The Road

The Road was on my to-read list for far too long. As many other readers, first I watched the film, and only then read the book. So I already knew what to expect. This story is very dark, and I believe that the film does a pretty good job which is quite uncommon. The film is faithful to the book and brings the characters to life (even though their lives are a complete misery) by visually revealing the post-apocalyptic world. It was one of the saddest films I have ever watched, so desperate and hopeless.

The post-apocalyptic America is covered in ashes and dust, and the narrator slowly reveals it in rich detail. The world building is great, even though not much is explained of its backstory. The landscape is burnt, there are no animals or birds, and even the Sun does not come out through the ever-present grey clouds. The only creatures still alive on this Earth, are humans. And they are but the shadows of human beings - struggling to survive each day by searching for food and shelter. They are either the hunters or the hunted. The civilisation is in ruins and what's left is only desperation and despair.

The main storyline is of a father and his son who travel through this scorched land in search of the sea, running from the cold, the hunger and the other humans. It unfolds the bond and relationship they share, their struggle to survive every single day and not to lose hope. They only have each other and that's what matters. On their journey, the farther and the son find traces of the civilisation, cities and things which lay deserted, awaiting their eventual destruction by the slowly-passing time. Every day is a struggle but they hold on to each other and their bond to stay human and to 'carry the light' forward.

Few details are revealed on the other survivors but from what we are told most of them are bandits whose only instinct is survival above all. They're cruel and barbaric. The Road shows two sides of the human nature: the dark side of those who would do anything to survive, disregarding the value of human life, and the bright side of those who manage without turning into animals whose only aim is to feed and prevail. What is really inspiring, is the profound belief of the author (even though somewhat naïve) that despite the hopelessness there is also good in people. The story reveals the strength of the human spirit and the will to live despite all the odds. This is only possible through human relations, communication and support.

The narrator of the audio-book is great but some parts were a bit odd when he tries to convey the desperation of the world by a monotonous tone.