The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I picked this book up after reading the back cover because it sounded riveting.  In addition, I saw that it had been made into a movie (with Viggo Mortensen)...bonus!  Here's what drew me in:

"A father and his son walk alone through burned America.  Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind.  It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray.  The sky is dark.  Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there.  They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food--and each other."

Yowza!  Doesn't that make you want to read?

So then I pick it up to read (I've had it on my bookshelves for several months) and I do like I always do with new authors - I look at other things written by him or her.  Oh boy!  He also wrote No Country For Old Men!  That was a f&$ked up movie.  What am I getting myself into?  Well, let me tell you - this book was A) a FAST read and B) a mind bender!  Truly a depressing book where I kept waiting for crazy shit to jump out at me.  The way the back cover reads, I was expecting a mix between 28 Days, I Am Legend, War of the Worlds, The Walking Dead...craziness.  In the end - and I won't ruin it for you - the author certainly created a dark and haunting picture of the Earth after society has ravaged it and what could (?) happen to us when/if the world nearly destroys itself.  There will be three types of people - those who are trying to survive through any means even cannibalism, those who are surviving for a hopeful and better end with dignity and those who can't hack it at all and kill themselves. After reading this book, I think I might just fall into the last category.  Read it and then tell me if you'd say any differnt.

Reading the book, I felt a sense of hope...a feeling that there was something wonderful waiting at the end of the tunnel.  Finishing the book - I still had a feeling of hope but my heart was in pieces and the hope had changed...it became almost automatic...I can't explain it without ruining the book.  Read it...you'll see.  It's tough but fast...I haven't seen the movie yet but I look forward.  And the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the gray and haunting tone and the knowledge that this book will certainly not be for everyone.