In 'Bastard Out of Carolina', Dorothy Allison narrates the harrowing yet resilient journey of Bone, a young girl born to a poor family in South Carolina. As she grapples with her identity and the scars of her turbulent upbringing, Bone navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and betrayal. The story unflinchingly addresses themes of poverty, abuse, and the search for belonging, offering a poignant glimpse into the struggles of a girl who refuses to be defined by her circumstances. With rich, evocative prose, Allison crafts a tale that is both heartbreaking and empowering. Discover how Bone's fierce spirit emerges from the chaos, challenging the boundaries of family and acceptance.
By Dorothy Allison
Published: 2012
""You are not your mistakes. You are more than the sum of your scars.""
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 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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“"You are not your mistakes. You are more than the sum of your scars."”
Bastard Out of Carolina
By Dorothy Allison
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Dorothy Allison is an acclaimed American author, poet, and essayist, known for her powerful and evocative writing that explores themes of class, sexuality, and the complexities of identity. Born on April 2, 1949, in Greenville, South Carolina, Allison's notable works include the award-winning novel "Bastard Out of Carolina," which received widespread critical acclaim for its raw and honest portrayal of a woman's struggles in a dysfunctional family. Her writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose and an unflinching examination of personal and social issues, often drawing on her own experiences growing up in the South. In addition to her fiction, Allison has published essays and poetry that reflect her deep commitment to issues of feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, and social justice.
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