Troubled times call for troubling books. Cormac McCarthy’s post-apocalyptic, dystopian thriller, “The Road,” lived up to all the hype in every way.

Life as we know has ended. The world has become a world full of aimless, wandering travelers moving from place to place in search of the basic necessities of life: food, water, shelter. The travelers never stat in one place too long for fear of other travelers and becoming “comfortable” in their current circumstances.

The story revolves around a father-son duo and their struggle to survive. The focus of the focus is the constant interaction of Father and son as they encounter one thing after another on the road.

The Road is depicted throughout the book as a symbol of many things. It is a means to get from one place to another, but it is not safe. Travelers cannot stay on the road too long or they might run into “bad people” that pose a number of threats to others. The travelers are constantly on the move to somewhere but never arrive anywhere. It also begs the question, “Where are they going and once they arrive could they stay?”

There were so many layers to this book and it was written so beautifully in the shades of black and white and gray. The ominous and foreboding mood of the book pervades into the images conjured in the mind.

This is an excellent book to pass the time during the current pandemic and ongoing stay-at-home order.

– Jason