it.

Amazing narration!

Beautiful story made even more beautiful by the narrator. It came to life with every word. Highly recommend!