The Road
Narrarated by: Tom Stechschulte
© 2006 by M-71, Ltd.
New territory for McCarthy: a post apocalyptic landscape where readers meet a man who recalls a better world and a boy who doesn't. With all the trademarks of vintage McCarthy–a man and his young son, a blasted American landscape, sparse prose that is at once brutal and tender–The Road further cements McCarthy's stature as one of America's greatest living novelists.
McCarthy’s bleakest, most harrowing and most intimate novel
In the ash-strewn world of a post-apocalyptic U.S., a father and son trudge their way towards the coast in Cormac McCarthy’s bleak, ascetic novel. In the grip of permanent nuclear winter, the western U.S. has become like something out of Mad Max. Roving bands of scavengers patrol the few remaining roads, searching for victims to rob, rape and eventually eat. Although the unnamed father tells his small boy that they’re the “good guys,” they seem to be the only ones left, the last vestige of civilization in a land bereft of hope. McCarthy’s characteristically laconic prose is as immaculate as shards of bone, scattered across the lifeless terrain like the remains of some long-dead species. McCarthy’s most harrowing novel is also his most intimate and spiritual, posing the question of whether faith is the last bulwark against despair, or merely a fool’s inability to accept the end when it comes.
It is difficult to use words to describe a writer as gifted as Mr. McCarthy. Needless to say, others have recognized his talent as a writer so I won't speak about that. My comments are from the perspective of a reader who was so deeply emotionally involved with his characters and their plight that I could not separate myself from their existence. This novel is so finely wrought that the reader cannot fail to actually experience the emotional condition of the characters. I am forever affected by this story and how it was told. It has become a metaphor that I can use for my living a more conscious and conscientious life.
The story is simple. The characters are simple. There is innocence, repentant, and evil in a world destroyed. McCarthy uses his mastery of word to weave a tapestry of an apocalyptic world that is breathtaking in the absolute void of anything beautiful. In that world of dust and ash and mud, a road from nowhere to nowhere is traveled by a man and his boy. Their love for each other shines all the brighter for the bleakness of the background. The narrator, Tom Stechschulte, does a masterful job of depicting with his voice the character of the world and its few travelers. He was easy to listen to and easy to understand. Character identification was easily recognized both in vocal distinction and personality. This is worth listening to if for no other reason than to experience the mastery of the written word.
I think that Cormac McCarthy is our greatest living writer of fiction. I've read everything he's written since "All the Pretty Horses." This book is as great is the others ... but it is quite depressing. If you thought that he couldn't possibly write a book that is more depressing than No Country for Old Men ... well, think again. Anyway, if you're looking for something light, then look elsewhere. If you're looking for a great post-apocalyptic novel that will make you think, then you've found the one.
I don't think Cormac McCarthy is capable of writing a bad sentence. Though bleak, this book offers glimmers of hope and transcendence, and ultimately redemption. Contrary to walters.billy's statement, I think Tom Stechschulte's narration is excellent, possibly one of the best I've ever listened to. His gruff reading matches perfectly McCarthy's sparse language and dialog.
A post-apocalyptic story that is considerably predictable, with few surprises. Most of the story continues with a rote description of events, that after a while starts to sound repetitive. This indeed may be the post-apocalyptic future, perhaps that is the point. To that extent it is believable. Indeed, much of the story is believable. It seldom gets exciting. It was interesting to listen to, but at the end, I did not feel much enlightened. Good narrative style.
McCarthy's words ensnare the listener in a grim and harrowing landscape marked by the endless gray ash remaining from some cataclysmic disaster left unidentified. Each line etches itself into the mind forming pictures of a world where the only concern is that of day to day survival. Here, the man and his boy trek from one deserted residence to the next, hoping to find relief from the bitter cold that encapsulates the land. The narration is strong and successfully held my attention throughout the journey. There are times when the inflection he gives to the man and the boy seems a bit odd, but it doesn't detract from the reading. In fact, by the end of the story, I'd grown quite fond of the way the characters were portrayed. The strangeness with which some of the lines are delivered is part of what gives them a unique voice––makes them human. Captivating composition + extraordinary storytelling = a transporting experience, making this complex world of ours look rather silly.
Undoubtedly well written in the CMC style but, God, how depressing? It left me thinking - why would anyone want to write this? Not recommended for lifting the spirit.
I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The story starts off with little introduction. You're dropped into the United States a few years after a horrific event (Large meteor, nuclear war?). After about 30 minutes, I couldn't stop listening. The narration was strong and dramatic. This is not a pleasant story, but in a strange way I found it to be an uplifting story of survival.
Audiobooks live and die by the performance of the narrator, and this one is sub par at best. We listened to this while driving through the wilds of west Texas - an apropos setting for a Cormac McCarthy book if there ever was one - and pretty soon were giggling at the voices given to the main characters. A shame, too, because we enjoyed his regular voice, but the inflections he gave to the Father and Son characters were just too silly. Pass this one by, folks.
I didn't exactly enjoy this, but it certainly didn't bore me. I looked forward to listening to each successive session, but with a sad sort of acceptance akin to the boy in the story. It couldn't end happily - and read/listen to this for a short time and you'll agree that's not giving anything away. Afterwards I explained the situation in the story to my husband and found that we had different views about what we would have done in the same situation. Not too surprising as he is a Christian and I'm atheist. So yes, one to think about. Also the narrator is faultless.
