McCoven Book in Common: The Road
by operation carrot on Jan 9, 2012 7:40 PM PST
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PrintHello McCoven book in common members. For our inaugural book selection the members of this fine site choose a book that in tone perhaps best surmises the giants off season. It is written by Cormac McCarthy a Pulitzer Prize winning author who famously also wrote All The Pretty Horses and No Country for Old Men.
The Road is the tale of a boy and his father and their attempts to survive and cope in a post apocalyptic world. This book is near the top of every critics top book in the last ten years list and hopefully will more than meet the hype. Because the book a little over 256 pages the time frame for this book to be finished will be one month.
Since this is the first book club post I was thinking of establishing some ideas and seeing what you all think.
The first is a pacing guide. Not for what you can read, you can read at any speed you feel comfortable with, but for discussion on the boards. I am sure people will want to discuss the book with the people in the community as they read and thats fine but I would like to avoid spoiling people who may not have the time to read as quickly as you. Unfortunately this book does not use chapters for separation and using page numbers is a horrible way of doing it since different people's editions will use different numbering. For that reason try to read about a quarter of the book each week. Any major spoilers should be preceded by the phrase MAJOR SPOILER Book Club in the subject line of any comment made on the main boards so that way some one who doesn't want to be spoiled can minimize the comment. That being said spoilers will not have to be put in spoiler tags once we have reached a certain point in the pacing guide. Meaning that after week 1 and event from the first quarter of the book is fair game and if you get spoiled try to keep up. Thats what separates a book in common from a book club is that while we will still have a cumulative thread, we will also be discussing it frequently and interactively throughout.
For future reference the cumulative thread will include a poll of books for our next selection drawn from the nominations in the previous thread. I may include books that did not get as many votes to try to mix up the genres. Happy reading everybody.
STARTING DATE IS JANUARY 21st
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
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I have read this book.
It is terrific, but take your happy pills before settling in folks.
Andre Ethier: Gross-o-Matic 5000
-Adopted Giant: Dan Runzler
I am worried too many people will have read this book already
I hope this is not the case
:(
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 9, 2012 8:46 PM PST up reply actions
I’ve read it. Enjoyed it though.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 10, 2012 2:19 AM PST up reply actions
yeah i read it too
but it’s a pretty quick read and something most people should read. i’ll try to join in on the discussion when I can.
has anyone seen the movie? i’m curious how it compares.
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 10, 2012 8:05 AM PST up reply actions
ive seen the movie
not read the book. so that doesn’t help at all
by Brannigan's Law on Jan 10, 2012 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
It compares okay, though the movie doesn’t deal as much as I would like with what I consider the central dilemma of the book.
That said, I simply don’t think it’s a story that lends itself to the big screen. I thought that the moment I heard about the movie. Seeing the movie confirmed that initial thought.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 24, 2012 2:34 PM PST up reply actions
Dear god this book was depressing
Scary, depressing, and slow. This book reminds me of the Giants on far to many levels
Down in Front Meat!
by homerdrew415 on Jan 9, 2012 10:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I...
will attempt this.
Are starting ‘zomg right now’ or are we giving people a week to acquire the book before diving in?
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
giving people a week
or close to it
How is January 15th as an official start date?
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 9, 2012 8:57 PM PST up reply actions
Might be enough, though it depends on people getting on Amazon promptly, or to a brick and mortar bookstore.
I’d continue to link this to the main threads if I were you, just so there’s increased visibility. At least once per thread. The more the merrier, after all.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
Hmm. I forgot about people ordering online. Im going to push the date back later
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 9, 2012 9:02 PM PST up reply actions
ok. that should give people time to get the book shipped to them through an online store
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 9, 2012 9:03 PM PST up reply actions
I like this idea!
The Road was a really good book, I really liked it. Like Alex_Lewis said, it’s pretty dark, but it’s a good read, like a lot of McCarthy’s books. And in that sentence alone, I think I used more commas than McCarthy does in that entire book.
by Mycroft's Brother on Jan 9, 2012 10:38 PM PST reply actions
This does not bode well for me.
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
MYTH
I own the book, but I don’t have it handy so I just went on Google Books to check it out. On the first available page there:
Crouching there pale and naked and translucent, its alabaster bones cast up in shadow on the rocks behind it. Its bowels, its beating heart… Barren, silent, godless.
That last sentence is three words. It has two commas. That’s a 2/3 comma-to-word ratio. McCarthy may be spare, but he’s certainly a user of commas.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 10, 2012 8:49 AM PST up reply actions
Okay, but how is he with semicolons? Before I commit to a book I want to know that there will be semicolons.
