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netflix_and_lil's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't expecting this collection to be so thoroughly enthralling seeing as I picked it up without knowing anything about the author and contents. Each story has merit, but here's a breakdown on my thoughts...
CARDIFF, BY THE SEA: Deceptively, not set in Wales. All good, once I got over that I was captured by the eerie tone and unnerving characters. Politeness to the point of unease wasn't something that I thought could be done, and yet the over-enthusiasm of the main characters was genuinely frightening at times. Or maybe I relate to the asocial fear of estranged relatives being overly touchy. I thought the story was simultaneously too long and too short; I didn't think it told the complete story I would have like and some fat-adding scenes felt unnecessary. However, the author doesn't owe me a satisfying ending, just a spooky ride, and that it was. 3/5
MIAO DAO: My favourite of the collection. I found myself reminded of (elements of) Earthlings; a touch of magical realism and revenge, hyper aware protagonist, but a victim of circumstance and watches the world differently as a result. And, as things go, a much sweeter ending than I expected the further I got in. If this is Joyce Carol Oates at her core, I want more. 5/5
PHANTOMWISE 1972: My least favourite, though I didn't hate it or anything. It just felt a bit 'by the numbers' after reading the excellent Miao Dao. It reminded me of a Stan series I hate-binged, The Deceived, with all the elements I disliked in that cropping up here - student/teacher predation, poetry, naive protagonist who is liable to being annoying and indecisive, MURDER??? (though admittedly they were better executed in Phantomwise). While one of the student teacher relationships in this was portrayed as rightfully predatory, the author couldn't seem to make up her mind when it came to the other one, even though it did read to me as creepy. I liked the ending, it made me mad. 3/5
THE SURVIVING CHILD: Classic gothic vibes in this modern take on 'innocent woman marries emotionally distant man, has the shit haunted out of her'. I enjoyed the arch and the more conclusive ending (sue me I like a pay off) and Elisabeth was a more likeable character despite her sudden bouts of spinelessness, because she's not an idiot and the length of the book meant she figured things out a lot quicker the new wives who came before her in classic fiction. I wish it had been longer, because out of all of the novellas it felt like the one with the most potential to be expanded into a full-length novel. 4/5
CARDIFF, BY THE SEA: Deceptively, not set in Wales. All good, once I got over that I was captured by the eerie tone and unnerving characters. Politeness to the point of unease wasn't something that I thought could be done, and yet the over-enthusiasm of the main characters was genuinely frightening at times. Or maybe I relate to the asocial fear of estranged relatives being overly touchy. I thought the story was simultaneously too long and too short; I didn't think it told the complete story I would have like and some fat-adding scenes felt unnecessary. However, the author doesn't owe me a satisfying ending, just a spooky ride, and that it was. 3/5
MIAO DAO: My favourite of the collection. I found myself reminded of (elements of) Earthlings; a touch of magical realism and revenge, hyper aware protagonist, but a victim of circumstance and watches the world differently as a result. And, as things go, a much sweeter ending than I expected the further I got in. If this is Joyce Carol Oates at her core, I want more. 5/5
PHANTOMWISE 1972: My least favourite, though I didn't hate it or anything. It just felt a bit 'by the numbers' after reading the excellent Miao Dao. It reminded me of a Stan series I hate-binged, The Deceived, with all the elements I disliked in that cropping up here - student/teacher predation, poetry, naive protagonist who is liable to being annoying and indecisive, MURDER??? (though admittedly they were better executed in Phantomwise). While one of the student teacher relationships in this was portrayed as rightfully predatory, the author couldn't seem to make up her mind when it came to the other one, even though it did read to me as creepy. I liked the ending, it made me mad. 3/5
THE SURVIVING CHILD: Classic gothic vibes in this modern take on 'innocent woman marries emotionally distant man, has the shit haunted out of her'. I enjoyed the arch and the more conclusive ending (sue me I like a pay off) and Elisabeth was a more likeable character despite her sudden bouts of spinelessness, because she's not an idiot and the length of the book meant she figured things out a lot quicker the new wives who came before her in classic fiction. I wish it had been longer, because out of all of the novellas it felt like the one with the most potential to be expanded into a full-length novel. 4/5
adastraperlibris's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
papelcaracol's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
Yes, as the cover promises, there is suspense. But each felt like something was missing. Is that just Joyce Carol Oates' style? Maybe.
poeticdevices's review against another edition
I didn't really identify with Oates' writing style. It contained too many unnecessary feelings from the main character of the first story. Or maybe I just didn't read it at the perfect time.
When the "perfect time" does come though, I'll pick this book up again. For now, it'll be a DNF.
When the "perfect time" does come though, I'll pick this book up again. For now, it'll be a DNF.
victoriathuyvi's review against another edition
5.0
Each novella was strong on its own and together reads as a testament to the suffering of women. Beautiful imagery and evocative sentiments.
jyaremchuk's review against another edition
3.0
I am generally a fan of JCO, but these novellas smacked of creative writing workshop :(
lesliewatwar's review against another edition
4.0
Surprisingly this is my first book by Oates I've read. And reading short stories is even more out of my comfort zone.
Each of these stories has just the right amount of suspense to make you want to curl up with blanket and hot tea during a thunderstorm with this book.
Thanks NetgGalley!
