Daily Archives: July 6, 2013

90% done with Bastard Out of Carolina

Maybe it could happen in real life, but the way Allison has drawn Anney as so protective makes it impossible for me to believe she would not have just taken Bone to the hospital instead of hesitating in the driveway. It’s just far too melodramatic.

And Allison also hasn’t earned Bone’s constant blaming of herself. True, a victim would do that, but we don’t learn why – and that’s why I read the book – to learn.

page 72 of 384 of The Death Ship

This novel and Kafka’s ‘The Castle’ were published the same year, 1926 (‘The Trial’ was a year previous in 25). Granted, Kafka wrote his novels 10 years prior to publication but he was reacting to the same absurdities of modernity.

Where the authors diverge are in humor. Kafka’s characters are desperate, earnest and serious, Traven is caviler, jocular and typically American.

This is a very funny novel.