The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

Watch that hammy. Its such a bugger.

Still got in a quality 5, so as long as no damage was done, definitely not a loss

The road!

Never saw "The Road", but I did read the book. One of my all-time top 10 I think.

For anyone who liked The Road, there's a new novel out called "The Dog Stars" that I highly recommend.

Jon, I opted for The Road. It's my favourite book of all time. I've read it so many times that I almost know every word. I've seen the movie a good few time too. It does a pretty good job of keeping to the book and captures the sub text of the book beautifully. Cormac is the man. Given a choice of breaking 2hrs for the marathon or being the author of The Road, I'd go for being the author of The Road. I'll have to settle for writing this flummery.

Rob, I'll get that book this week. Could you let me know the name of your mate who wrote the boxing book and if possible, the title too.

Randy Roberts from Purdue University in Indiana.

I've got in a handful of heated discussions with people over the years about The Road. Some folks can't see the beauty and hope and optimism that the book depicts despite the bleakness of the setting.

Interesting - I too have read the Road, though not seen the movie - found the book to be quite good. I find it interesting that so many of us on here have read it. There must be something in that - I mean I don't remember it being a hugely popular novel when it came out a few years ago.

I've read it too and really liked it. In fact, I think it was one of those books that I was up until the wee hours of the morning with b/c I couldn't put it down.

Ah, now don't get me started...

Just as The Wasteland was the poem to end all poems, The Road is the novel to end all novels - that's saying something after Joyce's Ulysses.

McCarthy captures the inherent evil and violence of man while, at the same time, managing to evince man's softness, man's vulnerabilities, man's weaknesses: the beauty and love and warmth of family and, to some extent, humanity. In this juxtapositon - and in his style - McCarthy destroys the novel, in much the same way as man will eventually destroy this little rock. And so what... What does it matter? Man and this little rock are insignificant.

The reason why The Road is a masterpiece is this: McCarthy puts you - the reader - behind the eyes of the man with no name. You are the man. Rarely does he go inside the man's head. He lets you think for the man: 'He stood there for sometime. Just thinking.'

What were you thinking? All of us were thinking, I hope man is better than this and I don't end up in this position - with my child. How would I cope with my sickening child in the cold and the dark and the wet on a road that cuts across a little rock spinning in the ever darkening darkness. The blackness. A godless rock. A rock plagued with the likes of Me and You.

But then you have, '...if he is not the word of God God never spoke.' The greatest line ever written in a novel. Why? Because without hope, we are all doomed to rot in the earth for an eternity.

Perhaps this little rock needs a dose of The Road. Leave the children to start all over again. Would they learn from the mistakes of their fathers. I very much doubt it. Man and the world is set on a journey, on a road in the darkness that leads to hell.

Discuss...

Happy new year, folks:)

Great thoughts Bam. You will get a kick out of knowing that a couple English teachers here at the high school where I teach have been assigning the book for the past three years. Not only that but, inevitably I suppose, we have an angry group of parents trying to get it banned. Eager to reveal their ignorance.

The only thing I would add to what you have written is hope. The book left me with hope for humanity even in the worst of possible circumstances. I mean THe Man actually bothered to teach The Boy table manners! Even in that unthinkable setting he was not merely concerned with the survival of his son but in passing on small bits of what it means to be human and civilized.

What do you think of the rest of McCarthy's work? Do you know anything about him? Very interesting man. Have you read Blood Meridian?

Rob, I'm a big fan. I've read all of his work - many times - to the point that it's taken me many years to get his writing voice out of my head. I've just managed to overcome my McCarthy rip-offs.

Blood Meridian is top draw too, especially if you're interested in watching McCarthy's voice develop.

I also, like No Country For Old Men. I'd rank that as 'one' of the top twenty best thriller/crime novels of all time. That said, there are some great crime books out there.

Soon enough, perhaps later this year, a book called 'Players' is coming out. It's a pacey crime story set in Oxford - it'll have tongues wagging. The author's some chap called John Starret. Dashingly handsome. Decent enough runner too:)

I'm still struggling to get Hemmingway out of my head. My 'real' writing voice is somewhere in between the two.

You're right about hope and the table manners etc. Didn't you just want them to stay in the den? And then, the people who were following the man and the boy, were good guys.

Those parents who want the book banned are the very people who'd turn into the savages in such a scenario. Plebs. They should be taken and... Maybe I should hold my tongue.

And before anybody starts giving out to me, read the book carefully. Read what I've written carefully. Then look up the word irony. Then, and only then, come and give me your best shot:)

Meanwhile, this rock will turn and turn and then turn again, while we all struggle with magnitude of the big question...

...Is there a God, Santa or Easter Bunny? No, that's not the big question. Now that Bam has worked out how to post a photograph (his daughter's photo is up) will he let the world see how handsome he is? No, that's not the big question? Will Bam break 15 mins for 5k this year. Yes, that's the big question. The answer is, of course he will.

The Road is probably my favorite book! Just incredibly well-written and thought-provoking. I haven't seen the movie though, I heard it wasn't very good. Did I hear wrong? Should I check it out?

Riley, hope all's well and you're getting plenty of sleep.

The movie is worth checking out. I'm not sure if it's out on DVD (legit) - I got a copy from a man who knows a man etc.

It pretty much keeps to the book, apart from the start where the wife has a bit more of a role in the film than the book , but that doesn't alter the story in a bad way. In fact, it enhances the story.

It's beautifully shot and does a great job on capturing the essence of the book. It surprised me - I wasn't expecting the film to do justice to such a wonderful book, but it did.

If you get a chance to watch it, let me know what you think...