All the lonely people: Life in a single room occupancy hotel - Hardcover

A young woman living in rural Illinois, Ruth is a loser with considerable courage but quickly aborted dreams. This promising first novel details her grim, crumbling world in her own uneducated voice; as she tells readers, "I knew we were poor and strange." This self-awareness and matter-of-fact acceptance prevents the seamy and painful exploration of Ruth's relationship with her abusive mother, violent husband, and infant son from becoming pathos. The grotesque characterization and touch of sardonic humor fit nicely with the author's tone. A good choice for public libraries, with potential appeal in young adult collections, since it portrays a young woman's survival in the underclass (though there is vulgar language and some frank but not too steamy sex). Elizabeth Guiney Sandvick, North Hennepin Community Coll., Minneapolis
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