What Year Was The Novel 'Hick' Published?

2025-06-21 09:04:31 153

3 Answers

Xena
Xena
2025-06-22 08:46:30
I remember digging into this one while browsing through lesser-known coming-of-age novels. 'Hick' by Andrea Portes hit shelves in 2007, standing out with its raw, unfiltered protagonist Luli who flees her Nebraska town. The novel's gritty tone and dark humor made waves among readers who enjoy flawed characters navigating harsh realities. Portes' background in acting shines through the vivid dialogue, making it feel like you're watching a indie film unfold on the page. If you liked 'White Oleander' or 'The Devil All the Time', this one's worth checking out for its unapologetic voice and road-trip chaos.
Parker
Parker
2025-06-24 06:39:08
From a collector's perspective, tracking down first editions of 'Hick' means looking for the 2007 print run with its original blood-red cover design. That year saw several breakout dark comedies, but Portes' novel stood out for its Nebraskan setting—rare in a genre dominated by coastal narratives. The protagonist's voice echoes Salinger's rebels but with trailer park realism, a combination that resonated with millennials facing post-recession America.

Interesting trivia: Portes initially wrote 'Hick' as a screenplay, which explains its cinematic violence and terse dialogue. The 2007 publication preceded the 2011 film adaptation starring Chloe Grace Moretz, though the book's ending differs significantly. For readers who appreciate flawed heroines, pair this with 'My Absolute Darling' or 'The Girls'—both share that unsettling blend of youth and brutality.
Piper
Piper
2025-06-27 20:13:39
Andrea Portes' 'Hick' stands out as a 2007 release that divided critics but gained cult status. Its publication year placed it alongside other gritty female-led narratives like 'Sharp Objects', though 'Hick' carves its own path with Luli's whiskey-soaked journey through America's underbelly. The novel's timing was perfect—arriving when readers craved antiheroines and unconventional storytelling.

What fascinates me is how Portes' screenplay experience influenced the pacing. Scenes unfold like camera shots, especially the diner confrontations and hitchhiking sequences. The 2007 literary landscape was rich with Southern gothics and suburban dramas, making 'Hick's plains-set noir feel refreshingly stark. Its mixed initial reception mirrors other now-celebrated dark comedies like 'Geek Love', proving some books need time to find their audience. For similar vibes, try 'Godshot' or 'All's Well'—both share that blend of desperation and surreal humor.
View All Answers
Scan code to download App

Related Books

What Was Once Mine
What Was Once Mine
I've been married to the prince of the underworld for ten years and have endured countless life-or-death situations by his side. My hands, once trained to play the piano, are covered in calluses from holding guns and stained with blood. But at 28, my husband ends up falling for a young woman from the slums. She's as delicate and pure as a chamomile. She's his well-kept little secret—until I run into them at the woman's prenatal appointment one day. I storm up to him, demanding an explanation, only for him to nonchalantly hand me divorce papers. "Sonia is a devout follower of the church and can't have a child before marriage. I must make an honest woman out of her. Sign these, and you'll get 40% of the company's shares." I refuse to do as told, so he corners me. In the end, he has my crippled younger brother tied up and forced under a hydraulic compression machine. "Sign the papers, Maeve, or watch your brother become a human mince pie. The choice is yours." I fall on my knees and beg him to stop. As the machine turns on, my hands fly to my aching lower belly, and I scream as I lose consciousness. When I wake up again, I'm back in the hospital, in the same spot where I ran into my husband and his mistress at her prenatal appointment. This time, I don't confront him. Overnight, I make arrangements with a sanatorium abroad, get divorced, and run away from home. Yet the moment I truly disappear, my husband loses his mind.
10 Chapters
Junior Year
Junior Year
This is a story containing three points of views; the protagonist, Alex, her unrequited love, Cole and the new student, Asher. Alex planned to go on with her unrequited love for Cole till she graduated high school but Asher figures out her secret and says he can help her get Cole. Alex accepted this offer without a second thought as to why he wanted to help her and they become close friends, partners-in-crime; She finally has Cole, living the life she's only dreamed about but why does she feel unsatisfied and it doesn't help matters that Asher confesses to her.
10
62 Chapters
Senior Year
Senior Year
Senior Year. Oh the joy of being a senior. Even though they have been seniors for a year and some months, they are still yet to discover that its not that easy. Trying to balance school life with personal life is not as easy as it seems. Especially now that they have been burdened with the school responsibilities and some have begun facing some huge family issues. Dive into the world of a group of struggling teenagers, filled with romance, drama, heartbreak, tragedy and betrayal.
10
7 Chapters
What?
What?
What? is a mystery story that will leave the readers question what exactly is going on with our main character. The setting is based on the islands of the Philippines. Vladimir is an established business man but is very spontaneous and outgoing. One morning, he woke up in an unfamiliar place with people whom he apparently met the night before with no recollection of who he is and how he got there. He was in an island resort owned by Noah, I hot entrepreneur who is willing to take care of him and give him shelter until he regains his memory. Meanwhile, back in the mainland, Vladimir is allegedly reported missing by his family and led by his husband, Andrew and his friend Davin and Victor. Vladimir's loved ones are on a mission to find him in anyway possible. Will Vlad regain his memory while on Noah's Island? Will Andrew find any leads on how to find Vladimir?
10
5 Chapters
What Was Mine Wasn't Mine
What Was Mine Wasn't Mine
To "fix" Leonard Rinehart's oh-so-tragic depression, Naomi Gaffron—yeah, the same girl who once swore she'd only ever marry me—secretly tied the knot with him. So I gave in. Played along with the family's little matchmaking stunt. Married Aurelia Spencer—Brieton City's golden girl who'd been obsessed with me since forever. For seven years, she clung to me like I was oxygen. Every night, curled up like she'd break if I moved. I thought that was happiness. Then one night, I caught her whispering to her best friend: "Leonard's already got international awards. When are you dumping Leone?" "Whatever—I'm stuck with someone I don't love anyway. Doesn't matter who I married. Someone's gotta keep an eye on Leone so he doesn't screw up everything Leonard built." I checked her study. Found a hidden folder—over 100,000 photos of Leonard. A hundred unsent love letters. Even I couldn't fake it anymore. Bought a silicone dummy. Laid out the plan. The fire would be step one. Dead or alive—we're done.
9 Chapters
New Year Surprises
New Year Surprises
Jane had no idea that the new year would be the biggest and most significant change of her life for her, she will finally understand what true love is and she will discover that her happiness has been there all the time but she had never noticed it for being stuck in her past. Travis takes the reins of what he truly wants and goes for it no matter what or anyone ... if he doesn't make his first move, someone else will probably do it and he's not willing to be the spectator again. But not everything is rosy, there will be many tests that they must overcome and do their part to cope with every situation that fate places on them. Because that's what life is all about, overcoming, learning, and adapting with each other, forging a bond so strong that nothing and no one can break, make mistakes and fix them and discover that things that are taken for granted take an unpredictable turn changing it. everything. Do you dare to discover what happens in a whole year for these two?
4
65 Chapters