Each of these stories has just the right amount of suspense to make you want to curl up with blanket and hot tea during a thunderstorm with this book.
Thanks NetgGalley!
karenleagermain's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of Joyce Carol Oates’ collection, Cardiff, by the Sea: Four Novellas, in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a huge Joyce Carol Oates fan and I was thrilled for the opportunity to read her new novella collection, Cardiff, by the Sea. All four novellas focus on young women navigating isolating and unsettling situations. The collection is labeled a suspense, which is apt, as the pacing of each story feels like a ticking bomb and the edginess never fades.
In the first story and title of the collection, Cardiff by the Sea, a mid-twenties university researcher discovers that she has inherited an abandoned farm house in rural Maine. The woman had been adopted as a child and the inheritance leads her to blood relatives and a shocking revelation of her parent’s death. I was gripped by this story and it felt quite personal. I also had a similar family tragedy that happened to me at four years old, the same as the main character ( although I was not adopted) and I have quite a bit of mystery surrounding my blood relatives. I found myself deeply connecting to the point where I felt almost in a trance reading this story. It was an out-of-body experience that I have never had while reading. It has been a week and I feel haunted by Cardiff by the Sea.
The second story, Miao Dao follows a preteen girl struggling to survive absentee parents, a handsy new stepfather, and boys at school who both tease and touch her developing body. She escapes to a nearby abandoned lot that is filled with feral cats. Her favorite cat, “Miao Dao” becomes larger than life in her imagination and takes on a protector role, helping the girl fight back against those who harm her.
In Phantomwise:1972, a college student has two secretive relationships. The first is with a young professor who only uses her for sex when he is in the mood. She becomes pregnant and decides to keep the pregnancy a secret. In the early stages of her pregnancy, a much older visiting professor takes an interest in her and she becomes his assistant. She is flattered to have attracted the attention of a man that she admires, yet she knows that the situation is not right. He wants more. She struggles with the harmful and inappropriate attention of two men, while trying to figure out what to do with the secret growing in her uterus.
The final story is The Surviving Child. A new wife marries a wealthy older man and becomes stepmother to his young son, Stefan. Going into the marriage, she knew that her husband and stepson had suffered a terrible and highly publicized tragedy. Stefan’s mother had killed herself and his baby sister. The mother had tried to kill Stefan, but he survived. Stefan’s mother was a famous poet, who through her death achieved a feminist cult-like status akin to Sylvia Plath. Stefan is a strange child marked by tragedy and his stepmother arrives unprepared for this new role. She spends a lot of time wandering around the mansion, looking for clues left behind by her husband’s first wife.
Oates has written an exceptional collection. I highly recommend all four novellas. in particular, Cardiff, by the Sea was a profoundly affecting reading experience that has left me feeling rattled.
Like my review? Check out my blog!
I’m a huge Joyce Carol Oates fan and I was thrilled for the opportunity to read her new novella collection, Cardiff, by the Sea. All four novellas focus on young women navigating isolating and unsettling situations. The collection is labeled a suspense, which is apt, as the pacing of each story feels like a ticking bomb and the edginess never fades.
In the first story and title of the collection, Cardiff by the Sea, a mid-twenties university researcher discovers that she has inherited an abandoned farm house in rural Maine. The woman had been adopted as a child and the inheritance leads her to blood relatives and a shocking revelation of her parent’s death. I was gripped by this story and it felt quite personal. I also had a similar family tragedy that happened to me at four years old, the same as the main character ( although I was not adopted) and I have quite a bit of mystery surrounding my blood relatives. I found myself deeply connecting to the point where I felt almost in a trance reading this story. It was an out-of-body experience that I have never had while reading. It has been a week and I feel haunted by Cardiff by the Sea.
The second story, Miao Dao follows a preteen girl struggling to survive absentee parents, a handsy new stepfather, and boys at school who both tease and touch her developing body. She escapes to a nearby abandoned lot that is filled with feral cats. Her favorite cat, “Miao Dao” becomes larger than life in her imagination and takes on a protector role, helping the girl fight back against those who harm her.
In Phantomwise:1972, a college student has two secretive relationships. The first is with a young professor who only uses her for sex when he is in the mood. She becomes pregnant and decides to keep the pregnancy a secret. In the early stages of her pregnancy, a much older visiting professor takes an interest in her and she becomes his assistant. She is flattered to have attracted the attention of a man that she admires, yet she knows that the situation is not right. He wants more. She struggles with the harmful and inappropriate attention of two men, while trying to figure out what to do with the secret growing in her uterus.
The final story is The Surviving Child. A new wife marries a wealthy older man and becomes stepmother to his young son, Stefan. Going into the marriage, she knew that her husband and stepson had suffered a terrible and highly publicized tragedy. Stefan’s mother had killed herself and his baby sister. The mother had tried to kill Stefan, but he survived. Stefan’s mother was a famous poet, who through her death achieved a feminist cult-like status akin to Sylvia Plath. Stefan is a strange child marked by tragedy and his stepmother arrives unprepared for this new role. She spends a lot of time wandering around the mansion, looking for clues left behind by her husband’s first wife.
Oates has written an exceptional collection. I highly recommend all four novellas. in particular, Cardiff, by the Sea was a profoundly affecting reading experience that has left me feeling rattled.
Like my review? Check out my blog!