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“Alone at last with the ghosts of his childhood.��

“The Devil all the Time�� is an ugly, uncompromising book. Donald Ray Pollock has created an atmosphere that is dark, unrelenting, and devoid of hope. I would say that he exaggerates the atmosphere of the parts of southeast Ohio and West Virginia that he writes about, but he has lived there all his life, so who I am to say? I do live in central Ohio and have all of my life, and my belief is that there is a segment of society in that area that probably inspires the truth in Mr. Pollock’s novel. However, don’t mistake that segment of the population for the whole.
While reading this book I kept thinking of the film “No Country for Old Men��. It just put me in that vein. This text is not for those who dislike the ugly, dirty elements of human squalor depicted. This is not a book to read while eating.
As for the story and the writing…Mr. Pollock has managed to create a gripping narrative in which he weaves numerous plot threads and neatly brings them together as the novel concludes. That element of the text is well done, as is the fact that it spans well over 18 years and yet it is concise and moves along. The author covers that span of years quickly, and yet you never feel like he left anything out.
The characterizations are taut and are real, disgustingly so at times. This next sentence is not going to make sense�� I detested many of these characters, but was drawn into their lives rather than judging them. I can’t really explain that, because if I knew these people in real life I know my judgment would fly and I would have to work very hard to keep it in check. I especially enjoyed the character of Arvin Russell, who is probably as close to a protagonist as this ensemble lead story gets. He is the only character who ends the novel with any kind of hope, and even then not much.
“The Washington Post�� review of this book says it so well��"You may be repelled, you may be shocked, you will almost certainly be horrified, but you will read every last word.�� Seriously, that sums it up for me. Can’t say it any better.
I have now read two of Mr. Pollock’s novels. I don’t think they are for everyone, and they get in your head and not in a good way. Nevertheless, I am glad that he is writing them. It is a voice we should have in American fiction.