Rating: 
Summary: Haunting yet trashy
Review: It has now been two weeks since I finished "Back Roads" and although some of the images have stayed with me and haunt me, I must say that I find the language and the content of the book to be disappointing, almost to the point of disgusting. I feel that the disfunctional family theme both in movies and in novels has just about run its course. It is a sad commentary on American society that such families do exist, to be sure, and we should be aware of their existence, but I fail to see the ultimate point of the book. I shall remember it to be sure, but I dare say that I do not have any desire to read Ms. O'Dell again.
Rating: 
Summary: Along with "American Beauty"
Review: "Back Roads" is an amazing story that kept me reading from the very first paragraph. The story was powerful and deeply sad, and it left me with the same feeling I had after seeing "American Beauty" Both stories explore the domestic side of America in ways that are rarely looked at with as much depth and power. The story is full of disturbing surprises and I came to love Harley's character in the same surprising way. This book definately made my Top 5 list and is quite possibly one of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: A Most Memorable Book (and I've read my share!)
Review: The characters in this book, from Harley to the baby sister Jody, are so deeply described that I felt like I knew each of them. Harley, the main character, is responsible for his sisters since his mother was sentenced to life in prison for killing his father.Harley has the most intriguing wit and intelligence and doesn't even realize just how smart he is. He deals with his responsibility like a grown man. It takes the reader awile to actually dawn on the fact that he takes his responsibilities of his sisters without question and does a remarkable job. Even though one sister is promiscuous, one is obsessed with her dead father, and one is constantly making her lists and praying for her elders "sowls". He does the best he can. The love affair that Harley has with his neighbor is adulterous, but when you focus on just the two people coming together, it's hard to look down on them because they do so because of their overwhelming need to feel loved. I was surprised by the ending of this book. I wont say what it is cause Id be stupid to let the cat outta the bag! But I sincerely hope that Ms. O'dell will do a continuation on this book and follow through with all the characters to see how their lives progress say ten to fifteen years down the road. In my mind I find myself writing maybe what could be with them and how they have progressed and developed. On a scale of one to ten I give this book a twenty! Thank you, Ms. O'dell for a wonderful book that is most memorable!
Rating: 
Summary: Wish this new author many more!
Review: I cracked open the spine of my newly purchased book and inhaled deeply (a passion of mine - the smell of a new book ). The book is entitled 'Backroads' by Tawni O'Neill. I had heard recently of this book and the author, on the Oprah show. I was at the very least skeptical, due to it being a new Oprah pick and the complicated tendencies and prejudices whom every avid reader is aware when reading Oprah picks. Although, I have to say, I do usually read Oprah's picks and, in fact, probably own every one of these novels and feel it is money well spent; "well worth it novels", a valuable addition to my ever increasing library. These books represent to me an intimate involvement of a day or less. This book held me captive for a full three days. Captive to the point where my family began to look at me sidelong and strangely, perhaps because I was spending long hours in the bathroom and the bedroom in order to have a valid reason to continue reading. It also could be the fact that after incessant reading, I get this disoriented look about me, a person who has been startled from a deep sleep; a person who has been a passenger in a vehicle for long hours. This is a sad book. But there is an incredible amount to learn along the way. The characters are original. They create a wonderful thought provoking, endearing, and heart wrenching reading experience. One merely wants to be able to protect these characters from harm and perhaps even be kin to them. It was a book that I found hard to put down. One of those 'special' reads where one reaches the end and is frustrated because the book doesn't continue; the characters are no longer a part of their life.
Rating:
Summary: solid debut
Review: This novel is asolid debut. It was well written and the main character really affected me. The story, I thought, was a bit too dramatic, though; there were too many dramas unfolding, too much angst, and not enough levity for my taste. If it were not a first novel, I would hvae given it 3 stars, which is still pretty good.
Rating:
Summary: Overwhelming struggles
Review: This book will stay with its readers for a very long time. Just when you think your compassion for this family of children has reached its limits, you will find you'll need more. It truly touches your heart to read about the struggle merely to survive and the responsibilities of a very young man to deal with the complexities he encounters. You will undoubtedly wonder about a system that would allow totally dysfunctional parents to wreak so much grief on their children in so many ways without interference. Every adult in their lives has abandoned these children. The end is devastating and, in retrospect, predictable.
Rating:
Summary: Dysfunctional family drama!
Review: In this incredible novel, I was introduced to four children whose lives are destroyed after their mother murdered their abusive father. Their mother was incarcerated, and Harley, the oldest of the four kids and only male in the family, gave up his childhood in order to provide for his sisters. The darkness of the book is illustrated by the cynical and scarred Harley. Sometimes he is not a very likeable character, but the cynicism and anger in his tone is understandable. He becomes obsessed with Carlie Mercer, a young wife and mother he met by way of his younger sister. He subconsciously sees her as some sort of mother figure; the sex scenes between the two characters are rather strange. Harley's sisters are equally messed up. There's Amber: the oldest of the three, a depressed Lolita who finds acceptance in the arms of a man. There's Misty: the mysterious one of the three, the secretive one. And then there's Jody: the innocent and youngest one, the only hope in the family. There are many twists and turns in the story, including murders, obsessions, and incest. This is one of the best novels I have recently read. But I hate the ending -- it is a vivid reminder that life isn't fair.
Rating:
Summary: A book to be devoured
Review: I bought this book for my mom for Mother's Day. After receiving the book, I started thumbing through it and was a little concerned with the amount of reference to sex I found in just the few pages I read over. I didn't want to give my mom a book that would be embarrassing. Not being much of a reader, I decided to just go ahead and read some of it and decide if it was a good gift for her. Well, let me tell you, I read all 338 pages of the book in less that 24 hours. I thouroughly enjoyed the book and feel anyone with compassion will also find it interesting.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping...A Modern American Tragedy
Review: Another dysfuntional mesmorizing family told from the perspective of the son left to care for his siblings (sounds like Staggering Work but is not). The family is multilayered and psychologically complex. At every turn there is another "incident" that left me gasp. This book is a modern american tragedy. Ms. O'Dell does a masterful job telling this story which is heart wrenching. At the end you will find yourself empathizing with all of the characters...the good, the bad and the ugly. Though I do not expect it, I would love a sequel to find out what happens to the characters. Enjoy. This book is hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent character study
Review: This is a well-written book. The most amazing thing about it is that a thirty something year old mother of two i.e. the author Tawni O'Dell can write such a convincing story whose protagonist is a 20 year old man who is taking care of his 3 sisters and faces the usual trials and tribulations of growing up male. She was right on in her character development. There goes the theory that you can only write about what you know. A good author should be a magician with words and be able to succeed in transporting the reader along with the story. I think Ms. O'Dell succeeded in doing that very well here. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that right from the beginning of the book, I was waiting for something to happen, but it seemed to take a bit too long for the big payoff to occur. A few of the parts in the middle dragged a bit for me, but the conclusion was satisfying.
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