Devastating. There is no happy ending here, despite the hard won knowledge that comes from trauma. The juxtaposed characterization of Aunt Raylene with Mama points towards some hope, or at least wisdom. Mama thinks she can "fix" Daddy Glen through her love. This is false hope, as the cycles of violence and abuse are not stopped by her care for him. Raylene lives alone, a life of her choosing, but takes in the "strays" of the Boatwright family. She loves herself enough to be able to love others. Self-hatred leads only to codependency. There are so many finely wrought details here of what a life of poverty in the South looks like. ( )

Very very good but hard to read because it was so intense and bad things happen ( )

This novel was a tough read and left me feeling angry and hurt afterwards. “Cold as death, mean as a snake, and twice as twisty.” When Glenn Said this about Bone, I could have swore he was talking about himself. Nobody in this story was likeable except for poor Bone who was unfortunate to be born into this family. Everybody in her family were too blind by false love and drunkenness to see what was going on. Great read but I won't pick up this book again. ( )

Sad life-very sad! ( )

Creepy. Sad. Have no idea why this was a bestseller. I wish I had the time back that I used to read this book. ( )