Bastard Out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison (1992)
This novel is largely autobiographical. It is narrated by Bone Boatwright. Her real name is Ruth Anne, but when she was born, her uncle announced that she was "no bigger than a knucklebone", and the name stuck. Bone was the illegitimated daughter of Anney, a young sixteen year-old. She was born when being illegitimate carried a stigma. Her biological was never in the picture.
A few years later, Anney married Lyle Parsons, but when he was killed in a freak accident, she found herself a widow at 19 with two babies. While working in a diner, she met Glen Waddell. Glen was the black sheep of his family. His sibling were all successful lawyers and doctors, but Glen could barely keep a job. Anney fell in love with him anyway and he became her second husband.
At first Glen seemed to be gentle, but he soon showed his dark side, especially to Bone, whom he terrorized. She was subject to sexual and physical abuse, but felt she could not confide in anyone in her loving extended family.
This was not an easy topic to read, but I did like the writing style.
Read: December 18, 2017
4 Stars
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