Book review > Hardscrabble Road. Hardscrabble Road — George Weinstein

Hardscrabble Road — George Weinstein

Life itself is hardscrabble

This story is expertly told with exquisite imagery and perfect cultural representation. Weinstein’s portrayal of ramshackle country life conjures inklings of simple living and harsh realities. The characters are tangible — particularly Roger, the first-person storyteller, who seems to be sitting with you at the kitchen table, relaying his tale over a glass of lemonade. As I read, I could feel the dirt under my feet and smell the wet earth down by the creek and hear the tires crunching on the gravel road. And Weinstein seals the contrast in lifestyle when Roger says, “I’d grown used to daily baths, tooth brushings, and indoor toilets…” Many times, I shook my head at the inequities, the outright brutality that was daily fare for these characters. But there are many tender and gentle moments, as well — enough to keep me turning pages well beyond my normal bedtime. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!

“Parts of my silhouette disappeared in gaps between the trees, narrow strips of me lost forever in the woods.”