Bastard Out of Carolina
Dorothy Allison
320 pages
Ruth Anne Boatwright--a South Carolina bastard who is attached to the indomitable women in her mother's family--is tired of being labeled white trash and longs to escape from her hometown, and especially from Daddy Glen and his meanspirited jealousy.
This beautifully devastating novel hits hard, leaving a profound impact that can even make you want to throw it across the room.