A profound portrait of family dynamics in the rural South and “an essential novel” (The New Yorker) “As close to flawless as any reader could ask for . . . The living language [Allison] has created is as exact and innovative as the language of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye.” —The New York Times Book Review The publication of Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina was a … Review
The publication of Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina was a landmark event that won the author a National Book Award nomination and launched her into the literary spotlight. Critics have likened Allison to Harper Lee, naming her the first writer of her generation to dramatize the lives and language of poor whites in the South. Since its appearance, the novel has inspired an award-winning film and has been banned from libraries and classrooms, championed by fans, and defended by critics.
Greenville County, South Carolina, is a wild, lush place that is home to the Boatwright family—a tight-knit clan of rough-hewn, hard-drinking men who shoot up each other’s trucks, and indomitable women who get married young and age too quickly. At the heart of this story is Ruth Anne Boatwright, known simply as Bone, a bastard child who observes the world around her with a mercilessly keen perspective. When her stepfather Daddy Glen, “cold as death, mean as a snake,” becomes increasingly more vicious toward her, Bone finds herself caught in a family triangle that tests the loyalty of her mother, Anney—and leads to a final, harrowing encounter from which there can be no turning back.
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Realistic and we’ll paced, but depressing.
Putting a book down before I have finished it is very difficult for me, but I have learned that life is too short, with too many good books, to read a bad one. Putting a book down when I have almost finished it is unheard of for me. That’s precisely what I did with this book.
I found it a stereotype of the southern “good ole’ boy” and the southern woman wimp who will do whatever it takes to “keep her man.”
Having read the author’s bio, I have come to believe that she envisions herself “enlightened” after her forays away from home and has determined that she will share her educated wisdom about all these rubes with the world. I found her treatise demeaning and insulting.
I started reading this heart wrenching novel many years ago when I was raising my three daughters. At that time the brutality, the feigned indifference, and ignorance was something I could not endure. However, I knew this was a well written book chronicling a frequent pattern of familial child abuse that was part of the skeletons in my closet. Now 40 years later, I have a better perspective and sat down to read Dorothy Allison’s “Bastard out of Carolina”.
This is an intense read. Although Allison is not heavy handed in describing the abuse of Ruth Anne (Bone) Boatwright by the hands of her cowardly step-father, Daddy Glen, your imagination picks up where Allison’s words leave off – and the vivid conjuring of your mind can be violent and brutal. Of course Bone told no one; her large poor fairly uneducated Southern family who displayed surprisingly acute understanding for one another could not see beneath the surface of the blank and withdrawn person who was their precious Bone? Because denial is the easiest way to cope with anything; if you don’t scratch beneath the surface and push a bit then nothing is wrong. There is also that worry that if you ask too many questions, you may make it worse for the child. And of course there is also the concern that the child will deny all allegations, unless you see proof of the abuse. These things I know firsthand as a person and as a high school teacher who always championed for her students.
What makes this book so special is the way Allison pens her story; she is impartial in her writing, providing a sense of dignity for each character within the dynamics of the family and the rest of the town. In this way, the reader is able to connect with each persona, no matter how evil, weak, or ignorant he or she may be. Allison offers no apology for her characters, no great sense of self understanding, forgiveness, or righteousness. There is no meting out of justice. Dorothy Allison has stayed true to her dedication, using a quote from James Baldwin…’People pay for what they do, and still more, for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it simply, by the lives they lead.’ And that is what makes this an astonishing book in a class of its own.
Loved it. You won’t be disappointed.
An amazing view into what is a reality for way too many people. Life is far from the lovely picture many paint but you can come out on the other side! As a teacher I often said we have no clue what our students are going through and we must be mindful of that at all times!
The characters in this book were so real, I felt like I was watching and listening to them. This book was phenomenal.
LOTS of foul language which is understandable in the setting but may be upsetting to some.
So very sad and depressing.
Life in a small town in the South is not the bucolic life that many of us imagine. Anney’s daughter, Bone, has to grow up fast. She is a character to be reckoned with in many ways. Although, you may think you know the outcome (or you’ve seen the movie), the prose is well worth reading.
Bastard Out Of Carolina is a haunting, haunting story. I’m glad I read it.I just wish I understodd the ending.
I had a trade paper back copy when it was first published. It is one of the best books that I’ve ever read. At times it was so disturbing, I would cry and need to take a break but every word in the book paints a painful picture of a sweet little girl born into difficult circumstances, her mother lives her, but is flawed, luckily she has a large extended family that is observant and does what it can to help. I still have it, and read the book again every few years. It was made into a television movie that was done well too. My daughter read it when she was in her late teens and was also deeply effected.
Tragic characters who learn how to survive. Well written, but no relief from drama of this girl’s life. Pretty bleak.
Should have won a Pulitzer for writing. It was that good.
This book was an interesting story about a sexually abused little bastard in Carolina. The ending was kind of jarring and sudden. It just ended rather abruptly in my opinion.
This book changed how I looked at my own writing.
This book was difficult to read due to the similarities that I endured growing up. Nonetheless, it’s a great read. With characters that are true to form.
It’s about family bonds, love, and loyalty. About a mother’s love and her many mistakes. About a daughter’s love and disappointments.
Interesting main character. Holds your interest, but overall a sad story. Would recommmend.
Well written–it left quite an impression on me about what can happen to in people’s lives–the author might have been telling the true story of people I know.
Book was about a child with a pedofile for a step father….and a weakling for a mother. The rest was verbiage of how she stayed with whichever aunt would keep her. The filler pages and family conversations got monotonous about half way through…so skimmed alot of the last half of the book. Can’t recommend this one.
A gritty, honest look at family violence, dysfunction, and child abuse. Not for the faint of heart.