Comments on: ’50 Novels’ The Road: Afterthoughts

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:27:04 +0000

Nikesh,
Thank for the incredibly kind words, although I’m sure they’re not quite so deserved.

Thanks for the great suggestion on providing direct links for readers to add books to their own libraries. I’ll look into it.
Warmest
Rob

By: Nikesh Murali

Nikesh Murali — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:45:58 +0000

The Road is the first major literary achievement of this century.

Rob, really love your blog mate, has to be the best book blog out there. Could you please provide an option for your readers to add books to Shelfari, goodreads etc from the posts. That way we can all add your excellent choices to our own reading piles.

By: Linda M Au

Linda M Au — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:52:24 +0000

As you can imagine, Robert, I did not like the lack of punctuation in this book. (I’m a proofreader. So sue me.)

I just don’t buy into the idea that it adds to the starkness of the page or anything like that. It’s punctuation, for cryin’ out loud. Little tiny dots and hooks and such. Tiny. Unobtrusive. But there for a reason: to make it easier for the reader to follow your story and figure it out.

I’m one of those “prove it to me” types about up-ending conventions like spelling and punctuation. I just don’t see how removing quotation marks and apostrophes made the story any better or gave me any more insight into the plot or characters. In fact, I found it highly distracting and sometimes I had to reread something to “get” it — because of the messed-up punctuation.

When that happens — when you allow the reader to be brought OUT of the story due to formatting or errors — then you’ve not done your job as a writer.

But that’s just my two cents on THAT issue.

Aside from that, I loved THE ROAD. I found its ending a tad too tidy, though, given the bleakness of the rest of the story … but I was not upset with him for ending it that way. It was a relief, I suppose, that it didn’t end the way I feared it would end as I was reading.

As for the movie (starring Viggo Mortensen, I believe), a bunch of it was filmed right here in Pittsburgh. A dubious honor, when you stop to think the producers asked themselves, “Where can we film this movie that already looks post-apocalyptic?” (sigh) Pittsburgh’s a nice place, really.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:02:39 +0000

The lack of punctuation is a definite highlight Lis. You’ll love it (or rather the lack of it ))

One thing – It’s coming to the big screen around summertime so if you’re going to read it, make sure it’s sooner rather than later.
Warmest
Rob

By: Lis Ingram

Lis Ingram — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:42:45 +0000

Thanks for the afterthoughts – this is going on my reading list for the year right now. The ‘severe lack of punctuation’ sounds fascinating.

Can’t wait!

Lis

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:05:17 +0000

Art,
While I’m not sure of your reading tastes, I’m pretty sure you’d love this novel whatever they are…and I think you’re right it is good to get out of your ‘comfort zone’ on occasion. I did recently with Gaiman’s Graveyard Book and I enjoyed it immensely!!

Anyway nice to hear from you
Warmest
Rob

By: Art

Art — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:07:35 +0000

I heard that the movie was coming out soon, and then I learned that it was based on a book. I will have to put this book on my “to be read” pile, it sounds good, though not my usual type of read. But it’s good to occasionally get out of your comfort zone, right?

By: ‘50 Novels’ #12: A Fraction of the Whole - RobAroundBooks

‘50 Novels’ #12: A Fraction of the Whole - RobAroundBooks — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:33:12 +0000

[...] I seem to enjoy stories that centre on father/son relationships, I’m really looking forward to reading this. I just hope it doesn’t take too long to [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:14:35 +0000

Tracy, firstly your hubby is going to love reading this- especially for a literature class. I’m so jealous of him!

Secondly – you’re going to love The Road too. It’s an amazing novel, so please grab from him beforehand. You won’t regret it.

Thirdly – yeah this is one of my ‘skeletons in the cupboard’. This site is actually new because I used to just cover all of my reading ‘stuff’ at RobAroundTheClock. However as my passion for novel reading has grown, it’s needed a blog of it own soooo tada! Here it is )

By: Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:46:12 +0000

My husband has to read this book for his Literature class this semester. I may read it before he starts it next month! I love post-apocalyptic books ^_^.

By the way, I totally didn’t know about this site or your other one until today! I thought it was just paperlessundergrad!