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The Road by Cormac McCarthy
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The Road by Cormac McCarthy
12:42 PM EDT 9/23/08
Has anyone used The Road by Cormac McCarthy in a book discussion? If so, then how did the patrons react to it?
RE: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Tags: book clubs book discussion groups
4:59 PM EST 11/11/08 as a reply to Meredith Wagner.
Hi Meredith,

What are your concerns about this particular title? My library book group (that I'm a participant in) just did a review of our first year's books, and we found that many of us had a hard time finishing books that explored the darker aspects of humanity.

For example, only two of us showed up to discuss the book When Broken Glass Floats: Growing Up Under the Khmer Rouge. The next book meeting, many in the group said they found it difficult to finish, because of the topic, and two, didn't feel they could take a discussion of it.

Our group, though sponsored by the library, doesn't have a facilitator.

I also haven't read The Road yet, though it's on my list of books to next read.
RE: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
5:10 PM EST 11/11/08 as a reply to Emily Inlow-Hood.
We also discussed in our year-end review that we liked books that helped us understand our local environment and culture (Pacific Northwest). One book that got high marks was The Golden Spruce by John Vaillant because it talked about the local logging industry and Haida culture.

Emily
RE: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
9:40 PM EST 11/15/08 as a reply to Emily Inlow-Hood.
Yes, I was concerned about using it (despite its Pultizer Prize and good reviews) because it was so dark, and I was curious how other readers would react to it.
RE: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
6:41 PM EST 1/15/09 as a reply to Meredith Wagner.
I read The Road a month ago, on the recommendation of a colleague. It is quite dark, relentlessly so. Its great redeeming quality is that it is so beautifully written.

I would hesitate to recommend it for a book discussion. I know some people who had a vehement negative reaction to it. It is hard to look at the utterly bleak picture it paints. I made the decision not to read it before bed so I would be less likely to have my dreams haunted by it.

Another colleague relished the book because she loves dark and depressing novels. So, you never know.