The Devil All the Time
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011
272
Novel • Fiction
Ohio • 1950s
2011
Adult
18+ years
Set in Ohio and West Virginia in the years following World War II, Donald Ray Pollock's novel, The Devil All the Time, intertwines the lives of desperate characters, including a PTSD-suffering veteran, a couple of serial killers, and corrupt preachers, all struggling with their inner demons and external horrors. Please note that the narrative includes graphic violence, sexual exploitation, and religiously motivated abuse.
Dark
Gritty
Mysterious
Unnerving
Melancholic
41,469 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Devil All the Time by Donald Ray Pollock receives praise for its vivid characters and gritty portrayal of post-war American life. The narrative's dark and violent themes are both compelling and disturbing, though some readers find them excessively grim. Pollock's writing style is a highlight, but the relentless bleakness may not appeal to all.
Readers who enjoy dark, Southern Gothic tales with gritty realism and complex characters would appreciate Donald Ray Pollock's The Devil All the Time. Fans of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men or Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood will find the novel's blend of violence, redemption, and moral ambiguity compelling.
41,469 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
272
Novel • Fiction
Ohio • 1950s
2011
Adult
18+ years
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