Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Signet (2001), 416 pages
Description
A novel on a dysfunctional family in a Pennsylvania coal-mining town. The mother is in jail for killing the father and the four children are on their own. They are supported by the eldest, Harley Altmyer, 20, who is having an affair with the mother of a friend of his sister.
User reviews
LibraryThing member brennreyn
Try as I did, I just couldn't love this book. Though I appreciate O'Dell's address of complex issues such as infidelity, murder, mental illness, and incest, I couldn't empathize with any of the characters. The book ends up in one giant train wreck, and there was nothing to redeem the dysfunction. I
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wanted to see a little more humanity in the book. O'Dell writes well, but her characters need some work. Show Less
LibraryThing member knownever
It's got a real bad case of first book syndrome and the women are all lousy whores, with the exception of the protagonist's six year old sister. However, Harley struggles with that all important but always overlooked question, how to be a man who isn't violent and mourns dead baby bunnies. A man
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who has emotions other than anger. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Hurley Altmyer is a 19-year-old who has taken on the responsibility for his three younger sisters after their mother has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for shooting their father. He is hanging on by his fingernails – working two low-paying jobs in an effort to keep their house and
This is a dark psychological story of a family caught in a cyclone of dysfunction. It is violent and crass in places. I was caught up in Harley’s life – in his skewed view of the world, and in the downward spiral he is caught in.
I did think the book was rather unrelenting in its psychosis. Yes, O’Dell includes some scenes of tenderness, even a few of humor, but it is a powerful and dark vortex in which the Altmyer family (and the reader) is caught. Not a book for the faint of heart.
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the family together. But he is clearly at the breaking point, totally unable to cope or even to face the truth of what has happened and is happening. This is a dark psychological story of a family caught in a cyclone of dysfunction. It is violent and crass in places. I was caught up in Harley’s life – in his skewed view of the world, and in the downward spiral he is caught in.
I did think the book was rather unrelenting in its psychosis. Yes, O’Dell includes some scenes of tenderness, even a few of humor, but it is a powerful and dark vortex in which the Altmyer family (and the reader) is caught. Not a book for the faint of heart.
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LibraryThing member slkrbru
I loved this book! The entire story kept my attention and so I was pleasantly suprised when the ending had a little twist - after it had been so excellent already! It was Tawni O'Dell's first novel and I am excited to read more of her works now.
LibraryThing member angelia
I don't know where to start with this book. The events still remain with me after days of reading the last page. Each character held there own. In fact, the characters were so well developed you felt you were among the fictional community. A few twisted surprises will cause you to rethink your
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judgments of the characters. Among the best! Show Less
LibraryThing member whimsyblue
One of my very favorite books of all time. A haunting and sad story, it changes you a little as you read.
LibraryThing member vhoeschler
I think of myself as being extremely wordy and even I can't think of enough horrible things to say about this book. The story is just angry and dirty and the characters are hateful and hopeless. I have no problem peppering my library with a little dysfunction every now and then, but I actually
The only thing this author got right was picking out the cover image; a dismal, depressing road that leads to nowhere.
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finished this book feeling like a worse person. The plot (if you can even say there is one) literally amounts to nothing. The only thing this author got right was picking out the cover image; a dismal, depressing road that leads to nowhere.
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LibraryThing member porchsitter55
Disturbing tale of mental illness, incest, murder and betrayal. A young man is left to raise 3 sisters after his mother is convicted of murdering the father for abusing the children. But all is not as it seems in this twisting, turning story. Complex issues churn together in the caldron of the
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young man's psyche, driving him ever closer to madness. Intense book with strong psycho-sexual overtones. Show Less
LibraryThing member Monica71
This is one of my favorite books. It tugs at the heart emotionally. The characters are real and raw and make you question right and wrong in a world where screwed up things happen so frequently.
LibraryThing member miyurose
It was a pretty good book, but quite tragic. The whole story is tinged with a sense of foreboding.
LibraryThing member mmmasha
Though extremely sad, it's a very clever and funny book. I read a review somewhere that said you're not going to like the main characters, but I really liked Harley and atleast two of his three little sisters. I found it hard to put down. Does have plenty topics not suitable for sensitive readers.
