The World Made Straight
The World Made Straight
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Brief
304
Novel • Fiction
North Carolina • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The World Made Straight by Ron Rash is a southern gothic novel set in 1970s North Carolina, following Travis Shelton, a teenager who quits school, steals marijuana, and ultimately leaves home after a fight with his father, navigating through challenges and historical revelations under the tutelage of Leonard Shuler, a former teacher and drug dealer, before a climactic confrontation changes their lives.
Dark
Mysterious
Gritty
Contemplative
Emotional
Reviews & Readership
3,633 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ron Rash's The World Made Straight is lauded for its vivid depiction of rural Appalachia and complex character development. Its atmospheric and haunting prose captivates, yet some reviewers find the pacing uneven and the plot occasionally predictable. Overall, it successfully addresses themes of history's grip and personal redemption.
Who Should Read The World Made Straight?
Readers who enjoy Southern Gothic literature and complex character-driven stories will appreciate Ron Rash's The World Made Straight. Fans of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying and Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain will find its exploration of human flaws and the haunting impact of history particularly compelling.
3,633 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
304
Novel • Fiction
North Carolina • 1970s
2006
Adult
18+ years
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