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)

Was just ok

For once the movie was on point and maybe better. Is what it is.

Dark, powerful book.

It wasn't an enjoyable read by any means, it was very compelling. I found myself gasping during certain sequences. The whispering and strain in the man's sections of the book left feeling a little speechless and despaired. I'd highly recommend this book and this narrator. I'm not sure if I'll come back to this book often, but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It's an amazing story, I think, for thinking about morality, duality, and hope.

Gutting.

Great story. Hard to listen to if you’re a parent. But a great story. Makes you appreciate life. 😢

do you want to cry?

if you read this book you will be taken on an emotional journey. this book will make you cry.

Amazing

I loved blood meridian and this book was really similar in tone and brutality. But there is hope.

Excellent

I’m shocked to see so many bad reviews. This is a beautiful tale of a fathers determination to fight against all odds to keep his son alive and reach a destination that may or may not exist. If you’re looking for something upbeat, this isn’t it. I personally love the book and the way the author is able to bring the reader (listener in my case) into this post apocalyptic world. Excellent writing and then narration was perfect.

Johny Johny—Yes Papa

Eating sugar? No papa. Telling Lies? No papa. Open your mouth. Ha ha ha. Classic Cormac 7/5.

Fell flat

Loved the style, specifically with the way conversations are written and they were performed so well in the audio.

Unfortunately it just felt like we went in a circle with the story to me. The characters didn’t seem to develop in any way which made it hard to care about them.

Up all night

I was glued to this book. Hit me in all of the feelers. Probably one of my top reads

Hauntingly sad but marvelous

As I wipe tears away I can only say that the book is a difficult one to listen to with a story of loss and hope. Narrator was excellent. The father was magnificent.