What struck me most about this book was how it puts you into the cold and bleak world the characters suffer through. I felt cold and miserable as the characters did. I guess that was the point to counter-balance that with the warmth of the man and son. The father is a bit o pretentious by saying they are the holder's of the fire but it does seem apt for their world. Haunting book which I like. It will stick with me but that may be due to the fact of the novelty factor of my reading this type of book. My reading tastes don't trend to this style but this author is a master as with All the Pretty Horses