Perry’s Comments (group member since Oct 21, 2016)

Perry’s comments from the Arters AP Literature 2016-17 group.

The Road is a novel written by Cormac McCarthy that follows an unnamed man and a boy during an apocalypse. There isn’t much known about the Man or the Boy, only that the Man is the Boy’s father and that the Man used to have a wife. Like the Man and the Boy’s background, there is not much revealed about the apocalypse itself either. As a reader, you can tell that many things in the book are either burned or charred, leading to the assumption that there was some type of fire in the past, relating to the apocalypse. The story is basically the Man and the Boy just trying to survive and make it south to keep away from the cold. Although I enjoyed this book, I really could not relate to any of the characters. I have never been in a situation where I had to fight for survival.
In the beginning of the story, it seems like the Man and the Boy are the only ones left- no one else is around them. However, it can then be inferred that there are others still alive based off of their actions, such as hiding when they hear noises, the Man always carrying his gun in his hand, or the two getting nervous going inside of old houses. Once the story continues, the Man and the Boy start to come across other people. The first person they come across is a man who was struck by lightning. The Boy really wants to help him but the Man knows that the man struck by lightning is going to die anyway. This part really shows both of the characters personalities. The Man is focused on him and his son surviving, while his Son would rather help others. This is shown on multiple occasions throughout the story.
The Road is a very different type of story; it does not quite match the format for normal stories. For instance, the main characters in this story do not even have names, let alone backgrounds. There also are not many characters mentioned in this story besides the Man and the Boy. They occasionally run into other people on the road, or try to avoid other people, but they are mainly unnamed too. It is also never directly stated where the characters are located. They might not actually know where they were themselves, so Cormac McCarthy might not have added in there location so the reader does not know either.
Altogether, I found this book to be very interesting. I really enjoy books that take place in a post apocalyptic world. I liked the premise of the book itself, but I did not like the ending of this story. If there is anything I could change about this story, it would be ending. I would have liked a definitive ending that really wrapped up the story. However, I would recommend this book to anyone else who was interested in it. I really liked both of the main characters in this story and their fight for survival is very moving. The Man would do whatever he could to protect his son, and I really loved his character because of his dedication.

I also think that this takes place in the future, however I do see what you mean regarding the lack of technology. Besides the phone store, there isn't much more technology added in the story. The way the story was written, I think that the whole appocalype thing started sometime in the past, maybe 10 or so years ago.

I agree with you, I think that the man died of both the wound and his very bad cough. However, I thought that the man would eventually die just from his cough, I didn't think he would get injured in another way.

I think that the way this story was written helps represent the story, but I'm not a huge fan of it. I would rather know why the world looked the way it was and how long it has been since the world was normal.

I also did not like the ending to this book! I thought that they would finally reveal what had happened to the world, and I was alittle annoyed when they didn't. I also thought that they might have a happy ending and find a good place, and was disappointed when the man died. Hopefully the boy will use the information his father taught him and will survive.

Also, I really want to know why the boy is terrified of entering some houses. Did something happen to him and the man last time they entered a seemingly empty house? I also really want to know why everything seems to be burned. Does the boy know why everything is burned ?

I think that it might be worth their journey, in the end. They might be able to find some kind of safe haven. However, it seems like they are really struggling to get to where they are going, they are running out of all their supplies and are both starving.

I think that they aren't the only two people left, but I think there are very few people left. I find it very interesting that so many things they see are burned. Also, I find it kind of weird that they don't talk to each other very much, it seems to usually be silent. Is this because they have nothing to say to each other or is there something out there so they are keeping quiet ?

In the beginning of the book, there are two characters, a father and his son. They seem like they might be the only people left in the world, or at least the only people left where they are. They are travelling together, with limited food and supplies. Everything they see seems to be burned, indicating some type of huge fire. Also, the book often mentions how the father is gripping a gun in his hand, which might mean that there could be something dangerous out there. I'm excited to keep reading and find out what exactly is going on!

I am also going to be reading this book

Perry wrote: "I am on page 100 in "Gone Girl". I think this book is very interesting, it changes POV between the husband, Nick, in present time, and his wife, Amy, in old diary entries. So far, I have learned th..."

I am now on page 193 of Gone Girl. Amy has been missing for five days now and I just found out about Nick's young mistress. Nick's twin sister, Go, just found out and is super angry at him and also feels betrayed that he never told her. Nick has also talked to the girl who stalked Amy in high school and Amy's ex boyfriend, Desi. The girl who once stalked Amy was very offended of the phone call, and Desi was acting suspicious when Nick was talking to him. He thought they could both be possible suspects in Amy's disappearance. In Amy's diary entries, she is writing about her and Nick's relationship, how he became less interested in her. She is taking Nick's mom to the hospital and is taking care of her, and Nick is off doing his own thing.

I am on page 100 in "Gone Girl". I think this book is very interesting, it changes POV between the husband, Nick, in present time, and his wife, Amy, in old diary entries. So far, I have learned that their relationship began to take a turn for the worse. Suddenly, Amy has disappeared and Nick is with the police trying to find her. I'm excited to keep reading to see where this goes.

Gone Girl