The Road

Loved it.

Opinion:

As I already said, I loved this book. The images and lessons I devoured from the pages of The Road stayed with me for a very long time, and continue to influence my thought. This is a wonderfully vivid novel where the characters are reduced to nothing, and then forced to answer: "Are you one of the good guys?"

I work in the public school system, and, on a day I was heavily into this book, I happened to walk passed a boy who has some very wrong opinions about the world. My stomach churned, and I felt more than livid to hear his mouthy 14-year-old self shout the filthy words, "All Jews belong in ovens." And even more disgraceful, I know an adult had to of given him such an idea.

I couldn't help but reflect on my position in the world, and question whether or not I am a "good guy." If pushed to a state of desperation, who would I become? Would I have turned in my neighbors during WWII? Would I share my limited food? Would I kill another to help my own family? Is "good" during time of peace the same as "good" during time of catastrophe, or do we play by a different set of values and morels?

Still chewing on this one.

And yes, definitely cried at the end. Even thought I knew what was going to happen, I still cried.

Recommend: YES
Read Again: Maybe, one day

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Author: Cormac McCarthy
Award: Pulitzer Prize

Summary:

The Road is a very emotional account of a young boy and his father struggling to survive in a postapocalyptic world. The walk together, often hand-in-hand or hand on gun and hand on shopping cart, down a road that leads to, well, hopefully somewhere good.

The father is sick, and the boy is sensitive. They struggle for food, and they are low on hope. They meet people along the way who try to take their lives or their food or both. And some people stoop low enough to eat other people.

All the while, the boy is trying to be a good guy. And the father is trying to remember that the reason they fight for life is love. 

Also a movie. Never seen it, so no comment for now.

Pages: 287

Shadow Tag

Okay.

Opinion:

This book came recommended to me. So I read it. It's a fairly quick read, only took me about a week.


Shadow Tag is definitely not one I'd suggest in my book group, more because of the sensitive personalities in the group than because of the quality of the book. But this work is food for thought.

I loved Louise Erdrich's ability to layer emotion, this gave her characters such human depth. The story itself is quite destructive--which left me with a rather bitter aftertaste--and overall, these pages contain a vulgar and violent depiction of a marriage falling to pieces. It's full of dirty, or rather, thick, rancid mud. But it's real. It's life.

Louise Erdrich

I'm still trying to formulate my opinion on authors who print their own names larger on the cover than the book title.


Recommend: Not personally, but others have. So, take that for what you will.
Read Again: No

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Author: Louise Erdrich

Brief Summary:

Irene America discovers her husband is reading her red diary. With the status of their marriage being quite rocky, Irene is first hugely offended by this invasion of her privacy. However, before confronting her husband on the matter, she decides to use the situation to her advantage. She begins filling the diary with lies to manipulate her husband, all the while keeping an accurate account of her life and marriage in a blue notebook, carefully kept in her safe-deposit box at the bank.

The depth of their problems unfolds throughout the pages, depicting a relationship with deep foundational cracks--which Irene deems unfixable, while her husband, Gil, pleads love can heal.

Gil is an artist, made famous by his paintings of Irene. The images he creates range from soft, romantic scenes of his wife, to harsh, humiliating and blatantly pornographic depictions of her. He is angry, reactionary and abusive. But he feels he couldn't survive without his family.

Irene is an alcoholic, favors her children over her husband, and feels she no longer loves him. Her alcoholism is partially the reason she stays in the relationship. Firstly, because it helps her numb the pain, and secondly, because Gil used that against her, knowing it could keep her from gaining custody over their children if she left him.

They sacrifice for the life of the relationship by trying counseling at Irene's recommendation and gifts and surprises at Gil's.

Eventually, through the diary, Irene convinces Gil that she has been unfaithful, and their marriage comes to an end.

The last scene shows them together, demonstrating the ultimate sacrifice for one another.

In the end, everyone, especially the three kids, is incredibly messed up.

Pages: 255