One of the author's five favorite stories about unlikely survivors, as shared at The Daily Beast:The RoadRead about another entry on the list.
by Cormac McCarthy
It’s easy to think of a kid as vulnerable and helpless. The unnamed son in The Road feels completely dependent on his father’s protection. Without delving into spoilers, what if a trait like vulnerability can also be a source of strength? To be vulnerable is to also be open and kids can show a greater ability to adapt to change. Could this be the point where McCarthy’s and Whitney Houston’s philosophies converge? Children are our future.
The Road appears on Isabel Allende's six favorite books list, the Telegraph's list of the 15 most depressing books, Joseph D’Lacey's top ten list of horror books, the Barnes & Noble Review's list of five unforgettable fathers from fiction, Ken Jennings's list of eight top books about parents and kids, Anthony Horowitz's top ten list of apocalypse books, Karen Thompson Walker's list of five notable "What If?" books, John Mullan's list of ten of the top long walks in literature, Tony Bradman's top ten list of father and son stories, Ramin Karimloo's six favorite books list, Jon Krakauer's five best list of books about mortality and existential angst, William Skidelsky's list of the top ten most vivid accounts of being marooned in literature, Liz Jensen's top 10 list of environmental disaster stories, the Guardian's list of books to change the climate, David Nicholls' top ten list of literary tear jerkers, and the Times (of London) list of the 100 best books of the decade. In 2009 Sam Anderson of New York magazine claimed "that we'll still be talking about [The Road] in ten years."
--Marshal Zeringue
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