This is a Pulitzer Prize winner from 2006 and I'm not sure why I've just now heard of this book. Especially since it was adapted to film (starring Viggo Mortensen no less). This book is due to become a classic for sure.
It's about a post-apocalyptic journey of a father and his son across a burned America. Vegetation and animals were all destroyed. There are few people left and many of those have resorted to murder and cannibalism to stay alive.
While the plot is poignant, compelling and interesting, it's the delivery that is the real star of this novel. The prose is absolutely beautiful.
There is almost no character development which is genius since there is very little human development and life on earth has all but stopped. There's no reason to develop characters and yet you are left with strong feelings one way or the other for just about every person you come in contact with.
It's written in 3rd person most of the book and the one of my favorite things is that the main characters are never named. There is only 1 name throughout the whole book and that's a fake name that's given. Never hearing their names shows a depth of literature and thoughtfulness of McCarthy.
The book shows the depth of depravity and the height of love and hope. It evokes raw emotions never fully expressed due to the strength of the Father trying to protect the son. It will be a book that makes you look up other reviews and see how others translated meaning and one that will stick with you.
Read it. But be forewarned that it's dark and tragic. It's not a happy beach novel. But one well worth reading.
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