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knuxxlove's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
The point of this book seemed to be to realistically portray modern tragedy. Oates' characters make the reader feel for them strongly. The stories of each character told from an omniscient-type perspective overlap which helps the reader to fully understand each character and situation. While this book does evoke emotion in the reader, it does not do it nearly as much as it has the ability to do. Because there are so many vital characters, a lot of time is devoted to developing each, which gives the reader a full understanding of each family member. While this is important, it did not need to be as abundant as it was.
Run-on sentences were used extensively throughout the book. Possibly, this was to portray quick thought/action, but it was a little awkward and hard to understand sometimes. Because the reader was forced to reread these sentences to figure out what was actually happening, the run-on sentences actually gave the opposite effect, forcing the reader to read more slowly.
Many times during this book I would connect strongly with a character and feel almost like these things were happening to me or someone I knew. Other times, I became frustrated at the choices that they made and that they refused to try to pick themselves up. This is good because it was evoking the proper emotion. This is very similar to real life and made the whole situation much more believable.
When "it" happened to Marianne, I thought "Oh God, not another book about sad teenagers and how terrible our society has become." But, the book ends up focusing on how the family as a whole was effected rather than the victim. This multi-faceted point of view gives a whole new view to rape beyond flat headlines and hour-long documentaries. It helps the reader to understand that such extreme situations do not only permanently scar the victim, but many around them. It shows that they "victim" is not even always the most severely effected. It helps one to understand rape and other such situations in a much more intimate way.
The fact that Judd "narrated" this book was confusing to me. The book as a whole is written more from an omniscient point of view, and his occasional butting-ins seemed to be unnecessary and could easily have been shown through the omniscient point of view. The only reason I can think of for choosing Judd to narrate occasionally is to make him more real. His role in the book is small, so possibly Oates was attempting to help the reader to connect more strongly with this seemingly insignificant character and to truly understand why he was an important piece of the Mulvaney family.
The point of this book seemed to be to realistically portray modern tragedy. Oates' characters make the reader feel for them strongly. The stories of each character told from an omniscient-type perspective overlap which helps the reader to fully understand each character and situation. While this book does evoke emotion in the reader, it does not do it nearly as much as it has the ability to do. Because there are so many vital characters, a lot of time is devoted to developing each, which gives the reader a full understanding of each family member. While this is important, it did not need to be as abundant as it was.
Run-on sentences were used extensively throughout the book. Possibly, this was to portray quick thought/action, but it was a little awkward and hard to understand sometimes. Because the reader was forced to reread these sentences to figure out what was actually happening, the run-on sentences actually gave the opposite effect, forcing the reader to read more slowly.
Many times during this book I would connect strongly with a character and feel almost like these things were happening to me or someone I knew. Other times, I became frustrated at the choices that they made and that they refused to try to pick themselves up. This is good because it was evoking the proper emotion. This is very similar to real life and made the whole situation much more believable.
When "it" happened to Marianne, I thought "Oh God, not another book about sad teenagers and how terrible our society has become." But, the book ends up focusing on how the family as a whole was effected rather than the victim. This multi-faceted point of view gives a whole new view to rape beyond flat headlines and hour-long documentaries. It helps the reader to understand that such extreme situations do not only permanently scar the victim, but many around them. It shows that they "victim" is not even always the most severely effected. It helps one to understand rape and other such situations in a much more intimate way.
The fact that Judd "narrated" this book was confusing to me. The book as a whole is written more from an omniscient point of view, and his occasional butting-ins seemed to be unnecessary and could easily have been shown through the omniscient point of view. The only reason I can think of for choosing Judd to narrate occasionally is to make him more real. His role in the book is small, so possibly Oates was attempting to help the reader to connect more strongly with this seemingly insignificant character and to truly understand why he was an important piece of the Mulvaney family.
kaallen's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jasperellis's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mschrock8's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed this book about a big family in a big house.
torintorin's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alisonvh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
1.0
I almost DNFed this book. As I was considering quitting, it seemed to take a more interesting turn, but it was false hope. By the time I realized that was all the book had to offer, I was so close to the end I figured I might as well finish it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Animal death, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Emotional abuse, and Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty
tkoufos's review against another edition
It just isn't the right time for me to read this type of book. It'll remain on my shelf, waiting.
erboe501's review against another edition
2.0
I listened to this on audio, and it took forever. It dragged, meandered, went on tangents that I don't think were always justified. The premise of the story is heartbreaking: the rape of a teenage girl destroys her family. What is most heartbreaking of all is how her family interacts with her post-assault.
This is a very relevant subject matter in today's post-Me Too world. And Oates's writing is good, obviously. But it was a little too nostalgic/retrospective for me. Too much about how fantastic the family was so that it felt a bit inauthentic. I loved Oates's Blonde, but this didn't do it for me. I don't really go for books that have long passages of introspective pretty prose. Plus, the narrator's imitation of female voices was rather nauseating.
This is a very relevant subject matter in today's post-Me Too world. And Oates's writing is good, obviously. But it was a little too nostalgic/retrospective for me. Too much about how fantastic the family was so that it felt a bit inauthentic. I loved Oates's Blonde, but this didn't do it for me. I don't really go for books that have long passages of introspective pretty prose. Plus, the narrator's imitation of female voices was rather nauseating.
kingarooski's review against another edition
3.0
In a book where none of the characters appealed to me, Joyce Carol Oates somehow wrote a book that I liked. Half-way through, I considered abandoning it because the misery, the utter hopelessness was too much and the characters living in the book were too annoying. I struggle with Michael Mulvaney, Sr. especially, but that is the intent of the author, I believe. Corinne, Patrick and Mule were all unreliable in their own way. I wish more time was spent with Marianne, but I was two-thirds through the book before she became a more frequent presence and we learned of her point of view (after the move). In the end, Joyce Carol Oates seems to say "what is a family if not the memories that follow each family member around?" Interesting.
elmatera's review against another edition
3.0
We Were the Mulvaneys would have been a perfect book for my old book club in Arkansas. There's a ton to think about and discuss - the personal, family, social consequences of rape, the ways in which happiness can be a thin veneer or have deep roots, what it means to be a family, how a personality can/can't be so upended by life events, etc. I definitely wish I could settle into a spot on the floor and hear what Debby, Susan, Suzann, Chris, Sandy, et al, had to say. :)