Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison

A harrowing coming-of-age story, clearly autofiction, of a “Bastard” child named Bone growing up in Greenville, South Carolina. Not technically an Appalachian novel, technically “Southern fiction” according to Google, but reminds me so much of Demon Copperhead with its incredible voice, compassion for its characters, and un-put-down-able-ness. Bone and Demon would have a lot to talk about. Chapter 20 made me feel so sick and angry I had to clench my stomach but I didn’t want to look away and leave Bone alone.