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Avg. Rating: 3.94
By: andees
I read this book and hated it; I was sorry I wasted my money.... Normally, I would have donated the book ater reading it. But, in this case I was so disappointed, I threw the book away after reading it. I was disappointed with the author for scrubbing the language so clean that the area she set the book in could have been anywhere in the US. I was also disapponted in the Oprah book club selection committee. It seemed to me they found a \"story\" they liked, and that is where their critical thinking ended. It was the only and last Oprah book selection I ever bought. After reading it, it was obvious to me that whoever had chosen the book for the Oprah club had never been to western Pa. I am from western PA as is O\'Dell and this book lacks local color. She either forgot or choose to ignore that language is also a part of the landscape of a locale. Landscape is just not about dysfunctional families, EatnParks and religious statues in the yards.... People in that area of PA say \"ain\'t,\" \"slippy,\" and \"youns.\" This would be esp. true for someone like the main character, Harley. (There are people with college degrees from this area who still have \"color\" in their language.) O\'dell is no Faulkner or Caufield. I find this lack of \"local flavor\" with a lot of modern authors. Unfortunately, our books are even becoming Mcdonaldized. There is nothing special about this book.
Different perceptions
Funny? An enjoyable read? Not hardly. Engrossing? Disturbing? I think these adjectives are more appropriate. This story of 19 year old Harley who is suddenly the head of a family caught in the middle of murder, incest, poverty and dysfunction (to put it midly) is dark and riveting. As other customer reviewers have indicated, Back Roads is a difficult book to put down. O'Dell does an excellent job of writing in a male first person voice - something that I think takes a particular talent for writers depicting characters of the opposite sex. However, the continuous trauma suffered by the children in this family only results in more pain. Just when you think there is a flicker of normalcy for them, the candle once again blows out. As the end of the novel drew near, I was looking forward to some redemption, some promise, some hope - and found none. O'Dell has an eviable way with words in her descriptions and dialogue. I look forward to giving her next effort another try.
FAST-PACED...DISTURBING
Harley Altmyer has a load of responsibilities for a man of his young age.Harley's father is dead, and his mother is in prison for the murder, so he is left to raise his three younger sisters. Working two jobs, and looking for love in all the wrong places, his story of abuse, incest, and the strange relationships between siblings will unfold to answer the question...can he be the savior his family needs? "Back Roads" is a fast-paced novel dealing with some disturbing issues. At times hilarious and heartbreaking, while also being gritty and violent, first time author, Tawni O'Dell, handles herself like a seasoned pro; dishing out the heavy subject matter, and at the same time creating a hero in Harley. This book was an Oprah pick, but don't read it for that reason, read it because it is a well written, well executed story that grabs the reader and doesn't let go. This may not be a book for everyone, but any reader looking for intense fiction should pick it up. Nick Gonnella
Not for young readers...
I have worked with Emotionally Disturbed teenagers as an English teacher for 10 years. In that time, I have heard stories of abuse that are so disturbing I thought nothing could shock me. This book shocked me. I didn't know what I was getting into when I picked it up. The back and cover are very misleading. I feel, after reading this, that I know now exactly what Holden Caufield was trying to protect kids from. Many times during reading this book I thought of putting it down and not finishing it. It was written in such a way, though, that I felt compelled to finish it. In fact, I read the last 100 pages in one sitting. I am warning the faint of heart, the weak of stomach, the prudes out there who don't want to hear about things that make people uncomfortable: Don't buy this book. For the rest of you, be open-minded, read it, and think about ways to make this world a better, safer place for those who need it most.
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