Reading Homework
'The End'

1. About.com

• I agree with this
• 'whimper' highlights disappointment
• spent whole novel wondering the outcome if the man died, then he is just rescued almost
• however, does not take into account family could be cannibals, 'bad guys' etc
• poor ending, too good to be true
• cleverly sculpted book ending lets it down

2. Amazon reader review

• pleasant idea of 'timelessness'- accurate, book seems timeless due to monotonous descriptions repetition etc reflects world
• agree with huge amount of unanswered questions- what are the family, how did the world become like that, where are the rest of his family etc
• 'still don't have the answers' beauty of the way McCarthy crafted the novel, element of mystery, abstruseness, anger reader maybe

3. markrossiter (favourite)

• 'redemption' is 'inconsistent' didn't interpret in this way until reading this opinion strongly agree, leads to disappointment
• 'not a consequence of the two protagonists' didn't evaluate this either, throughout whole novel followed them and all outcomes have been down to them. Again highlighting inconsistency
• 'desired' and 'undeserved'= impeccable description/summary

4. William Kennedy

• agree with 'deus ex machina' did not think about man talking about it throughout 'goodness'
• 'boys becoming- or his mission' interesting interpretation, reinvent the world- solve all problems- 'messiah' salvation
• previously confused by ending of novel- beginning to apprehend more 
• 'rhythmic poetry' magnificent summary of McCarthy's creation

5. Amazon

• 'tragedy'
• disagree- optimist. don't know the boy has found salvation, family may be formidable
• 'hope' is there but disappointment to in comparison to the emptiness/hollowness of rest of the novel
• 'young boy provides a glimpse of optimism' agree with this, moral compass throughout.

6. Guardian

• 'cheesy cop out'- true in my opinion
• spent book waiting for a more traumatic, mysterious ending 
• inconsistent with the rest of novel- monotonous, discouraging, oppressive

7. John Holt

• 'timeless' reflects rest of the book

8. Guardian commenter

• 'seduced'- boy is niave 
• 'why do we think this guy is good'- my opinion, too optimistic in comparison with the novel. 
• more likely to be 'bad'

Re-evaluation

• desired ending
• disappointment
• inconsistent with rest of novel
• mystery
• different interpretations depending what reader wants to believe
• niavety
• mystery