Bastard Out of CarolinaBastard Out of Carolina
Score Modern
What it's about
In Greenville County, South Carolina, the Boatwright family is full of hard-drinking men and indomitable women who marry young. At the heart of it is Ruth Anne Boatwright, known as Bone, an illegitimate girl who watches everything, and whose life is shaped by her stepfather's abuse.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Award finalist. It's a fierce, unforgettable novel of Southern poverty and survival.
You'll love it if you liked
The Color Purple
Lullabies for Little Criminals
The Glass CastleGood to know
It depicts child sexual abuse directly and is very hard to read in places.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller13 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #915 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1699 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Bastard Out of Carolina worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Award finalist. It ranks #1,699 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Bastard Out of Carolina about?
In Greenville County, South Carolina, the Boatwright family is full of hard-drinking men and indomitable women who marry young. At the heart of it is Ruth Anne Boatwright, known as Bone, an illegitimate girl who watches everything, and whose life is shaped by her stepfather's abuse.
How long does it take to read Bastard Out of Carolina?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Bastard Out of Carolina?
If you liked it, try The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill or The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.