White Trash With Love
Not since Carolyn Chute has anyone written about poor white trash with such affection. In Coal Run, Ms. O? Dell?s characters populate a small run-down coal mining town in Pennsylvania because it is either the end of the line or the world as they know it. Plagued by alcoholism, violence and a narrow world view, they are never-the-less bound together by land, honor and common tragedy.
Coal Run, in my opinion fell a little short of her debut, Back Roads. The tension and conflict were stretched out a little too thin, but the characters were interesting enough to keep you reading. I recommend it to anyone who grew up or lives in a small town.