Of course. They felt humiliated at what things had come down to, the drugs and squalor, and their pride surfaced in denial.
“...and their pride surfaced in denial.”
Your comment, and Vance’s story reminds me of the song “Tobacco Road” on Jefferson Airplanes first album (when they were more folk rock, and with Signe Anderson.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lva9kHMheQg
I was born in a dump
My momma died and my daddy got drunk
Left me here to die or grow
In the middle of Tobacco Road
I grew up in a rusty shack
All I owned was a’hangin’ on my back
Lord knows how much I loathe
This place called Tobacco Road
Cause it’s home
The only life I ever known
And the Lord knows I loathe
Tobacco Road
I’m gonna leave and get me a job
With the help and the grace of God
I’m gonna save my money, get rich I know
Bring it back to Tobacco Road
Probably not. These people love Daniel Woodrell, his stuff is pretty warts and all. Now admittedly he casts his books as fiction, but realistic fiction.
People can read what they want, I don’t care. I just answered a question. When it came out I saw a lot of flack, and of course its revival is bringing it all back around. Thus my answer.