Bang for a Buck: A True Story from the Dark Side of the Street

Lynne Hughes teaches communication arts at the University of Calgary.

Roman’s book presents the true story of a young girl immersed in the
seamy, violent, and often deadly street life of one of Canada’s
largest cities. Holding nothing back, the narrator vividly recounts the
means of her survival in the 1960s and ’70s as a stripper, massage
parlor girl, and prostitute. The world she describes is full of
deviance, sexual violence, and cruelty—a place where the law of the
jungle predominates, and one must constantly look over one’s shoulder.
Degradation, torture, and murder become commonplace, as she describes
encounters with vicious bike gangs, petty criminals, and Mafia members.

The protagonist seems a tough and bitter character who can mostly hold
her own on the street, yet at times she seems a trapped victim. She
mistrusts those who could help her, while relying on the sadistic men
who mistreat and abuse her. The chance of escaping is remote: the
protagonist disdains any other way of life and disregards the
possibilities of significantly improving her own.

This book is not an easy read. It is long, and Roman is relentless as
she graphically portrays the dangers of street life. And realizing that
conditions have probably worsened in the last 20 years, is depressing.
The book’s language can be overwhelming: too many dense and turgid
sentences can mean plodding reading. Sometimes the details of the
protagonist’s sordid adventures and cynicism become oppressive as
well. Nonetheless, Roman offers a disturbing, shocking, and yet
ultimately enlightening view of a world and a lifestyle that most would
prefer to ignore.