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And it's not a book with a fairytale ending, either. Nonetheless, it was a refreshing read. Show Less
LibraryThing member mnlohman
Recommended by my library science student. An Oprah selection, so you know it's going to be a downer. Disfunctional family to the nth degree. 19 year old Harley is put in charge of raising his three sisters after mom is put in prison for shooting dad after years of physically and sexually abusing
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the kids. Show Less
LibraryThing member Quiltinfun06
Extremely powerful, well written novel about abuse and it's ramifications. It was a very dark and heavy read for me one that I won't soon forget. It is not for everyone. I read this at the suggestion of a fried but would much prefer lighter reading.
LibraryThing member zmagic69
A good book very sad and very dark, but her follow up Coal Run is a better less depressing story
LibraryThing member KatPruce
Let me say first, I really liked this book. HOWEVER, it is extremely disturbing and intense. How about I put it this way...there's murder, child abuse, adultery and even worse things (that I can't say because it will spoil the book). So, if you have a weak constitution when it comes to the dark
I really liked Harley, the flawed narrator, despite the fact that he's not exactly sane nor a necessarily good person (others in a group did not have such a favorable opinion of him). I loved the fact that the reader discovers the twists and turns in the plot as Harley does. I think that is why I felt so much sympathy for his character - we were going through this shocking experience together.
I read this book in two sittings as it is quite the page turner. Family secrets, hidden truths, sexual impulses and the Altmyer family legacy of violence converge into an explosive ending. If you can handle a really dark book - I highly recommend Back Roads.
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side of human nature - skip this book. Otherwise, I think it is a gripping novel that is definitely worth reading.I really liked Harley, the flawed narrator, despite the fact that he's not exactly sane nor a necessarily good person (others in a group did not have such a favorable opinion of him). I loved the fact that the reader discovers the twists and turns in the plot as Harley does. I think that is why I felt so much sympathy for his character - we were going through this shocking experience together.
I read this book in two sittings as it is quite the page turner. Family secrets, hidden truths, sexual impulses and the Altmyer family legacy of violence converge into an explosive ending. If you can handle a really dark book - I highly recommend Back Roads.
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LibraryThing member HarryMacDonald
Much nonsense has been talked and written about this first novel by the pseudonymous Ms O'Dell. It has been, to my knowledge, passed-off as chick-lit and as soft-core erotica, and I shudder to think what else. But the fact remains that no matter what the Author's motivation -- and, being slightly
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acquainted with her, I am sure she had a very keen eye on Positive Cash Flow -- there are a couple of things which raise this novel way above the level of Giggling Material for suburban moms' reading clubs. Her portrayal of the anarchic sexuality of adolescents is well-considered and convincing, and her incidental revelatiuons of what is somewhat uncharitably as "redneck" culture. If you want a laugh -- and it's no rap on the Author -- find the French-language edition. Show Less
LibraryThing member pennsylady
Tawni O'Dell was born and raised in the mining region of western Pennsylvania.
"One day you're that guy, (survive high school ... you're thinking you might try to get a job at Redi-Mix concrete where your dad's worked since the beginning of time. ...at least you've got a family you can stand even
I found this a heartbreakingly sad look at a dysfunctional family in a Pennsylvania backwoods coal town.
Nineteen-year-old Harley is left to rear his three younger sisters after their mother is imprisoned for murdering their abusive father.
Haunting and dark, I was ill at ease reading and concluding this novel.
Is there an element of a dysfunctional family not seen in Back Roads?
I really don't know......
"One day you're that guy, (survive high school ... you're thinking you might try to get a job at Redi-Mix concrete where your dad's worked since the beginning of time. ...at least you've got a family you can stand even
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if they are all sisters.) and the next day you're assigned to a social worker and a therapist and given the choice of either being a LEGAL ADULT with three DEPENDENTS or an ORPHAN with NOBODY." --From Back RoadsI found this a heartbreakingly sad look at a dysfunctional family in a Pennsylvania backwoods coal town.
Nineteen-year-old Harley is left to rear his three younger sisters after their mother is imprisoned for murdering their abusive father.
Haunting and dark, I was ill at ease reading and concluding this novel.
Is there an element of a dysfunctional family not seen in Back Roads?
I really don't know......
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LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
There's no doubt that Back Roads is beautifully written, and it rings as being frighteningly believable.
At the same time, perhaps because it did ring so true, a large part of me also wanted a great deal more. For the most part, I knew where it was going, I knew what to expect, and it all seemed so
Depressing, real, and well-written? Yes. And still, I can't imagine picking up another book by the author. I read books to be transported, and for many other reasons, but not to be drawn back to earth and told that dreams are dead where you expect them to be dead.
