Bastard out of Carolina: (Plume Essential Edition) (edition 2005)

this is what i wrote years ago:

on Monday, July 26, 2004 I wrote:

Well Finally I had a chance to pick up this book.
I am reading 3 books at once right now. (wish I had 2 pair of brains and head so i could read more books
:-)

I've read the first 2 chapters and i like the writing style.
I will update when I've finished to let you know what my thoughts are on this book.

on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 I wrote:

Really enjoying it. After I wrote my last journal and reading the first 2 chapters i picked up another book.
3 days ago I decided to go on and i really think it is a good story. Sometimes pretty scary with her stepfather, but also sometimes a bit boring.
But overall I do like it.
Right now I am on page 240 of 309 so nearly finished

Update August 19 2004 I wrote:

Finished. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
The end was a bit weird.
It is a mother's struggle between the love for her man and the love for her daughter.
( )

possibly my most beloved writer. writing this review is making me wish i were reading her at this moment.
( )

I hate this book so very much, it makes me sick to think about it. ( )

Spoiler alert -- The author's characterization of life in the South as a poor white female child includes aspects that are probably true. However, the message that a mother would choose her child-abusing husband over her own child, whom she insists she loves dearly, is the main reason that I gave this such a low score. Other reasons for such a low score include descriptions of continuous child abuse which "culminates" in the violent rape of a 12 year old girl, as well as descriptions of pre-pubescent girls repeatedly masturbating. ( )

Again, the five-star system is frustrating; this may be closer to a 4 than a 3. Good solid Southern fiction with strong, realistic characters. ( )