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andyc_elsby232's review against another edition
4.0
Had me constantly thinking "holy shit this is depressing" and "holy shit this is good" at the same time.
mollydelahoya's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
spinstah's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in a quartet Oates wrote when she was young, and it is both like and not like her more recent writings. While the focus of the book is still on a woman (Clara) and the choices she makes to get by, much of the story revolves around and is told from the perspective of the men in her life -- father, son, husband, lover, etc.
This book isn't quite as dark as I have come to expect from her writing, though that is not to say it is a happy story. For the second half of the book, it felt as though Clara had more control over her life than I usually feel Oates' female characters do (though one can always argue she was "choosing to choose" her only options). In any case, I recommend this -- it was an interesting, compelling story.
This book isn't quite as dark as I have come to expect from her writing, though that is not to say it is a happy story. For the second half of the book, it felt as though Clara had more control over her life than I usually feel Oates' female characters do (though one can always argue she was "choosing to choose" her only options). In any case, I recommend this -- it was an interesting, compelling story.
tonytharakan's review
2.0
This was my first Joyce Carol Oates novel and it's a difficult read beginning with the lives of "white trash" migrant farmworkers in the United States. Teenager Clara somehow escapes this depressing life and finds herself torn between her unreliable saviour Lowry and lover Curt Revere. Her son Swan cuts a tragic figure. Protagonist Clara is a strong yet almost unlikeable character in a novel that takes a harsh look at the difference between the social classes. I would have given it more stars and it probably isn't Oates' fault, but Swan's story in the third part just didn't resonate with me.
hannyjsmith's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ beautifully written, but sadly I had a hard time getting through this one, only to end up feeling quite depressed by it in the end.
rdhuff's review
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
3.0
lil1inblue's review
challenging
dark
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
pikola86's review against another edition
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0