I'll begin this review by stating that after reading this book, I'm not sure I could handle the movie. The images in my head were enough - do I really need to see this truly terrifying and sad tale play out on the big screen? I may give it a go, but I'm scared to see it.
It was a really good book - but really sad. The story is simple, yet complex. A father (the man) and son (the boy) walk along an abandoned highway (the road) headed south to escape the cold. Oh, I should mention it takes place in post-apocalyptic America. There are no names for places and things anymore - just ash and death.
They encounter many disturbing things - things that showcase the darkest side of human nature. The side that allows for some moral flexibility when it comes to survival. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad? The man and the boy are the good guys, but the boy often questions this when they are forced to act selfishly in order to survive.
There are no chapters in this book - which reflects the story. A life with no order. No days of the week, no months, no years, no knowledge of seasons. Though it makes it hard for the reader to know where to stop, it allows for an interesting flow.
The story is about a father-son relationship in peril. The man, while trying to survive himself, is protecting his son, and wants to keep his innocence (several attempts are made to shield him from the horrors of this new world).
I can't really say much else without giving away the ending. But I will say this, The Road is both hopeful and hopeless. There are no laws in this world. Just ideas of good and bad, good and evil.
If anyone sees this film in October, let me know how it is. I need to know if I can stomach it or not.
