Kinda like comparing apples and oranges. The Jungle is grim but the author was trying to make a social point so there was a bit of forced artificiality there. IOW, there was an agenda.

The Road has no agenda AFAIK. It's just relentlessly grim. But strangely uplifting. Like to hear what you think when done with it, Nick.

>Is it as grim as The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Thats my grimmest book read up to now.
>
>>That'll put a smile on your face!
>>
>>It's very good, and well deserving of the award it won. (The Pulitzer Prize for fiction last year, which is sort of our version of the Booker Prize). But what a grim book.
>>
>>>Hi John
>>>
>>>just bought The Road yesterday.
>>>
>>>
>>>>Million Dollar Baby is another good example.
>>>>
>>>>Hah, Nicholas, I'm the same way. When nothing in the SF section interests me I go to the History, Politics, or Military sections.
>>>>
>>>>Yes, please, read Greg Bear's The Forge of God. It's a bit dated, having been released in 1986, but it's the greatest alien invasion novel ever written. Pop me an email at jskoziol4@comcast.net to discuss....like to hear which history books you find worthwhile.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I'll take a look for that Greg Bear.
>>>>>
>>>>>I loved Sci Fi but these days when I go to the book shops I can never seem to find anything I want to read. I always seem to end up in the history section or photography.
>>>>>
>>>>>I know what you mean about bleak films. The Clint Eastwood film Million Dollar Baby was very hard to watch.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Very good point.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If I recall, Childhood's End has been optioned since the 1970's. A similarly bleak novel, The Forge of God, by Greg Bear, has also been optioned with no film.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It's weird because Hollywood can make pictures that don't end happily and enjoy huge success. Look at this year's "No Country for Old Men". Best Picture.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>BTW, the original author of that was Cormac McCarthy who also wrote a book last year called "The Road". Also optioned. If you ever want to read the bleakest, most depressing book ever read that one. But it is a beautiful book and could be a beautiful movie.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>A long time since I've read that one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't think that film could be made. Hollywood could never accept the end.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>My favorite story of his was "The Nine Billion Names of God". It creeped me out when I was a teen and first read it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Hey, Nick, don't you think that a $100 MM epic could be made of "Chidhood's End"? My alltime favorite Clarke novel (followed closely by Rendezvous with Rama).
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Sigh.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I guess my Childhood is at an End. Godspeed, Arthur.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Yes
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>great books and great ideas. I grew up reading those stories.
>>>>>>>>>I've still got my original very dog eared copy of the sands of mars somewhere. (not a 1st edition but the first one I ever bought)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Nick