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The Road

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The Road

By: Cormac McCarthy
Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte
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About this listen

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2007

America is a barren landscape of smoldering ashes, devoid of life except for those people still struggling to scratch out some type of existence. Amidst this destruction, a father and his young son walk, always toward the coast, but with no real understanding that circumstances will improve once they arrive. Still, they persevere, and their relationship comes to represent goodness in a world of utter devastation.

Bleak but brilliant, with glimmers of hope and humor, The Road is a stunning allegory and perhaps Cormac McCarthy's finest novel to date. This remarkable departure from his previous works has been hailed by Kirkus Reviews as a "novel of horrific beauty, where death is the only truth".

McCarthy, a New York Times best-selling author, is a past recipient of the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. He is widely considered one of America's greatest writers.

Check out more selections from Oprah's Book Club.©2006 M-71, Ltd. (P)2006 Recorded Books LLC Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Emotionally Gripping Scary Tear-jerking Witty Heartfelt Dystopian

Critic Reviews

"McCarthy's prose retains its ability to seduce...and there are nods to the gentler aspects of the human spirit." (The New Yorker)
"One of McCarthy's best novels, probably his most moving and perhaps his most personal...Every moment of The Road is rich with dilemmas that are as shattering as they are unspoken...McCarthy is so accomplished that the reader senses the mysterious and intuitive changes between father and son that can't be articulated, let alone dramatized...Both lyric and savage, both desperate and transcendent, although transcendence is singed around the edges...Tag McCarthy one of the four or five great American novelists of his generation." (Los Angeles Times Book Review)
All stars
Most relevant
captures the hopelessness of it all, really does a good job world building.

its not a actioned pack book, but it is one of my favourites

a great listen

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So incredible! You won't be disappointed... or romanced. I loved the contrast of the sumptuous descriptive language against the desolate landscapes, plots and dialogue.

Bleak and poetic supported with just enoigh Hope!

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Cormac McCarthy writes with such eloquence. This book moved me. There is a potency here of almost immeasurable beauty. I loved this book.

Ouch! My aching feels.

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Short and distinct, Cormac is the master of description and puts you in the mood of the characters.
Tom Stechschulte is a brilliant choice for this novel and made it an American epic. I am glad I watched the movie first as it gave my imagination the resources to fully flesh out the narration.
Highly involving and well worth reading.

Post Apocalyptic Masterpiece.

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This was a fantastic listen that kept me up quite late into the night as I didn’t want to switch it off. Am now going to listen/read more of his books.
Highly recommended.

Excellent

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I’ve always loved this book and the production of the audible book made me love it even more

A favourite!

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This was a departure from my normal fare and strangely enough, very welcome. It never loses its theme of struggle, but there is optimism and humanity floating alongside the main characters all the way. Worth the short time and I found it very satisfying.

Bleak as bleak as bleak.......but uplifting?

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What a great read! Voice actor was fantastic and kept me interested from start to finish!

The Road

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This is my first Cormack McCarthy and I am immediately a fan. I felt like I could see a lot of what was happening, and I was quite emotionally invested by the end, and was excited to see how much can be done with minimalist writing and laconic characters. The last sentence was somehow perfect. The performance too was enthralling.

Instantly one of my favourite books

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A sodden journal of black and blurring charcoal horror etched and etched over around a tabernacle of fire.

I listened to this on a night when I allowed my 8 year old to sleep in my bed. Don’t do that!

Beautiful listen.

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