Bastard Out of Carolina

This is by far my favorite piece that we have read in this class. I am really glad that this is how we get to end the class. There are so many themes in this book that we have encountered throughout the course of this class. Through all of the abuse that Bone deals with, both sexually; physically; and emotionally, I am really glad that Allison decided to incorperate the idea of family bonding as a security net for her.
From the very beginning of the story, even before the abuse began, Bone felt safe around her family, and really valued that time. "We lived on one porch or another all summer long, laughing at Little Earle, teasing the boys and picking over beans, listening to stories, or to the crickets beating out thier own soft songs. When I think of that summer-...-I always feel safe again" (22). Throughout the story we realize how important this sense of family, story, and security means to Bone.
Another source of bonding that seems especially important to Bone is that which she has with her mother. "If I got a permanent, I would lose those hours on Mama's lap sitting in the curve of her arm while she brushed and smoothed my hair and talked soft above me... I would have cut off my head before I let them cut my hair and lost the unspeakable pleasure of being drawn up onto Mama's lap every evening" (31). Here the reader can see how much Bone values her relationship with her mother. As the reader sees this bond build, it becomes harder to read the parts where Anney chooses not to believe how abusive Glen is with Bone. I wish that Anney would have left Glen for good in the hospital parking lot. She knew the extent of the abuse, and still took him back. I wondered while I was reading if Anney understood how important the mother/daughter bond was to Bone. If she did, why did she send Bone off to live with Ruth?
While living with her Aunt Ruth, we see Bone develop yet another family bond. This bond becomes really obvious when they are listening to music and singing together. "Every time the chorous came onb, she'd pound her hand on the couch and sing along, waving at me to join in with her. We's yell it out" (138). Bone really cares about Ruth, and Ruth decides that she is going to do whatever she can to protect Bone. So far in the story, Ruth is the closest that Bone has come to telling anyone of the abuse, and as the readers, we can see that she really wants to tell her everything. I personally think that Bone did not have to tell Ruth about the sexual abuse. She either already knew, or it didn't matter to her. The physical abuse was enough that she would tell Anney that she needed Bone's help as long as she could have it just to keep her out of that house and away from Glen. I wonder if Bone will ever tell anyone everything once she understands what is exactly going on with Glen? If she does, I think that there is a good chance that it would be her Aunt Ruth that she tells.