Related Questions

Where Does The Story Of 'Hick' Take Place?

3 Answers2025-06-21 09:17:24
The story of 'Hick' unfolds in the raw, unfiltered heart of rural Nebraska, a setting that’s as much a character as the people themselves. Dusty highways stretch endlessly, dotted with run-down diners and motels that have seen better days. Small towns like Palmyra and Lincoln serve as backdrops for the protagonist’s chaotic journey, where the emptiness of the landscape mirrors the emotional voids in her life. The author paints Nebraska with a gritty realism—cornfields whisper secrets, and the vast skies feel oppressive rather than freeing. It’s a place where dreams go to wither, and survival is the only game in town. The setting’s bleakness amplifies the story’s themes of desperation and resilience, making every mile feel heavier than the last.

Is 'Hick' Based On A True Story?

3 Answers2025-06-21 17:45:49
I've read 'Hick' and dug into its background—it's not based on a true story, but it feels raw and real because of how the characters are written. The novel by Andrea Portes paints this gritty, almost surreal road trip through rural America, focusing on a young girl's chaotic journey. While the events are fictional, the emotional weight mirrors real struggles of runaways and lost kids. Portes has mentioned drawing inspiration from overheard stories and cultural observations, which gives it that 'could-be-true' vibe. If you want something with similar energy but rooted in reality, check out 'The Glass Castle' by Jeannette Walls—it’s a memoir that hits just as hard.

Who Plays The Lead Role In The Movie 'Hick'?

3 Answers2025-06-21 22:47:28
Chloe Grace Moretz absolutely kills it as the lead in 'Hick'. She plays Luli, this tough but vulnerable teen running away from her messed-up life in Nebraska. What's wild is how she carries the whole film—going from naive kid to street-smart survivor while keeping you hooked with just her expressions. The movie's gritty, but Moretz makes Luli feel real, not just some caricature. Fun fact: she was only 14 during filming but held her own against actors like Eddie Redmayne and Blake Lively. If you dig coming-of-age stories with bite, this one's worth watching just for her performance.

How Does 'Hick' End For The Main Character?

3 Answers2025-06-21 15:04:18
The ending of 'Hick' leaves the main character, Luli, in a raw, unsettling place that perfectly matches her chaotic journey. After surviving a series of harrowing experiences—being abandoned, manipulated, and nearly killed—she finally makes it to Vegas. But instead of finding the glamorous life she dreamed of, she's left battered and alone in a motel room. The last scene shows her staring at her reflection, hinting at a grim realization about adulthood and survival. There's no neat resolution, just the stark truth that her innocence is gone forever. The director doesn't sugarcoat it; Luli's story ends with her hardened by the world, a survivor but forever changed.

Why Is 'Hick' Considered A Controversial Novel?

3 Answers2025-06-21 06:12:39
The novel 'Hick' sparks controversy because it brutally exposes the underbelly of rural America through the eyes of a young girl. Luli's journey isn't just dark—it's unapologetically raw, showing child abandonment, sexual predation, and gun violence with zero sugarcoating. Some readers call it exploitative for putting a 13-year-old in hyper-sexualized situations with adult men, while others defend it as necessary realism. The writing style amplifies this divide; the prose is deliberately crude and chaotic, mirroring Luli's fractured worldview. What really divides audiences is whether the book critiques or glamorizes the very horrors it depicts. The scenes where Luli wields a pistol like a veteran outlaw particularly upset critics who argue it romanticizes juvenile delinquency. Supporters counter that 'Hick' holds up a cracked mirror to societal neglect—and people recoil from the reflection.
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status