So far I have enjoyed Bastard Out of Carolina. I have read up to Chapter 10, and the book seems to be becoming more and more disturbing. Many things are having negative effects on Bone and her mental state. One thing that is bothering Bone right now is the fact that her family is very poor. It seems like her mother has taken up prostitution just to put food on the table. The book doesn’t say that this is the case, but it definitely implies it. Because of the poor conditions that the family is currently living in Bone ends up stealing from Woolworth’s. This makes it very obvious that the poor conditions that Bone is currently living in is having a negative effect on her.
Glen is becoming increasingly detrimental to the family, especially Bone. The primary reason that the family is so poor is because Glen cannot keep a job. He is not doing anything positive for the family, but Annie still loves him. Glen’s abusive tendencies towards Bone are having negative effects on her. She is very confused about love because of the things that Glen tells her. It seems that she doesn’t want to tell anyone about what Glen does to her because she doesn’t want to disappoint Annie. She continuously thinks about the effects that her actions would have on her mother, and only wants to make her mother proud and keep her happy.
I had mixed feelings about Bone being sent to live with Aunt Ruth. I liked this because I thought it was good to get Bone away from Glen. Bone seemed to have a good time with Ruth, and kept her company. I didn’t like this situation because I felt like Annie was choosing Glen over Bone. I think Annie is in denial about what has happened between Glen and Bone, and uses Ruth’s health as an excuse to keep Bone safe for a while. While I think this was a good idea, I think it would have been better if Annie decided that she should leave Glen.
I get increasingly upset at the characters in the story. I want them to start thinking about their situation and acting accordingly, but all of the characters seem to be one step away from admitting to themselves what is right. Ruth has a pretty good idea that Bone is being abused but doesn’t pursue the situation after Bone tells her that everything is fine. Annie also seems to know that the abuse is taking place but doesn’t want to admit herself that it is happening. Bone wants to tell someone about the abuse, but is scared of what will happen if she does. Everyone knows that Glen is a bad person, but nobody has stood up to make sure that it ends.
9 comments:
i agree with you about sending Bone to Ruth. it could be both a good and bad thing. great way to get her away from glen but at the same time your right when saying that her mom is kind of choosing glen over her. its a difficult situation and it would be hard to choose the right thing to do.
I think the reason Bone broke into Woolworth's was more for revenge and her wanting to be admired by her family members. Bone was angry at the world, but she still had some rage against the store's manager. Also, she kept this little plan a secret between her and her cousin, which created a bond between them. Because Bone had been the one to steal the hook back, and had come up with the plan, Grey looked up to her, even if it was for that one instant. Bone liked the feeling of being admired.
Once she got in the store, Bone took her rage out on everything. She smashed the picture frames that reminded her of her aunt and uncle and was upset to see that the nut case was only half full. Bone didn't really take anything from the store. It was Grey who loaded up on everything. After seeing all that Grey had taken, Bone wasn't even upset that she hadn't taken anything. I think she was still trying to figure out her reasoning behind breaking into the store. She was proud of it, of hurting the store owner. She announced it to some men on the street who could have easily turned her in. She was boasting about what she had done.
I also have gotten more and more angry with certain characters like Glen and Anney. I hated them by the end. I think that is the way it is supposed to be written though. I think your anger for Glen and Anney is supposed rise with Bone's anger. Bone is supposed to be a heroine just like she imaged. I also was angry with Ruth for not doing anything when she had such a feeling that Glen was abusing.
I agree that the economic situation is affecting Bone but I don't think it is one of the biggest factors. They had never really had any money and the moving from house to house following jobs seems like something the whole family did and it was just there way of life. Anney seemed to do a lot better taking care of her family financially than Glen ever seemed to. In a situation where they were so dependent on his income you would think that a person would work a little harder to keep a job. But clearly this is not an aspect of Glen's character which has already been made quite obvious.
I feel the same ways about the characters in this book. They keep making decisions and not following through, or not making any decisions at all. its frustrating. I think that it is really imature of Anney to keep sending her kids to someone in the family. its like she is constantly needing that responsibility to be taken away, and she uses this as an answer to everything rather than just sitting down and deciding what would be a good plan of action. I wonder if she feels negatively towards the fact that she had these kids so young and i think it bothers her somewhat that she cant just go out and bring any guy home. she needs to take her kids into consideration and she doesnt want to, maybe this is one of the reasons she will never leave Glen.
WOW! good point. I had not even thought of the idea that Anney had taken up prostitution, but now that you mentioned it, it really does seem like it. All the descriptions of Anney getting all dressed up and wearing the red lipstick, they all come together now.
I agree that sending Bone to live with her Aunt Ruth was probably one of the best things for her. It got her out of the house, and away from Glen. I think that the reason Bone doesn't tell anyone about the sexual abuse is also because she is embarrassed. First of all, she isn't even exactly sure of what the abuse really is. And secondly, she doesn't know how to explain it to someone. For little kids to talk about sexual things is hard enough, but when you add in that it is abuse, it really makes sense why Bone has not told anyone.
Glen didnt become detrimental he was a monster since the begginig.He was especially a monster Bone he not only raped her but he beat her. i though that it was up to the mother to stop but she was hesitant and to me that was the most disturbing.
When Anney sent Bone to live with Glen I was so happy, but I never looked at it the way you did. I mean, throughout the book I felt that Anney always chose Glen over Bone but I didn't see that particular part as choosing him over Bone. Good point.
It made me so upset whenever Bone would say she couldn't tell her mother because it would ruin Anney. I felt like yelling every time some thing like that happened. I felt like Bone should have been able to tell her mom anything. I felt like Anney should have gotten over it- like your daughter's life and well being or a man who isn't even supporting you.
I liked how you said you get upset at the characters because they all seem to be on the verge of admitting what's right and wrong. I think that is the feeling Allison was going for. I mean, we're supposed to get the idea that the Boatwrights are white trash- it's almost like we're supposed to believe that they just don't know any better.
I also enjoyed reading this book, but I also was a little disturbed about how bad Bones was treated by Glen. I think her mother should have noticed the sighns of abuse a lot sooner, but I think she was blinded by her love for Glen.
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