Tomato Red

In Daniel Woodrell's witty "country noir" novel, we follow anti-hero Sammy Barlach and the ambitious Jamalee Merridew, whose fiery red hair mirrors her determination to escape the confines of Venus Holler. Struggling against the limitations of their small-town upbringing, Jamalee sees her brother Jason—hotly pursued by local women—as her ticket out, though he may be wrestling with his own identity. As Sammy, a down-and-out ex-con, crosses their path, Jamalee believes he could provide the support she and Jason need to pursue their desires in a world that often stifles them.