Like many people I like to read before falling asleep. Most of the time this is great because it helps me unwind and relax. Plus it helps get all the television gadgets out of my head so I can sleep well through the night (have you heard of this?).

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Last week I finished The Road, which was a book I read primarily before going to bed since I don’t have much time during the day to read anymore (blasted school–not really, though). Now that I have had time to let it marinate and digest I conclude that The Road is seriously a great book. Not one that I would normally pick up, but definitely excellent. Reading it before bedtime, however, is perchance not the best idea. A couple of nights I was riddled with anxiety as scenes of “bad guys” hiding out amongst the trees and the man and the boy being forced to defend themselves danced through my mind. Cormac McCarthy’s images of dead people (specifically those hiding underneath certain floorboards in the kitchen) were especially disturbing and not exactly what I want in my brain-head before slumber.

Despite my lack of enthusiasm above (and small spoiler–entshuldigung) I would highly recommend The Road. It stands out not only for its unique style but also for the thought-provoking questions it raised (at least for me). A man and his son are left wondering years after the Earth’s apocalyptic demise. They walk along the road heading east to find the ocean…and then what? They aren’t sure either. Who knows what they will find when (or if) they will get there. They keep constant watch for people not carrying the light like themselves and always have to be on guard.

Now, I know this is getting morbid, but if I were in the same situation I’m not sure I would make it that long. Honestly. I know it’s terrible and seems rather lame, but the sense of hopelessness and defeat would surely be so overwhelming, I don’t know if I could take uncertainty and destruction for so long. There were a couple of tough emotions I was wrassling with come the conclusion of the book.

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Next up on the list is The Surrendered by Chang-Rae Lee. This novel chronicles the lives of two people deeply affected by the Korean War. The images of refugees fleeing and sometimes taken hostage, the painful and seemingly emotionless torture, and both accidental and intentional deaths are just a little much for me at bedtime so far. I’m about 100 pages in and totally hooked, but think I might need to squeeze in some extra time during the day for this one.