The Road

With the film version of McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set for release next year, the time is right for book clubs to take a second look at his remarkable bestseller. The book—available in a new movie tie-in edition—is at once a nightmarish exploration of what the world might be like at its end and a sensitive examination of the father-son bond. The narrative opens on a world that has been reduced to cinders by a catastrophe of some kind, one that's probably nuclear-related. Blackened corpses and melted cars punctuate the landscape. The novel's two primary characters, a nameless man and his son, journey through the ruined world alone. To stay in one place is to risk encountering other survivors, many of whom have formed violent gangs, and so the pair are locked into a fate of perpetual travel. Flashbacks and moments of beautifully rendered dialogue hint at what came before—the world as it existed in its full flowering; the death of the boy's mother. The contrast between past and present is heightened by the dangers the two experience as they search for edible food and serviceable clothing. When the boy shows concern for the survivors they inevitably meet, his father forbids him to make contact. Their relationship deepens and evolves—even in a dead world—and McCarthy's portrayal of their connection is incredibly affecting. This unforgettable novel will haunt readers long after the final page is turned.

A reading group guide is available online at readinggroupcenter.com.