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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm glad I read it because I love Joyce Carol Oates. I thought the main character was compelling, especially because I like to read an unreliable narrator. I thought the story was interesting, however, it really dragged on. I don't think it needed to be 500 pages. I would have liked it a lot more if it were a little shorter.
"The Falls" is an expertly crafted plate of liver and onions, unappetizing despite the skill it took to prepare.
This is the second (very long) Joyce Carol Oates book I have disliked. The author is so clearly talented, but her work so far has left me cold.
This is the second (very long) Joyce Carol Oates book I have disliked. The author is so clearly talented, but her work so far has left me cold.
Yes, this book started slowly but it is worth cutting it some slack for this and sticking it out. It gets better. For me, Oates is like the female equivalent of John Irving.
http://www.literaryfeline.com/2014/10/from-archives-falls-by-joyce-carol-oates.html
Ariah is on her honeymoon in Niagara Falls when her husband commits suicide by jumping over. Dirk Birnaby , a local lawyer, is mesmerized by her during the search for the body and marries her 2 months later. They seem to have it all, 3 children, a good lifestyle - then the woman in black appears. She convinces Dirk to take-up her suit about toxic chemicals affecting a local neighborhood. He is eventually killed over it by local politicos who force his car into the Falls and Ariah must raise her children, all the while trying to hide the "curse" from Chandler, Royall, and Juliet.
I liked the books up until the "Love Canal" lawsuit came into play. Ariah was a fascinating character but the whole last third of the book was wasted on the under-developed children loosing for the "missing" father information to make them feel normal again. I also wish that more "flashback" to Dirk's past and Ariah's past could have taken place. Or, maybe I would have liked the suit if real time was spent on the trial instead of the rush to kill Dirk. It's also too long at 481 pages!
I liked the books up until the "Love Canal" lawsuit came into play. Ariah was a fascinating character but the whole last third of the book was wasted on the under-developed children loosing for the "missing" father information to make them feel normal again. I also wish that more "flashback" to Dirk's past and Ariah's past could have taken place. Or, maybe I would have liked the suit if real time was spent on the trial instead of the rush to kill Dirk. It's also too long at 481 pages!
Started out much better than it ended. I liked it because I am familiar with the history--living in Buffalo, and all. I remember thinking it was an interesting book while I read it, but I think somewhere in the middle I started to drift. I'd recommend it, though, to anyone who knows about Love Canal and its sordid past!
It is impossible for me to read a book when I absolutely detest the main character. Whether what was intentional on Oates' part or not is irrelevant because I can't read one more page. It's too bad because the plot was interesting to me being that I'm originally from Western NY. Overall I can see why I was able to get this book at the Dollar Store. Very disappointed!
Although the class action lawsuit was interesting, the true story lies with Ariah and her self-fulfilling prophecy. It's heart-breaking to see how she's slowly driving everyone she loves away from her, and it's also heartbreaking to see the impact of her mental instability on her three children. I think what's most upsetting is the fact that many women seem to convince themselves of infidelity when, in fact, there is none, and don't allow themselves to enjoy what they do have because they've convinced themselves that, eventually, they will once again be alone.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Amazing book! Follows the story of Ariah, a woman who's husband commits suicide by jumping into Niagara Falls on the first day of their honeymoon. She then finds love again, but never quite loses the ghosts that haunted her after the first marriage. The story line is very complex and constantly leaves you asking questions. In fact, many of mine were still unanswered at the end of the book. But JCO gives you just enough detail to allow you to hypothesize on your own.