Reviews

A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates

sophieboeck's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

this shot was scary 

dcrice's review against another edition

5.0

Old man becomes obsessed with teenage nanny. Sounds simple. It's not. Sounds creepy. It is. But complex and intriguing and Joyce Carol Oates writing is simply beautiful. It's more like reading a long poem than a short novel. It is distirbing though - she definitely doesn't shy away from the darker side of human nature or give any easy ending.

ra042312's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia

debumere's review against another edition

4.0

A disturbing read that leaves you wondering if he is just a nice, lonely man or a full on paedo.

I was pretty disturbed from about half way through and I noticed a lot of people gave a 1 star purely on how twisted and dark it was, you can't rate a book low stars if the content didn't make you feel nice things, that's not what stars are for, the fact that it completely disturbed so many just shows how well written it was. The concept was unnerving and to me that means it was good in a very weird way.

This is the second Joyce book I've read and I consider myself a fan now. Going to read her others and I hope to be equally weirded out.

ash_brooke's review against another edition

2.0

2.5 This was included in my audible subscription & was entirely about Katya Spivak and Marcus Kidder, neither of which were very likable characters. As is often the case, I found myself bored with only a singular story line. Wack ending though?

tomx98's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-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

2.25

amelew's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense

4.25

etakloknok's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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

4.0

cristinavulpe's review against another edition

4.0

Per total mi-a placut foarte mult, dar ultimele pagini pur si simplu m-au dezgustat! Nu pot sa cred ca Oates a ales evolutia asta...mi-a fost teribil de mila de bosorogul ala, chit c-o fi fost el pedofil.

elisesu's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Drug use and Cursing