Bastard Out of Carolina (Paperback) by Dorothy Allison

from AlisonY

This book is so raw, painful, gutsy, vivid and honest it leaves a hole in your heart. Semi-autobiographical, this is the story of Bone, a child born to southern 'white trash' in Carolina, to a family where illegitimacy, criminality, abuse and hopelessness are a way of life, part of an inevitable ...

from kalobo

Very powerful book, brutal self-analysis of a young girl's abusive childhood in the 50s, in the south. People looking for resolution in a story may not like this book, however I found it honest.

from blackbelt.librarian

A dark and difficult read, but a good read nonetheless. Allison's book is semi-autobiographical and tells the story of Bone, a child who sees the world through the keen eyes of an adult. Her family unravels when her mother marries Glen...and the drama culminates in one horrible act.

from meredk

A novel that packs a real emotional wallop. Allison clearly knows her subject matter, both people and place - it feels much more like a memoir than a novel. There are a few places where I think some judicious editing would have been helpful, but even without those improvements this is a strong pi...

from lindawwilson

A very good book, realistic; subject matter that I don't like too much; incest etc; the more modern literature seems to like this topic as does Opra Winnfry who always puts this type of book on her "Oprah List", but this one is well done and more of a classic