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design219 · Dec 5, 2009, 10:45 PM

Whoa, I just read this book because I want to see the movie. Man, what a grim dystopian story. Rotten Tomatoes reviews (majority positive) are saying the movie is very true to the book. I love post-apocalyptic movies, but if this is like the book, it's going to be tough to watch.

Anybody seen it or read the book? Opinions?

ThinkInsane · Dec 6, 2009, 03:34 AM

That is a book that will certainly suck the joy out of your day. I love McCarthy's books, I love his writing style, but man, he certainly doesn't write things that are upbeat. Give Blood Meridian or Child of God a try if you liked The Road. You might not feel particularly good after reading them, but you won't be disappointed either.

mattyb · Dec 6, 2009, 04:18 AM

I just couldn't read more than a few pages of The Road. Just wasn't enjoyable. I'll watch the film, but I'll wait until its available outside of cinemas.

ort888 · Dec 6, 2009, 06:39 AM

Is this the prequel to Roadtrip?

ThinkInsane · Dec 6, 2009, 10:39 AM

More like a sequel.

finboy · Dec 6, 2009, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by design219

Whoa, I just read this book because I want to see the movie. Man, what a grim dystopian story. Rotten Tomatoes reviews (majority positive) are saying the movie is very true to the book. I love post-apocalyptic movies, but if this is like the book, it's going to be tough to watch.

Anybody seen it or read the book? Opinions?

I finished it earlier this week, a couple of days after buying it. Hard to read because of the choppy language and use of language that the main character would use (which isn't always correct).

I can see how Fallout 3 relied on it.

As an emotional story, it's very moving. I can't see this being a big box office draw though. Kind of like "The Mist" selling a bunch of DVDs -- not happening (not for the same reason though).

As a post-apocalyptic piece it's very thin on useful information, but generally realistic. Certainly shows the importance of having a gun, and not just to defend oneself. I understand the idea of "The Road" as a metaphor, but should one follow the road in that type of environment, one would end up as food. Of course you'd have to scavenge to find food, but you'd try to avoid infrastructure as much as possible or you wouldn't survive long.

Heck, folks go to see tearjerker chick flicks all the time, and some of those end poorly. At least this one isn't like "Cold Mountain."

I'll give it an 8 out of 10, and say it's certainly one of the most important books I've read lately. If nothing else, it's important because the environmental movement has latched onto it as an "example" of what can happen long term if we "just do nothing" about the global warming hoax.

design219 · Dec 6, 2009, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by finboy

the environmental movement has latched onto it as an "example" of what can happen long term if we "just do nothing" about the global warming hoax.

That's weird, it seemed to me to be a nuclear winter or astroid devastation event or somesort. I can't see where global warming has anything to do with it.

I agree that avoiding the road would seem like a good idea, except for the need to get south and hopefully a habitable, warmer environment.

I guess I didn't say it exactly, but I really enjoyed the book. As a parent, it was tough though.

ThinkInsane · Dec 7, 2009, 01:21 AM

One of the things I liked about the book is that it's never revealed what exactly happened. That said, I can't recall anything that implied it was due to global warming. Meteorite, nuclear war, or a super-volcano seem far more likely explanations than climate change. Where did that idea come from? I can't think of anything in the book that would support that assumption.

SpaceMonkey · Dec 7, 2009, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by ThinkInsane

One of the things I liked about the book is that it's never revealed what exactly happened. That said, I can't recall anything that implied it was due to global warming. Meteorite, nuclear war, or a super-volcano seem far more likely explanations than climate change. Where did that idea come from? I can't think of anything in the book that would support that assumption.

I think I remember reading something about the film more directly suggesting an environmental catastrophe. I read the book and also liked the deliberately ambiguous nature of things.

design219 · Dec 7, 2009, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

I read the book and also liked the deliberately ambiguous nature of things.

That was refreshing. Usually such movies are about the disaster, not so much the aftermath. In Stephen King's "The Stand" there was ample food everywhere for the taking. The Road illustrates the dilemma after a few years of free picking.

finboy · Dec 7, 2009, 09:14 AM

After starting it again, and reflecting some, I think I may have sold it short. I'm going to read it again this week when I have time and see what else I can pick up.

As a parent, uh yeah, it's tough and moving at the same time.

A lot of the images are shocking too, but I'm kind of used to that type of thing in PA fiction and gaming. Not for the faint of heart.

ThinkInsane · Dec 7, 2009, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkey

I think I remember reading something about the film more directly suggesting an environmental catastrophe. I read the book and also liked the deliberately ambiguous nature of things.

I wondered about that after I posted, if the implication (or if they came right out and said it was climate change) came from the movie. I think I'll try and get to the theater this week to check it out. I almost don't want to see it.