Thread: The Road, by Cormac McCarthy

Originally Posted by SparkyLT

I'm sure the story was quite fascinating, but I was put off my the grammatical stupidity, not to mention ticked-off that this man got published and so famous with writing like this.

I understand. I was put off a bit when I began reading it; but I strongly urge you to finish the book and take time to understand it. There's a very sweet and good message about life that I think is really important to hear, even if one has heard it before.

Originally Posted by SparkyLT

Oh shush, David C. - don't tempt the pyro

LOL. I've got matches (and lighter fluid).

Now really - you know lighters are better.

Shawn: Since I'm over my initial extreme disgust, I might try it again. No promises though.

Originally Posted by SparkyLT

Now really - you know lighters are better.

Shawn: Since I'm over my initial extreme disgust, I might try it again. No promises though.

There's a huge world of literature out there. The only person you're going to hurt by not stepping out of your comfort zone is yourself.

I need to learn to no have such high expectations, that's all. For now I'll keep grumbling about how McCarthy is highly overrated, though.

Mind you, I call a lot of things overrated. People, talking, blah blah blah.

Sparky -

Just tossing in my opinion here - I couldn't put the book down. I read it in one sitting and the kids ate left over pizza. The lack of punctuation was a little offputting at first, but that lasted about 2 pages and then I was hooked. Try it again, I think that you will find it worth the effort and that the effort will evaporate quickly.

I believe that I read somewhere that if you know grammar to the word, you can afford to break it for stylist purposes.

Personally, I never noticed the lack of punctuation and other grammatical "problems". The main reason for this is that it made the work feel much more candid and real to me. We aren't so much given a description of what the father is feeling, we are seeing it.

But, then again, the way I read may contribute to my reading of this particular style.

P.S. I apologize for resurrecting a dead thread. I don't think I saw anything in the rules against it in particular, and I felt that this was a good discussion to keep alive.

Hell. I've very rarely found classics etc. to be all they're cracked up to be, but I'd always put it down to the fact that they were written way before I was born. McCarthy doens't have that excuse, so I find him untolerable.

Sorry to say this Sparky, but it seems that you don't know how to appreciate literature altogether, so it comes as no surprise that you wouldn't like The Road. McCarthy is by no means the only author to break grammar and punctuation rules. This is a writing technique used quite frequently by authors to accomplish certain stylistic purposes. In The Road, it sets a certain tone and mood, which would be completely ruined were proper punctuation and grammar in place. Perhaps you have to have some knowledge of literature, however, and an understanding of it in order to appreciate such 'non-traditional' styles. It also takes more than 3 pages to understand anything about any book.

I love the classics, and am an avid reader of them. I have a tough time appreciating many of the moderns, but found The Road to be a modern classic - I couldn't put the book down and have given it as a gift to many people. Many of the modern books that I read are hard for me to get into, but I often see the talent in them. I attribute this discrepancy to my own shortcomings and lack of knowledge (even though I have a degree in literature).

I like what I like. Can you define 'appreciate' for me, please? If you have to stop and savor every word and phrase, it sounds to me more like you're being brainwashed. It doesn't sound enjoyable, and I rarely do things I don't enjoy. To me, good writing isn't 'appreciated' - you just read it. It's something you do, not something you spend hours

Why is it some of you find it neccesary to assume I'm an idiot simply because I don't think grammatically incorrect writing should be published? "It sets a certain tone and mood" you tell me, but this can be done with words. You don't have to abuse the basic rules - the only rules - of writing. It's lazy to throw in fragments and run-ons and over-dramatize things instead of using the skills you should have as a writer to create the desired atmosphere.

Oh what the hell, one last thing:

. . . I have a degree in literature . . .

Good for you. After your mother taught you to read, you needed some professor to tell you how to interpret what you read? Don't you find that a little...pathetic?


Fine. Rant over. I didn't expect to be popular for knocking McCarthy, but I didn't think there would be more personal stabs involved. And yes, that last comment was my own slightly personal stab, but I really do think that such things as literature degrees are pointless.

lol....sorry, I was laughing during most of your post. I guess ignorance is bliss.

A degree in literature pathetic? It's fine that you think that. I suppose education is overrated, in general, right? ....lol....

Originally Posted by SparkyLT

I like what I like. Can you define 'appreciate' for me, please? If you have to stop and savor every word and phrase, it sounds to me more like you're being brainwashed. It doesn't sound enjoyable, and I rarely do things I don't enjoy. To me, good writing isn't 'appreciated' - you just read it. It's something you do, not something you spend hours

Nicely put Sparky, I agree with you. I don't know why everything has to be interlectualised. What is Shawn talking about, 'messages'?

You didn't like it, you said so, and you said why. Ignore the patronising twaddle.

However, having said that, I think McCarthy is the finest living American author.

Originally Posted by inna

lol....sorry, I was laughing during most of your post. I guess ignorance is bliss.

A degree in literature pathetic? It's fine that you think that. I suppose education is overrated, in general, right? ....lol....

So sue me. I guess ignorance is bliss, and your form of enlightenment seems to bring blissful arrogance. Education in general isn't overrated, no - being educated is one of the most important things to me - but I really don't see the point of learning (as an example) algebra II when I'll never have to use it in my day-to-day life. Knowledge for it's own sake, in my opinion, is fairly useless.

But that's a different topic, and probably also one we would disagree on. By the way, why is it the woman with the degree feels the need to use 'lol'?


Qwerty (and Candrah):

Thanks. At least someone can respect my opinion. I'll think you're crazy for liking McCarthy, and you can think I'm crazy for not liking him. Deal?

Originally Posted by David C.

He must be doing something right, because he's getting published and has recieved numerous of writing grants.

What he did right was get an endorsement by Oprah.

I thought the book was substandard. I didn't mind the writing style so much as the predictability, the oversimplified relationship between the father and son, and the disappointingly anticlimactic ending.

For me, it was generally a yawner.

Originally Posted by Lester Burnham

What he did right was get an endorsement by Oprah.

I cringe at this statement and pray to god it isn't true.

Originally Posted by SparkyLT

I cringe at this statement and pray to god it isn't true.

I cringe at it as well. But it is true.

Sad, isn't it?