Customer Reviews

The River to Pickle Beach

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The author uses the word, "pinhead" as a way to show the character's voice who is using the word. It is used very well in this case. This book is very clear and consistent as a show of voice for the ignorant, not ignorance of author. Mrs. Betts is one of the finest southern writers that we are blessed to have with us in our lifetime. Her voices are unique, vulnerable, ugly, and very true and this book is one of her great examples of this.

You don't have to be concerned with mentally handicapped issues being exploited or abused, it is NOT handled in this manner. It is a distinct character VOICE, not of the author and there is a massive difference when an author handles this with such grace and style.

It is a voilent, tender, vivid story that rings true to these characters' lives. superbly written!

While written well enough, the The River to Pickle Beach is such an example of irresponsible writing, that it has prompted me to do something I have never done before, write a review. Doris Betts used mentally retarded people, referring to them as pinheads, as a vehicle to portray ignorance, fear and anger. The reader had no other view point or options because every character(except the nurse, as we eventually see) saw the "pinheads" as ugly, dirty and unworthy of anything but disdain. They seemed to be the only safe, disposable characters since no one, including the author, cared about them anyway, thereby, sanitizing the ending. Perhaps the author had another intention in mind, however, that was not what was projected. Injecting some kindness toward her "pinhead" characters could have made this a powerful read. As it stands, it's a testament to the ignorance of the writing of Ms. Betts.