Misty's Reviews > God's Own Country

"God's Country" or "Out Backward" is unlike any other novel I've ever read. The story is told through the eyes and mind of Sam Marsdyke, a troubled youth who, while possibly well intentioned, finds himself losing grip with reality and embracing his darker thoughts.

The draw for me was how I never felt Sam was dangerous until he had clearly crossed the line. I cared about him and hoped his relationship with the girl from down the hill would provide balance in his life. I always had this perception of sociopaths as recognizing how their actions would affect others and knowingly acting out despite the consequences. Sam just seemed lonely and misunderstood, even when he's having conversations with others in his own mind or being physically violent with his thoughts towards people he wasn't keen on.

What started as an adventure with the runaway girl from down the hill quickly escalated into a terrifying abduction - all the while Sam felt they were falling in love and planning on a life together. When she mentions going back home, Sam starts to unravel and ends up spending years in prison for his actions. Upon his release, it's clear that no rehabilitation was able to help him.

This was a fairly quick read, despite the Yorkish dialect and slang throughout. Raisin writes from Marsdyke's point of view so beautifully that you want to root for him and hate him all the same.