The Road, this is definitely a book that is hard to critique. The book certainly has it's slow moments, what with Cormac McCarthy's fairly long-winded writing style you're bound to have something like that happen. Slow definitely isn't bad in this case however and it turns out to be just the quality the story needs to methodically entrap your emotions and then rip them apart.
The Road is a story that will creep into your heart and create it's own living space there, a phenomina that while reading will have you slowly ache as you come to realize how the story must end. A fading father and a vulnerable son trek across an enblazened post-apocalyptic United States in hopes of finding a peaceful place to stay somewhere along the coast.
The story stays capturing with the element of survival, the simple everyday aspects of life we so take advantage of are spread thin, rarely is there even a place safe enough to bath. Water is nearly always disgusting but there isn't really an option of whether or not to drink it, food is even more scarce and some humans even resort to eating each other.
McCarthy does a fine job of creating a palpable and gritty environment that feels like it hasn't been trimmed at all for the virgin ears and eyes of many of today's media outlets. He deals with no short list of controversial topics, even including abortion and suicide.
Part of the book's excellence however, doesn't really even come from the intricate and well thought out writing of Cormac. Much of it comes from the simple format of the story being a nameless father and son, who'm one could easily substitute out for their own relationship. The relatability of the story is really quite improbable seeing as how the world within the story is so different to our own. The relatability must really come from the twisting natural roots of the tale, anyone can compare their own life to loss and lack of privelege, which make up a good part of the book. The simple fact of not having or losing something that one holds dearly is easily translated to other realms.
The simplicity and elegance of McCarthy's general theme, combined with his nearly unparalleled writing style and skill, turn The Road into much more than just another post-apocalyptic tale.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Literary vs. Genre
Recently I have read both The Road and Divergent, two titles that one might think not comparable, however I would disagree.
While the aims of the two novels are vastly different, and their inspirations also, many comparisons still can be made. Both books focus on flawed societies formed after catastrophic events, both books are also very focused on close family ties and where things end up when those are broken.
After those points however, it can probably be agreed upon that the two books certainly take a fork. Divergent aims to be entertaining and distracting while The Road is written almost as to metaphorically document the relationship between a father and son in the real world.
Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road has stated previously in interviews that the idea for the book came from his constant worry of what his youngest son will experience when he is gone, fathering a son in your 60's is not without that negative.
Veronica Roth, author of Divergent has said that much of her books content comes as parallel to the life of a teenage highschool student. It seems obvious enough really when you look at the content of the story, essentially being about a girl who has to find her caste and *SPOILER******* it turns out she doesn't belong to any, which turns into a war over whether or not it is okay to be different.
Neither book in my eyes however, can be considered superior, while The Road is painfully well written, it is simply a different style of writing, and it comes from a different aim as compared to Divergent.
There seems to be a fairly clear line although thin, between literary and genre. It's not a negative thing though and both types of books can be sought out and read for different reasons.
While the aims of the two novels are vastly different, and their inspirations also, many comparisons still can be made. Both books focus on flawed societies formed after catastrophic events, both books are also very focused on close family ties and where things end up when those are broken.
After those points however, it can probably be agreed upon that the two books certainly take a fork. Divergent aims to be entertaining and distracting while The Road is written almost as to metaphorically document the relationship between a father and son in the real world.
Cormac McCarthy, author of The Road has stated previously in interviews that the idea for the book came from his constant worry of what his youngest son will experience when he is gone, fathering a son in your 60's is not without that negative.
Veronica Roth, author of Divergent has said that much of her books content comes as parallel to the life of a teenage highschool student. It seems obvious enough really when you look at the content of the story, essentially being about a girl who has to find her caste and *SPOILER******* it turns out she doesn't belong to any, which turns into a war over whether or not it is okay to be different.
Neither book in my eyes however, can be considered superior, while The Road is painfully well written, it is simply a different style of writing, and it comes from a different aim as compared to Divergent.
There seems to be a fairly clear line although thin, between literary and genre. It's not a negative thing though and both types of books can be sought out and read for different reasons.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Blog Post 9
Why are the father and son of The Road such a thought provoking, and emotion garnering grouping?
The father and son dynamic certainly adds nearly all the emotion that the novel contains. The book was actually written loosely based on the relationship between Cormac McCarthy and his youngest son.
McCarthy has stated in interviews that much of the book's content and even dialogue are focused on the interesting predicament that comes with fathering another child at such an old age. At 64 McCarthy can expect that his son will have to live much of his life without his father, the emotion of this situation certainly leaks into the book, I'll have to stop there as to not spoil anything.
