Great read.

This is truly an excellent piece of writing that grabs your attention from the very beginning.

The author has done a remarkable job of presenting the ideas in a clear and engaging manner.

The content is not only interesting but also thought-provoking, making you reflect on various aspects of the topic.

The use of vivid language and examples helps to bring the story to life and makes it easier for the reader to understand.

Whether you are looking for entertainment or seeking to gain new knowledge, this article is definitely worth your time.

It keeps you hooked until the end and leaves you with a sense of satisfaction.

Overall, it is a great read that I would highly recommend to others.

I've not read such a hard-hitting book in a while.

This was truly tough, extremely uncompromising, and at times, my eyes felt violated. Just a few pages in, you're forcefully reminded why Black Lives Matter. It was difficult to read in certain parts as the blatant racism, misogyny, rape, and paedophilia slapped you right in the face.

Strangely enough, I have a penchant for reading harsh books like this so that I never forget what transpired in the past. It's a constant reminder and appreciation of what the men and women before me endured.

I'm also a sucker for a novel set in small-town America. There's something about the way of life in these backroad towns that has always fascinated me. They can be almost lawless at times, much like the setting of Cotton Point, Georgia, in this book. Insular lives, often deeply entrenched in religion. Pete Dexter did an excellent job of describing the barren, dusty, and hot landscape of this sleepy American town.

Paris Trout, the local shopkeeper who moonlighted as a loan shark, car salesman, and businessman - basically, the go-to guy when you needed something - was also a complete and utter piece of sh*t. My mind was seething with frustration, knowing that he was the kind of person you could never get through to, never make see reason. His views were so deeply rooted. However, there was one brief sentence that made me pause and question if it was a significant catalyst for his actions - not that it excused them in any way.

This book was grim, tough, suffocating, and intense. But it was immersive, and I would absolutely recommend that you read it.

Paris Trout is an absolutely loathsome character.

He callously shoots and kills a 14-year-old black girl without any justifiable reason. It's not a crime born out of passion; rather, it's a more chilling crime of indifference. She just happens to be in his way when he attempts to collect a debt, so he shoots her without a second thought.

Well-written novel villains usually possess some qualities that, if not redeeming, at least make them seem more human. They might love their children or their dog, or have some charming roguishness. But Paris Trout has none of these. If he had a dog, he would surely beat it. He simply lacks any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

It's a testament to Dexter's remarkable writing skill that, despite all his loathsomeness, Paris Trout remains a compelling character.

However, if this were merely the story of a racist sociopath, it would be extremely hard to endure and probably not worth reading. Certainly not worthy of a National Book Award. But, of course, it's much more than that.

We witness the story of Paris Trout unfold not only from his own perspective but also from the viewpoints of the girl he killed, his lawyer, his wife, the prosecution, and a whole host of supporting characters.

Dexter crafts what feels like an incredibly realistic portrayal of redneck Georgia in the early 1950s. It feels honest, without being patronizing or apologetic. "Paris Trout: A Novel" is, at times, an uncomfortable reading experience, but it's well worth it. Highly recommended.

I didn't have a liking for this book.

Don't misunderstand me - it had no connection with how skillfully it was written or the author's capabilities - it was all about the plot.

I've noticed that I've been reading more fiction lately to avoid thinking about the current chaos that America is in - the Covid pandemic, the internal strife associated with a presidential election, and further concerns regarding policing and the deeply ingrained racism at the core of the country that has erupted right now.

This book hit a nerve because Paris Trout was blatantly racist. Trout was convicted of the crime of murdering an innocent young African American girl. Nevertheless, he wasn't held responsible. He didn't serve any jail time. He didn't even remain at the work camp. As a result, he caused chaos in his sleepy small town as he continued to go crazy and remained an unbridled bully.

We observe similar situations unfolding on the news every day. It's frustrating and tiring to witness. It calls into question the existing justice systems and the foundations of the society we've constructed. The love scenes in the book just seemed randomly inserted to create more distraction and appeal away from the depressing truths of reality. Maybe during more joyous times, this book would be suitable for a book club to discuss, but I just wasn't feeling it and was relieved when I turned the last page and placed it on the shelf!