Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Realistic fiction that is more realistic than fiction, though it may not seem so unless you are familiar with the area. This story is set in beautiful Newton County, Arkansas. In addition to being the most sparsely populated in the state, it is the largest producer of illegal drugs in the state. Most of the land is national forest. It's beautiful, but I would stay on the main trails to avoid booby traps set by pot growers and meth producers. There are only about 3000 people in the county and they are all related (for real) Branches of this family regularly feud and the FBI is currently investigating some of the goings on including some “missing persons” whom everyone knows are long dead. This book hits very close to home. Woodrell is from this general area and can write about it the way an outsider could not.
This is the story of Ree, a 16 year old girl who is responsible for the upbringing of her two younger brothers after her mother becomes mentally ill and her father disappears. Her troubles multiple when the Sheriff shows up to inform her that he can't find her meth cooking father who has put the family house and land up to cover bail. His court date is in a week and if Ree can't find her father she and her family will lose their home.
The book accurately portrayed the clannish and suspicious natures of the people of Newton County, their daily struggles, and the kinds of social expectations that dictate their lives. It is at times horrific and at times funny, but it is always very telling.
I give the book 8/10 kit kats, and would recommend it. It's a fast read, though some may have difficulty with the language or dialect. I would be very curious how people from other areas perceive the book.