"If it's weird, you know it's probably Wilson's." - Matt Cain
The semi-colon is obsolete. Not to mention, it’s a cop out. It’s the bisexuality of the punctuation world. Be a period. Be a comma. Whatever. Just make a decision.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 24, 2012 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
He doesn’t like quotation marks, though.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 10, 2012 4:17 PM PST up reply actions
Double air commas can go to hell.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 10, 2012 5:20 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I believe they are called ‘inverted commas’ in the Queen’s English.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 11, 2012 9:06 AM PST up reply actions
He can go paragraphs — pages — without them. Which, whatever. But it can get confusing.
by Grant Brisbee on Jan 10, 2012 4:35 PM PST up reply actions
I actually don’t even remember noticing anything askew when I first read the book. I’d probably be more attuned to it now, having spent those dark years being paid to push commas.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 10, 2012 5:20 PM PST up reply actions
Just pick up anything by Jose Saramago afterwards and you’ll get more than your fill of commas. His is a world of comma-laden sentences that go on for days.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 24, 2012 2:37 PM PST up reply actions
I don’t think I’m going to pick it up again, but I’m definitely down for the discussions.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 10, 2012 8:04 AM PST reply actions
Definitely count me in for this book club thing! I’ve read The Road, but loved it, and would read it again with the group.
Vroom. Walks. Five positions. Justin Christian
I've been fully suckered into the Twitterverse. Oops.
I would like to keep these here in case of emergency.
I never go into Cormac McCarthy without them.
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I will read this again for the swarm.
Giants Baseball: Hope like hell™
Proud father of the man in charge of taking your hard-earned cash.
I haven’t tried, but I feel like it has a lot of re-read value.
My son, so I'm told. And this stalwart young lad (Hi, free f.p. #14!).
I read this book already
Spoiler alert: It is horribly depressing and soul crushing.
Ron Washington really Britta'd that Series.
Please follow my Twitter
by Murray, Present on Jan 10, 2012 11:44 AM PST reply actions
If you are a stickler for punctuation, I believe you’ll find most great fiction extremely annoying.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 24, 2012 2:38 PM PST up reply actions
Got an audiobook
Hardcopy on reserve at the local used merchant.
If I have a problem with the punctuation/writing style, I’ll just listen.
COMIN' ATCHA, FROM ANCHORAGE, ALASKA!
Fathaigh go mbuaimid!
Proud adoptive Father of Joe Panik. 2011 NWL MVP .
Job 1:14-15
I've read this before, but it was two or three years ago. I'd re-read it with the group, but my copy is back at home, I believe.
I knew I should’ve brought ALL of my books to Davis with me.
Adopted Giant: Mike Fontenot
He's like Grant, but fun size.
Occasionally, I tweet.
there's decent used bookstores in Davis
as a recent big seller, easy to find that way.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
by foothillsfan on Jan 11, 2012 7:11 AM PST up reply actions
I hate re-reading, and I’m in the middle of a book now. I’ll wait for the next one. I love this idea though.
Carter Jurica!
"Has anyone really been for even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?"
by GrahamCrakalaka on Jan 11, 2012 2:12 AM PST reply actions
I love rereading, if the book is good.
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2012 8:41 AM PST up reply actions
I spend an absurd amount of my time rereading stuff.
Vroom. Walks. Five positions. Justin Christian
I've been fully suckered into the Twitterverse. Oops.
Next time for sure we are going to pick something that everyone hasn't already read
Sometimes you just have to look death in the face and say whatever man
Proud parent of Jeff Keppinger's better half
by operation carrot on Jan 11, 2012 6:09 AM PST reply actions
Watched the movie too. For some reason when I was reading the book I kept picturing Will Smith as the dad. Even though it was implicated that he was caucasian.
Giants Baseball: Hope like hell™
Proud father of the man in charge of taking your hard-earned cash.
Did you have “I Am Legend” stowed away in your mind, maybe?
"I see these guys walking around with rings on, and I want one. That's what it's all about." -Ryan Vogelsong
Gary Busie
STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.
by UnleashTheGore on Jan 11, 2012 8:06 AM PST up reply actions
Welcome to post-apocalyptic Earth!
Once more, coming to you by proxy.
by howtheyscored on Jan 11, 2012 8:42 AM PST up reply actions
more posts to move the thread up
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
by foothillsfan on Jan 25, 2012 11:01 AM PST up reply actions
I could see him pumping some product placement into it
go rowand
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jan 12, 2012 6:15 PM PST up reply actions
That may be difficult to achieve unless you choose a new release.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 24, 2012 2:39 PM PST up reply actions
i tell people
great great book and i totally
dont recommend it
that is how bad ass it is
if you have young kids , or even less young, youre screwed
just posting to get this moved up the board
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
by foothillsfan on Jan 25, 2012 11:00 AM PST up reply actions
OK I started it
goes fast with all the white space.
let’s move this discussion!
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
I read lots of Sci Fi or “speculative fiction”. I guess this is speculative, in terms of what if…
In general the idea is to accept the premise, not ask how plausible it is. Then focus on the results of the premise.
So this seems, after the first 1/4 of the book, to be about a father son relationship. And the merits of suicide when things are miserable. And maybe killing your kid too. And how to cope when society is gone.
Other themes may appear and I hope they do.
I am enjoying the father son part, and even the theme of camping and surviving. I kind of push the darkness and death into the background so I can get through. The characters basically do that too.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
Are we going to get the green light to discuss when people are finished? I’d hate to spoil anything.
by BestHyperboleEver on Jan 25, 2012 1:27 PM PST reply actions
don’t know how to contact the moderator to get him / her to start a new thread so people will notice / remember.
Marvin Barrios, come on I'll show you your bedroom. Don't stay on the phone too long to Panama, please.
by foothillsfan on Jan 25, 2012 4:51 PM PST up reply actions
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