The Way
In Cary Groner’s dystopian novel The Way, a reclusive Buddhist wonders about his place in a changed world.
Will is living on borrowed time in the postapocalyptic American Southwest, where his circumstances feel hopeless. Now in his fifties, he is one of the few people left who is old enough to remember the world before it collapsed. Wildlife and diseases surge into the gaps left by human beings, prompting wonderment and presenting deadly challenges. Still, nature finds ways to help people survive.
Accompanied by a cat and a raven while on the run from a mysterious but brutal enemy, Will is determined to stay true to his principles despite what he faces. He moves toward what used to be California, determined to complete a vital mission and give humanity a fighting chance. Still, he worries more about the karmic effects that his actions may have than he does about the personal dangers he faces. Indeed, he ruminates on his past and present situations with a mix of nostalgia, wry humor, and disappointment with human shortcomings, even as he is pushed toward his physical and moral limits.
Along the way, Will makes meaningful but fleeting connections with his friends. Collectively, their voices reflect a brutal frankness that is both logical and heartbreaking. At the same time, Will mourns for Eva, his love who died long ago; her memory is a sentimental beacon home in the midst of his suffering and misery. And despite what he’s lost, he opens himself to parental affection for a jaded teenage orphan with whom he learns tough lessons.
Open-ended yet optimistic, The Way is a hopeful dystopian novel in which a man searches for peace and beauty at the end of the world.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
