Go read this book. Now.

I just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

Oh my...

It was like having my heart ripped out, tapdanced all over, then served to me on a silver platter. But in a good way.

The novel centers on a father and son (names are never mentioned), scraping for survival while traveling through a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The terse, spare writing contributes to the tension and sense of perpetual terror the two face in a planet without animals, plants or sunlight, where all they have is each other in a desperate world populated only by hopeless refugees and savage raiders.

I seldom succumb to emotion when reading - I strongly dislike sentimentalism in novels, and if I scent even the merest whiff of the author attempting to manipulate my emotions, they instantly drop a few notches in my estimation. But Cormac McCarthy made me cry. I became so desperately attached to the characters, it was all I could do not to start bawling when I finally came to the inevitably heartbreaking - yet somehow hopeful - end.

I was also thrilled to discover that there's currently filming in progress for a movie, starring Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings Viggo Mortensen. Not only do I think this is the best casting in the history of movie making (Viggo is such an morose, thoughtful actor), but I can't wait to see him get down and dirty again - is it just me, or is that a man who looks significantly better when grungy?

vs

Sorry about that. I needed to lift the mood a little before I turn into a big soppy mess again. But seriously folks - this is an amazing book from an extraordinarily talented author. It's not a feel good novel, but it is one of the best I've ever read, and speaks strongly of human emotion, love, dedication and hope. Go read it. Now.