Discussion: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy - Page 3

kennyc · 11-02-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Baumi, if you thought The Road was well-written, but would like a "bit more plot", it might be worth giving his No Country For Old Men a read. It may fill that particular gap for you.

Cheers,
Marc

Yep! There's definitely plot in that.

Ea · 11-02-2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Ah, yes. I'd forgotten about that scene....so certainly some things (appletrees) were at least living during a recent "growing season"

Yes, and the insects to pollinate the flowers. And they get sick, which would imply either bacteria or virus

Baumi · 11-02-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Baumi, if you thought The Road was well-written, but would like a "bit more plot", it might be worth giving his No Country For Old Men a read. It may fill that particular gap for you.

Thanks for the info! I've been meaning to get to that but wasn't quite sure how much I'd like it given "The Road" wasn't my cup of tea. Maybe I'll start after I finish "Last Night in Twisted River".

Ea · 11-02-2009, 03:58 PM

I came across an article today - it was mostly about the film - but it also mentioned the dreams. I took some note of the dreams, especially the notion that the worse the dream, the 'better' the reality or the more alive the character - but I didn't keep track of them. Did anyone of you get something out of the dreams?

A question for the English speakers; I noticed he tended to use the words "dead limbs" for dead tree brances picked up as firewood. Is that a common use in English? I haven't come across it before. With all the dead bodies around I thought it might refer - metaphorically - in some way to them as well - I didn't exactly imgine they were burning human bodies

kennyc · 11-02-2009, 04:31 PM

I think it's fairly common usage. As I'm sure you know English uses any number of words interchangeably to name certain things. But you may still be right that it was an intentional usage -- I really wouldn't put anything past him given the "poetry" of much of this novel.

I think there must have been some significance to the dreams -- even if just to contrast with the "nightmare" of waking life -- but I think it may have slipped right past me.

Off topic but I think there are more "dead limbs" in the novel I'm currently reading - The March by E. L. Doctorow (about the U.S. Civil war where amputations were constant).

Ea · 11-02-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I think it's fairly common usage. As I'm sure you know English uses any number of words interchangeably to name certain things. But you may still be right that it was an intentional usage -- I really wouldn't put anything past him given the "poetry" of much of this novel.

Just like any other language. I'm pretty sure McCarthy use it with all its implications though. I's so carefully constructed that he would have had to be aware.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

I think there must have been some significance to the dreams -- even if just to contrast with the "nightmare" of waking life -- but I think it may have slipped right past me.

'Nightmare of walking life' is a good observation. I hadn't thought of it. The first dreams are of monsters and strange deep, scary places, but the man mentiones to the boy that when dreams turn nice or pleasureable that is when to be aware or afraid. Later on the man's dreams turn more benign - as he is dying.

kennyc · 11-02-2009, 09:29 PM

Just ran across this ad for the upcoming movie:

http://www.theroad-movie.com/

Abecedary · 11-03-2009, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Just ran across this ad for the upcoming movie:

http://www.theroad-movie.com/

I enjoyed the book too much to see that. The preview makes it look terrible, IMHO.

kennyc · 11-03-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

I enjoyed the book too much to see that. The preview makes it look terrible, IMHO.

Really. I though almost the opposite. Certainly the piece parts were shifted time-wise (as they always do in these previews to make it more confusing in order to raise interest) but I thought the scenes they included were pretty true to the story. I didn't see anything totally new and different.

For me it would be interesting to seen the move and the screenwriter/director's interpretation.

Ea · 11-03-2009, 07:44 AM

For what it's worth: Roger Eberts review It seems fairly balanced.

The trailer looked "Hollywood dramatic", but how many trilers are completely fair representations of the film? Looks as if they've shifted the birth of the boy a little - as far as I remember he was born right after the catastrophe - a child of the new world.

kennyc · 11-03-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

For what it's worth: Roger Eberts review It seems fairly balanced.

Interesting. He definitely felt it didn't quite come across in the film which is very likely true given the poetic nature of the novel.

Might be worth watching just for Charlize though.

Ea · 11-03-2009, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Might be worth watching just for Charlize though.

I don't think she's in it for long enough for it to be worth it

Abecedary · 11-03-2009, 09:19 AM

I think 'terrible' might have been too strong a word on my part. But after reading Ebert's review (especially the last paragraph), he seems to confirm my impressions. I'll probably see it at some point when it's out on DVD or on HBO or something.

kennyc · 11-03-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

I don't think she's in it for long enough for it to be worth it

I know, I know it's a joke, but man, it's Charlize!!! Whoop!

kennyc · 11-03-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abecedary

I think 'terrible' might have been too strong a word on my part. But after reading Ebert's review (especially the last paragraph), he seems to confirm my impressions. I'll probably see it at some point when it's out on DVD or on HBO or something.

I'll probably do the same. I'm really not much of a movie person. Books are almost invariably better.

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11-02-2009, 03:58 PM	#34
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	I came across an article today - it was mostly about the film - but it also mentioned the dreams. I took some note of the dreams, especially the notion that the worse the dream, the 'better' the reality or the more alive the character - but I didn't keep track of them. Did anyone of you get something out of the dreams? A question for the English speakers; I noticed he tended to use the words "dead limbs" for dead tree brances picked up as firewood. Is that a common use in English? I haven't come across it before. With all the dead bodies around I thought it might refer - metaphorically - in some way to them as well - I didn't exactly imgine they were burning human bodies

11-02-2009, 04:31 PM	#35
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,916 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I think it's fairly common usage. As I'm sure you know English uses any number of words interchangeably to name certain things. But you may still be right that it was an intentional usage -- I really wouldn't put anything past him given the "poetry" of much of this novel. I think there must have been some significance to the dreams -- even if just to contrast with the "nightmare" of waking life -- but I think it may have slipped right past me. Off topic but I think there are more "dead limbs" in the novel I'm currently reading - The March by E. L. Doctorow (about the U.S. Civil war where amputations were constant).

11-02-2009, 09:29 PM	#37
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,916 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Just ran across this ad for the upcoming movie: http://www.theroad-movie.com/

11-03-2009, 07:44 AM	#40
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	For what it's worth: Roger Eberts review It seems fairly balanced. The trailer looked "Hollywood dramatic", but how many trilers are completely fair representations of the film? Looks as if they've shifted the birth of the boy a little - as far as I remember he was born right after the catastrophe - a child of the new world.

11-03-2009, 09:19 AM	#43
Abecedary Exwyzeeologist Posts: 535 Karma: 3261 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: :PRS-505::iPod touch:	I think 'terrible' might have been too strong a word on my part. But after reading Ebert's review (especially the last paragraph), he seems to confirm my impressions. I'll probably see it at some point when it's out on DVD or on HBO or something.

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