Now I have lived in the south, specifically Tennessee (which a portion of this story takes place in). Most outside of the south would say that I am country or might even call me redneck. This is now the book I will point to when people are confused when I say that I’m really not.

Although I would not consider myself a redneck (there is an entire section of the story that has made me rethink about the bias behind that word), this story is very familiar to me. I have family and friends and know of their family and friends who have lived lives very similar to this. That is what makes this such a great book. In a similar way to Dickens, whose book David Copperfield inspired this story, Kingslover shows us parts of society that are often ignored and exploited.

There are a lot of heavy topics in this book. The creation of an economy in a certain area around a specific trade only to take that trade away and leave a vacuum of jobless people in its wake. The push to take opiods for every ailment with the assurance that they are safe only when the company knows they are not. Issues of race, child labor, addiction, suicide, overdose, physical abuse, neglect, alcohol abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, death, the unfairness of life. This is a thick book that covers a childhood that sees a lot. It is a book that can be a lot.

I still cannot decide if I liked this book. I don’t even know if like is the right word for a book like this. It has made me think. Think about life and love and what it all means.

So at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter if I like this book or if I will ever reread it, it had an impact. It made a statement. It’s been days since I finished reading it, and I am still thinking about it.

All that to say, I would still encourage you to read it.