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antonyiah's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
bookishblunoser's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very hard to rate. I devoured it quickly, unable to put it down. I was waiting for the “thing” to happen, unsure of what the “thing” would be. Oates’ writing is delectable, but overall the story left me feeling disappointed. It is not a “gothic thriller” as was described on the cover and I have no idea what Oates is trying to say through this relationship based on desire and control…
elundh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
soph2962's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps not the best JCO to start with as I've not read any of her books before? Didn't really find it all that interesting although the action did pick up towards the end.
tusenord's review against another edition
2.0
Well written story and interesting characters, but their personalities weren't to my liking.
salicat's review against another edition
4.0
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I think Joyce Carol Oates had Little Red Riding Hood in mind when she wrote this. Fairy tale references are scattered throughout the book like breadcrumbs. We meet sixteen-year-old blond, tan-legged Katya (aka Cinderella or Snow White), who is working as a nanny for the rich Engelhardts on a New Jersey beach. She doesn't have an evil stepmother, but she does have a mother who prefers gambling and drinking to paying attention to her children. Enter Marcus Kidder (aka Prince Charming/Big Bad Wolf). Yes, I intended to put that slash there. But Kidder isn't the young raven-haired prince of Disney movies. He isn't young at all, or raven-haired- he is a sixty-eight year old man who's very attracted to Katya. And so our story begins with the push and pull page-turning suspense that Oates executes so well. Mr. Kidder wants Katya to model for him (he's an artist), and of course, as in any Oates story, or any story worth reading, for that matter, things get...complicated. On top of that we have her cousin Roy in the picture. He just got out of jail.
One thing I've always liked about Oates is her ability to blend in the character moods with nature imagery- clouds splitting the sky precedes a character's frown. Her sentences are spare, yet punch you with their poetry. And of course, there's her incredible talent for suspense.
Although Katya and Mr. Kidder are superbly developed, I felt like the rest of the characters were caricatures. The Engelhardts are greedy, suspicious, and spoiled- because that's just how rich people who have summer homes on the beach are, right? And I have yet to read an Oates story where a teenage/twenty-something male isn't pure evil- nothing more but a violent rapist/ex-prisoner with addiction problems. Such is the case with Roy. In fact, it's always been somewhat of a surprise to me that Oates' male characters have always been so two-dimensional, considering she's such a great writer.
As for the ending- I guess it worked, but I closed the book feeling kind of...dead. And sad. Not the sweet kind of sadness that succeeds a Hardy or Bronte novel, but a kind of icky sad. Also, there are certain mysteries in the novel that go unanswered- I couldn't figure out if that was intentional, or if Oates just didn't feel like dealing with those plot lines (in which case, why put them there?). Oh well. Still a recommend.
PS- For anyone familiar with Oates's short stories, this story seemed to be, in a lot of ways, a reworking of one of my favorite Oates stories called "The Model."
One thing I've always liked about Oates is her ability to blend in the character moods with nature imagery- clouds splitting the sky precedes a character's frown. Her sentences are spare, yet punch you with their poetry. And of course, there's her incredible talent for suspense.
Although Katya and Mr. Kidder are superbly developed, I felt like the rest of the characters were caricatures. The Engelhardts are greedy, suspicious, and spoiled- because that's just how rich people who have summer homes on the beach are, right? And I have yet to read an Oates story where a teenage/twenty-something male isn't pure evil- nothing more but a violent rapist/ex-prisoner with addiction problems. Such is the case with Roy. In fact, it's always been somewhat of a surprise to me that Oates' male characters have always been so two-dimensional, considering she's such a great writer.
As for the ending- I guess it worked, but I closed the book feeling kind of...dead. And sad. Not the sweet kind of sadness that succeeds a Hardy or Bronte novel, but a kind of icky sad. Also, there are certain mysteries in the novel that go unanswered- I couldn't figure out if that was intentional, or if Oates just didn't feel like dealing with those plot lines (in which case, why put them there?). Oh well. Still a recommend.
PS- For anyone familiar with Oates's short stories, this story seemed to be, in a lot of ways, a reworking of one of my favorite Oates stories called "The Model."
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
2 STARS
"Sixteen year-old Katya Spivak is out for a walk on the gracious streets of Bayhead Harbor with her two summer babysitting charges when she's approached by silver-haired, elegant Marcus Kidder. At first, his interest in her seems harmless, even pleasant; like his name, a sort of gentle joke. His beautiful home, the children's books that he's wirtten, his classical music, the marvelous art in his study, his lavish presents to her: Mr. Kidder's life couldn't be more different from Katya's drab working-class existence back home in South Jersey, or more enticing. But by degrees, almost imperceptibly, something changes, and posing for Mr. Kidder's new painting isn't the light-hearted endeavor it once was. What does he really want from her? And how far will he go to get it?" (From Amazon)
A little too Lolita-ish - but truth be told it was interesting enough to finish the short novel but not enough to reread or recommend. .5 for subject matter and 1.5 for the brilliant writing. (Note: I am not a big fan of the novel, Lolita).
"Sixteen year-old Katya Spivak is out for a walk on the gracious streets of Bayhead Harbor with her two summer babysitting charges when she's approached by silver-haired, elegant Marcus Kidder. At first, his interest in her seems harmless, even pleasant; like his name, a sort of gentle joke. His beautiful home, the children's books that he's wirtten, his classical music, the marvelous art in his study, his lavish presents to her: Mr. Kidder's life couldn't be more different from Katya's drab working-class existence back home in South Jersey, or more enticing. But by degrees, almost imperceptibly, something changes, and posing for Mr. Kidder's new painting isn't the light-hearted endeavor it once was. What does he really want from her? And how far will he go to get it?" (From Amazon)
A little too Lolita-ish - but truth be told it was interesting enough to finish the short novel but not enough to reread or recommend. .5 for subject matter and 1.5 for the brilliant writing. (Note: I am not a big fan of the novel, Lolita).
megankgates13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
meetmeinmalkovich's review against another edition
5.0
In every book there is a beginning, a middle, and a twist. This little novel definitely had a twist to it, and one I certainly didn't expect. No spoilers I promise! However, I feel in order to truly appreciate this seemingly dull book, you have to understand JCO and her writing style. A story about manipulation is actually much deeper than that, in my opinion. Katya is a lost girl seeking attention in any way she can, and instead of appreciating herself, she falls into a trap. If I had read this when I was younger I wouldn't have liked it, for I wouldn't have grasped the writing between the lines.
I knew Marcus Kidder wasn't the most upstanding man, considering he was prowling after a sixteen year old girl, but all things considered, she didn't do much to prevent what was happening to her. I am DEFINITELY NOT saying she deserved this treatment (the whole thing left me feeling uncomfortable even though I knew what was going to happen from the very first sentence) but throughout the book I found myself shouting internally at her, begging her to turn around and not to engage this much older man. The ending was sad, but not in the teary-eyes sort of way. More of a pitying sadness for both parties involved.
I knew Marcus Kidder wasn't the most upstanding man, considering he was prowling after a sixteen year old girl, but all things considered, she didn't do much to prevent what was happening to her. I am DEFINITELY NOT saying she deserved this treatment (the whole thing left me feeling uncomfortable even though I knew what was going to happen from the very first sentence) but throughout the book I found myself shouting internally at her, begging her to turn around and not to engage this much older man. The ending was sad, but not in the teary-eyes sort of way. More of a pitying sadness for both parties involved.