
Rule of the Bone
A Novel
by Russell Banks
400 pages· 1996· ISBN 9780060927240
About
When we first meet him, Chappie is a punked-out teenager living with his mother and abusive stepfather in an upstate New York trailer park. During this time, he slips into drugs and petty crime. Rejected by his parents, out of school and in trouble with the police, he claims for himself a new identity as a permanent outsider; he gets a crossed-bones tattoo on his arm, and takes the name "Bone." He finds dangerous refuge with a group of biker-thieves, and then hides in the boarded-up summer house of a professor and his wife. He finally settles in an abandoned schoolbus with Rose, a child he rescues from a fast-talking pedophile. There Bone meets I-Man, an exiled Rastafarian, and together they begin a second adventure that takes the reader from Middle America to the ganja-growing mountains of Jamaica. It is an amazing journey of self-discovery through a world of magic, violence, betrayal and redemption.
Discuss Rule of the Bone with other readers
Join or start a book club for Rule of the Bone on Readfeed. Live chat, shared reading progress, and AI discussion questions — free to get started.
Frequently asked questions
How do I join a book club for Rule of the Bone?
Sign up free on Readfeed, then browse public clubs or start your own club with Rule of the Bone as the current read. Invite friends with a share link and discuss together with live chat and AI discussion questions.
Can I discuss Rule of the Bone with other readers online?
Yes. Readfeed book clubs let you chat live, share progress, and join discussions about Rule of the Bone with readers worldwide — whether your club is virtual, in-person, or hybrid.
Is Readfeed free?
Yes. Creating an account and joining book clubs is free. Sign up to find readers who love the same books and start discussing today.