I was going to do an ‘In the style of’ post about Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, but when I chanced upon Jacob Lambert’s version at The Millions, which not only has five parts but is also really funny, I realised what folly it would be to try and compete. However, I am still really wedded to the idea. For me, The Road is all about McCarthy’s writing style, apocalyptic messages to profligate humanity notwithstanding. It’s the no-space, no-hyphen compound words; and the resolute renouncement of apostrophes in contractions; and the mysterious non-appearance of inverted commas; and all the hair tousling. So I’m just going to herd you on over to Lambert’s parody by way of a choice quote.
Now this is the river, he said, indicating a random mapcrease. We follow the road here along the eastern slope of the mountains. These are our roads, the black lines here. See these roads? The boy seemed confused. What’s the matter, the man said.
I thought it was singular. You know. “The Road.”
The man’s eyes went wide. Where did you get those?
Get what?
The quotation marks.
The boy looked at his feet. Ive. Ive been saving them, Papa.
Well you can’t just use them like that. He took the boy’s face in his hands, more roughly than intended. Everything is precious. Everything. Do you understand?
The boy looked a little bit frightened. Yes Papa. I wont ever use them again. I promise.
sam | 31st May 10 | 1:57 pm |
You’re a bit of a smartarse, Estelle, but I like this. Is it the editor in you that couldn’t get past the atypical style?
And I still want to know: what did you think of the story itself?
estelle tang | 31st May 10 | 9:51 pm |
For the record! I love, atypic’al style,
Sam | 31st May 10 | 11:49 pm |
So many layers. Like an onion. Or parfait.
Katia | 31st May 10 | 7:28 pm |
Hi, Estelle,
Very, very funny. But what did you think of the story? I didn’t enjoy it myself.
Katia
estelle | 31st May 10 | 9:50 pm |
If you want to be passive aggressive, Cooney, just be an adult about it and write me a spammy email.
This reply for the both of you:
I loved the story – if you can call it that – its repetitive plot points and low-magnitude highs. I can only tolerate ’survival’ literature if it’s done well, and I loved McCarthy’s foor-related climaxes and grey exhaustion. Also, that there was little ability for the reader to place any one scene in any discernable arc of renewal or sustainability.
I thought the apocalyptic landscape was captured with a lot of subtlety for the most part, and quite a bit of restraint (especially in comparison with the movie, which I haven’t seen, but have heard a lot of kinda of dumb things about).
I could have given or taken the ending. I understand why McCarthy went the way he did – the way of hope rather than absolute isolation and fear – but I also wish it hadn’t been quite such an explicitly redemptive ending. I thought it could have been more ambiguous. But I didn’t hate it.
Sam | 31st May 10 | 11:57 pm |
Hardy ha. That’s more like it.
Are you being sarcastic? ‘its repetitive plot points and low-magnitude highs’? I can’t tell. (You’ve outsmarted me again, Tang.)
Umm I recommend seeing the film, as it’s one of the better/best adaptations I’ve seen. And read recent Pascall Prize winner Mark Mordue’s thoughts on the book and the film.
estelle | 1st Jun 10 | 10:13 pm |
‘One of the better/best adaptations I’ve seen’ doesn’t inspire me with confidence. For my part, I liked The Babysitters’ club movie. (NOT. THAT’S NOT WHAT CLAUDIA LOOKS LIKE, SHE LOOKS LIKE ME, ETC.)
I was actually being earnest there. Or was I?
Lu | 1st Jun 10 | 2:54 pm |
Well, I’ve never written before, but do enjoy your blog. This made me laugh. Now I want someone to do the same thing in the style of Banville’s The Sea. There’s a book I love to loathe.
estelle | 1st Jun 10 | 1:34 pm |
Oh no, I loved that book. I loved most of it so much that I didn’t even throw the book across the room about the egregious, unnecessary coincidence at the end of the book. Seriously! That’s an idea, though. When I get it back from my friend I might give that a go (and probably fail miserably, considering my vocabulary doesn’t comprise 910401927949127 words)