I was not a fan of this book when I started it. The depressing grayness of it, and all the repetitive scavenging. Not to mention the grim foreshadowing that seeps into your imagination and makes your soul sick. I found myself diagnosing the father's illness (his incessant cough), and imagining what might happen to this boy if my prognoses were correct. 
 This book to me was about humanity v. primal instinct on the part of the father. As for the little boy, this book was more about belonging in a world that is smothering you with fear and horror. How do you belong to a world that only consists of you, your father, and bad guys? 
 The ending honestly shocked me. Throughout my reading, I imagined a much dimmer fate for the little boy, but I am definitely satisfied. 
 Would I recommend this to my friends / family? Definitely not. 
 This is not for the faint of heart, but if you are looking for a piece with magnificent, visceral imagery, and language that suits the world McCarthy built, you should check this out.