The Road

Bleak, depressing, and sad, The Road could fall into the genre of the dystopic novel because of its post-apocalyptic setting, but I consider it an allegory of the parent-child relationship.  The parent goes through hardship to care for the child and keep him alive.  The parent tries to explain why he is doing what he is doing, even though the child cannot understand, and the parent cannot adequately explain.  The parent tries to instill a sense of morality.  All of this done in the hope that the child will be equipped to care for himself when it becomes necessary.  While I didn't love The Road (so bleak, depressing, and sad), I am comforted by the message in the face of my own grief in the recent loss of my mother.