After having read the book the emotional power of the father and son simply can't be argued with. It's clearly there and it will impact you greatly as you read.
The father and son dynamic certainly adds nearly all the emotion that the novel contains. The book was actually written loosely based on the relationship between Cormac McCarthy and his youngest son.
McCarthy has stated in interviews that much of the book's content and even dialogue are focused on the interesting predicament that comes with fathering another child at such an old age. At 64 McCarthy can expect that his son will have to live much of his life without his father, the emotion of this situation certainly leaks into the book, I'll have to stop there as to not spoil anything.
After having read the book the emotional power of the father and son simply can't be argued with. It's clearly there and it will impact you greatly as you read.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Blog Post 8
In my mind, non-fiction needs to be as true as it can possibly be or it shouldn't be tagged such.
If a story isn't factual then the other needs to be honest about that in my opinion.
I think David Shields has a good point but he is being extreme.
If a story isn't factual then the other needs to be honest about that in my opinion.
I think David Shields has a good point but he is being extreme.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Blog #6 Readicide
Readicide is a deadly problem within our schools in current day. The reading experience has been dumbed down into an analytical process where answers are right or wrong, where symbolism doesn't have individual meaning based on the reader, where anecdotal experience has no weight. The current education system has it all wrong, it would have you think that reading is always a logical process and never truly emotional, that everything is black and white and grey observations hold no merit.
The largest problem if you ask me is the poor choice of books and the overteaching of such books.To make a personal comment, in the case of my English class this year we were assigned to read Their Eyes Were Watching God. Throughout attempting to read this vocally out of touch book our teacher would routinely spoil plot elements in order to give an explanation for them and 'assist' us in our analyzing. Analyzation does not begin with someone analyzing a text for you, and for that matter factual analyzation does not help a reader in any way gather together an experience from a reading.
Things like solely picking out 'artistically' written books, and overteaching such books is killing the interest of current students in reading.
The largest problem if you ask me is the poor choice of books and the overteaching of such books.To make a personal comment, in the case of my English class this year we were assigned to read Their Eyes Were Watching God. Throughout attempting to read this vocally out of touch book our teacher would routinely spoil plot elements in order to give an explanation for them and 'assist' us in our analyzing. Analyzation does not begin with someone analyzing a text for you, and for that matter factual analyzation does not help a reader in any way gather together an experience from a reading.
Things like solely picking out 'artistically' written books, and overteaching such books is killing the interest of current students in reading.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Movie Adaptation #5
Any time one might want to create a movie from a book it will be a difficult process. Movie adaptations often leave someone who has read the book related to the film feeling fairly dissatisfied, why might this be?
The simple answer is that in many cases there isn't enough time within a movie to cover all of the contents within a book. Longer books can often span the time of a year or more and most films simply can't replicate something like that within a few hours.
What can be done to combat this? Well in many cases, making an unusually long movie can be the remedy, in other cases a series of films would be in good taste. For some books however neither of the above are able to cover the subject matter and simply fall short.
In my opinion most books are not meant to be movies, that is exactly why they are books.
The simple answer is that in many cases there isn't enough time within a movie to cover all of the contents within a book. Longer books can often span the time of a year or more and most films simply can't replicate something like that within a few hours.
What can be done to combat this? Well in many cases, making an unusually long movie can be the remedy, in other cases a series of films would be in good taste. For some books however neither of the above are able to cover the subject matter and simply fall short.
In my opinion most books are not meant to be movies, that is exactly why they are books.
Reexperience Room
Are you longing for a closer connection to the book?
Do you fancy your self a minimalist?
Look no further ladies and gentlemen, the Room Survival Challenge is here.
Within the challenge you must live within a replica of the room mentioned within the story for 1 month. The rules, conditions, and guidlines will be as stated below.
1. No contact with the outside world other than your weekly Sunday visit from "Old Nick"
2. You may not bring anything from the outside world with you to room other than the clothes you wear on your back. (One regular outfit.)
3. You may not leave until your time is up.
Please contact your local 'Room' Experience provider to set up a date.
Good luck!
I came up with this idea for a fan experience as I thought about what it would be like to be stuck in 'Room'. I think this experience could satiate the curiosity within many readers to understand what it might feel like to experience being in a room with no human contact.
Of course this idea would not exactly represent the story but you couldn't very well have anyone repeat the contents exactly. This is about as close as one could get to the story without experiencing something truly horrific.
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