Reviews

Back Roads by Tawni O'Dell

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constantine2020's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Literary Fiction

At the age of 19, Harley Altmyer's life is turned upside down after his mother kills his abusive father and is sent to prison, leaving him by himself to raise his three younger sisters. Back Roads transports us to their dreary mining town in Pennsylvania, where Harley struggles to cope with the weight of responsibility, recalls his past, and juggles his developing affections for Callie Mercer, who is already married. As a result of this emotional vulnerability, which takes place against the backdrop of poverty and limited choices, Harley is forced to struggle with not only taking care of his family but also establishing his own identity in a cruel world.

As a result of the tragedy that each of his sisters has experienced, Harley and his sisters look for healing in their delicate bond, in the consolation that nature provides, and even in therapy. They grapple with the intricacies of family, grief, and the persistent power of human connection throughout their coming-of-age story, which is a narrative of grit and resilience. There is a heartbreaking depiction of survival in Back Roads, which serves to remind us that even on the most difficult back roads, there is sometimes the possibility of finding healing and hope.

Why did I decide to purchase this book? The first thing I did was see the film, which was directed by Alex Pettyfer and starred him too. I believe that he did an outstanding job of managing both roles. This movie was a true gem, and I loved it a lot. I wanted to read the book and see how it compared to the movie adaptation, and I was not disappointed in the least. Because Tawni O'Dell did such an outstanding job with her first novel, I am interested in reading her other works.

This is a story about a dysfunctional family that goes through a lot of hardships. It is filled with trigger warnings that I don’t want to mention, but I highly advise you to read them before picking it up. The characters are very complex, and many times you would question why they did this or that, but that is human nature, full of unpredictability. The plot is not just contemporary literature; suspense and mystery play a big part in it. Everything you need to do is get yourself ready for the story. I was because I had watched the movie, and I am aware that the shock factor would have been significantly more pronounced if I had not done so. I absolutely loved it and recommend it to everybody.

tobesmagobes's review against another edition

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4.0

Pretty much exactly what I wanted. 4.5 stars.

novelesque_life's review against another edition

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5.0

5 STARS

"Not since S.E. Hinton (The Outsiders) has a female novelist penned such a tough and titillating portrait of lower-class, crime-ridden manhood. Set in "beautiful, ruined" western Pennsylvania, amid Eat n' Parks and Lick n' Putts, Tawni O'Dell's Back Roads follows Harley Altmyer as he walks a raging, self-conscious line between crime and innocence. Why is he being held by the authorities, and what's he so mad about? In the recent past, it's his mother, who murdered his father and went to jail for life. In the far past, it's Dad himself: an abusive, hopeless man. In the present, it's the responsibility for his three younger sisters, which makes him fantasize about smashing their faces in until they "spit up bloody macaroni and cheese."

But Harley still has a conscience--barely. He doesn't strike his sisters; he's been trying to protect them. The oldest is sassy Amber, 16, who's having sex on the living-room couch with townies who abuse her; next is frighteningly stoic 12-year-old Misty, with eyes "a glazed brown like a medicine bottle"; the youngest is adorable Jody, who at 6 pens to-do lists with items such as "PRAY FOR DADDYS SOWL." Overburdened with the practicalities of life, and the ever-mounting losses, Harley has started seeing his own words floating in the air in front of his face. "CLOSURE. TRUTH. MOST GUYS." (From Amazon)

I have read this a few times and listened to the audio. I love this book. Every time I read this novel my heart breaks. The characters are realistic and sometimes life just sucks.

marymccallum99's review against another edition

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dark informative sad medium-paced

4.0

emiliosandoz's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

i feel like if i made my mother read this, she would blackout and die from how much she has in common with bonnie altmyer because i don't think she can stand looking in the mirror that long lol

Content Warnings