Jim Blue, on TOBACCO ROAD and GOD'S LITTLE ACRE: IMO, Miker,
it's a toss up. They're both okay. The amazing thing is that
they caused such a stir when they hit the street. Much
grinding of teeth and wailing about their "immorality." How
times change.
********** Thanks, Jim. I think I'll read whichever came
first. And I haven't read them so I can't comment on the
immorality, but I wouldn't be surprised if, when they came
out in the early 30's, the complaints were centered on the
sexual con- tent and not a whole lot of ruckus over the
family's lack of concern about running over the black guy and
killing him.
And isn't there a child bride in one of them? I'm talking 12
years old, here. Of course, maybe that wasn't a great cause
for concern back then, either, but I'll bet it's enough to
make Vachss soil himself, even now.
I agree with you about how times change, but I'm guessing
that Caldwell's books still carry some heavy shock value, but
that the issues that shock are different. Gotta be doing
something right if you can still manage to disgust people 70
years later. ;-)
miker
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