At the same time, perhaps because it did ring so true, a large part of me also wanted a great deal more. For the most part, I knew where it was going, I knew what to expect, and it all seemed so
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perfectly believable as to have been something I could have read about in the news. Granted, the voice was gritty and real, and not something you'd get in a journalistic account... but I was missing the pull that I want from fiction. It wasn't compelling simply because it was so, simply, what you would expect in the situation presented. There were a few surprises, but not enough, and there were a few moments where I felt truly connected to the characters... but not enough.Depressing, real, and well-written? Yes. And still, I can't imagine picking up another book by the author. I read books to be transported, and for many other reasons, but not to be drawn back to earth and told that dreams are dead where you expect them to be dead.
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LibraryThing member mcdougaldd
Great read.
LibraryThing member flying_monkeys
‘Bleak’ is how I’ll remember Black Roads.
After everything that happens to Harley & his family, I was so desperate for something good, ANY ray of light, the ending, while far from happy, was a relief.
I found this book because I saw the movie trailer and I like to read a book before its movie.
After everything that happens to Harley & his family, I was so desperate for something good, ANY ray of light, the ending, while far from happy, was a relief.
I found this book because I saw the movie trailer and I like to read a book before its movie.
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The movie is almost scene for scene from the book except the movie has a different (even unhappier) ending. And they should’ve cast someone younger as Harley. Show Less
LibraryThing member KimSalyers
Was very good & interesting
LibraryThing member KimSalyers
Was very good & interesting
LibraryThing member indygo88
This is one case where the book description is deceiving. I'd have to say this novel was really not at all what I had expected, given the back cover summary. But that's not to say it was a bad thing. Though this is O'Dell's debut novel, I've read two of her subsequent novels previously, "Coal Run"
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being my favorite thus far. I enjoy her writing style, although each novel is very different, aside from the similar geographical settings. She does, however, know how to blend serious subject matters with subtle bits of humor, which is a writing style I've come to really appreciate. This novel is dark and it has some shock value, which was not at all alluded to in the description. Some readers might find it disturbing and unsettling, and it is. But that's also what I liked about it. Show Less
LibraryThing member lington
Surely there is no book nearer to "Catcher in the Rye" in tone or protagonist since Salinger himself was publishing than O'Dell's "Back Roads." A story of murder, infatuation, and incest, this book covers all basis at the soap-opera speed-- sans the commercials. Somehow, O'Dell manages to drag the
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reader along at a believable enough pace. This book is not overdone or trite, despite the spectrum of emotions (and crimes) it covers and its similarities to Salinger's story. It is a convoluted love story, and an ode to the decay of mining-town Pennsylvania. And perhaps because of the book's stretch of plausibility, O'Dell proves herself a capable and proficient writer. She holds everything together with her beautifully honest and realistic prose, delivered directly from the head of a teenage boy trying to take care of his little sisters, get a decent paycheck, and lose his virginity. Funny and heart-breaking, this narration is painfully open for empathy. A book you have to put down just to process your emotional response and to say out loud to yourself how good it is, and certainly one that you will mourn when it's over. That is, until you read it again. Show Less
LibraryThing member fingerpost
Well. That was a downer. "Back Roads" is about the dysfunctional family to end all dysfunctional families. Great book... just not a pleasant read.
Harley's mother is in prison for killing her husband (Harley's father) who abused his children. Harley got custody of his three sisters: Amber, in her
Personally, I much prefer lighter, happier tales. But although I can't exactly say I enjoyed it, "Back Roads" is a fine novel all the same.
Harley's mother is in prison for killing her husband (Harley's father) who abused his children. Harley got custody of his three sisters: Amber, in her
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first year of high school, and already sleeping around with boys regularly, Misty, who is quiet and keeps to herself most of the time, and Jody, who is still an innocent child, who loves stuffed dinosaurs and making lists. In trying to deal with his three sisters, pay utilities, taxes, buy food for the family, etc., Harley is working two full time jobs. When a pretty neighbor lady (married with children of her own) begins to have occasional sexual escapades with him, Harley thinks she is his salvation. But as the book unwinds, we learn that Harely's family is much more dysfunctional that it seemed when we merely thought a wife had shot her husband.Personally, I much prefer lighter, happier tales. But although I can't exactly say I enjoyed it, "Back Roads" is a fine novel all the same.
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Subjects
Awards
Oprah's Book Club selection (2000)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999-12-27
Physical description
416 p.; 4.28 inches
ISBN
0451202341 / 9780451202345