Bastard Out Of Carolina

BASTARD OUT OF CAROLINA
by Dorothy Allison

 Nomination: National Book 1992

 Date Read: May 1, 2020

 When I was much younger, I remember hearing people discussing this book and curiosity has remained with me through all these years. This heartbreaking novel hit a little too close to home, as an abuse survivor myself. 

 Bone has so many things going for her and so many things against here that it balances out to zero. She has a lot of family that care about her and are there to support her. She has an incredibly flawed mother who loves her and a sister that tolerates her, as sisters do.  But the strikes against her are powerful - poverty and the same mother who loves her.

 I wanted so much for Annie to put Bone first and I'll give her credit for trying. What I can't understand is, knowing what Glen is like with Bone and knowing exactly what will happen, why she continues to put Bone in harm's way. I get that she loves Glen. But I don't get how you can continue to love a man who doesn't deserve respect. For me, love and respect go hand in hand. I don't love everyone I respect but I can't love someone I don't respect.

 In the end, I had hoped so much for Annie to wake up from her Glen fog and everyone live happily ever after but I know life is much more complicated than that. I think that Bone being left Raylene is the best thing that could happen for her. At least she will be safe, probably bitter and permanently scarred, but safe.

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