The Road by Cormac McCarthy: depressing rubbish or apocalyptic masterpiece?
Scanning the various book and writer forums that are out there, you come across all kinds of opinions. Some people are extremely forceful about them, while others are happy to debate the fact. From my understanding, The Road by Cormac McCarthy has divided opinion in more ways than almost any other book of recent times. You either tend to love it or loathe it, and here’s my stance.
Personally, I don’t think you always have to like a book to appreciate it, and with The Road I got a similar feeling that I had when I read American Psycho. It was a feeling of respect towards the point the writer was making, rather than an actual liking if the book’s content. And that’s where people go wrong, I think. They believe that they ought to think the events of a book as good. They think that if the events disturb or disgust them, it is the book’s fault.
Wrong.
In fact quite to the contrary, as Paul from London builders – presently working outside my flat – proved by telling a very compelling argument to James yesterday morning when they both woke me up with their loud builders'voices. Paul’s point was similar to my own: that if a book incites opinion, it has to be good.
I know one thing: I will keep reading McCarthy, because his writing is wonderful. Tragic and dark it may be but that doesn’t make it worthless. In fact, if you ask me, that’s all the more reason for it to be read. Books that make you think are never a bad thing, right?
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