Hey everyone, here's our first discussion question for The Road:
Throughout the opening pages, we get brief glimpses into the "backstory" of life before the world's current state. How do the scenes briefly given to us before the calamity, influence our thoughts of the story as it progresses?
Any interesting observations?
Happy Reading.
3 comments:
Obviously something apocalyptic happened that wiped out much of the population and has left the earth burnt to ashes. It was very frustrating to me not to find out why the main character escaped death and what gives him the arrogant claim to be one of the "good guys". Nothing he does in the book qualifies him as a "good guy" in my eyes: He never reaches out to others in more need than he, he renegs on every promise he's made to himself regarding his son (most scathingly, not leaving him to fend for himself in the end) and his survival instinct seems very base. Ok, so he hasn't resorted to cannibalism, like some of the other bands of survivors seem to have, but other than that he seems no different from them. So for me it was difficult being sympathetic to him. He was not a likeable protagonist, yet I was unable to discard the book...I kept hoping something redeeming would happen, right up to the last page.
Very interesting comments "anonymous" . I'll respond more fully later, but who are you?
If you're in the Codex group remember to leave your name so we know who the comments are coming from.
Thanks.
Good thoughts "anonymous"
- Phil
I was thinking of another striking thing in the book that really bothered me. I wonder if the author is an atheist. Here's why: the father calls out to God in his desperation from time to time, and he seems to come to the conclusion that there isn't any higher power that cares or even hears him. If life's destination is the journey itself, what is he gleaning from his "trek" but despair and descent into total hopelessness? Yet, there are glimmers of hope, every time they find sustenance or shelter for a few more days...but to what purpose? What am I missing?
Someone help me here!
Ann G.
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