Reviews

The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates

Only show reviews with written explanations

cowgorl's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The corn maiden 4.75/5
Beersheba 2.75/5
Nobody knows my name 4/5
Fossil-Figures 5/5
Death-Cup 3/5
Helping Hands 3.5/5
A Hole in the Head 4.5/5

Average: 3.92…

Content Warnings

lckrgr's review

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1.0

I listened to this as an audio book and honestly only finished it out of sheer stubbornness. I remember in high school picking up Oates' Zombie. Naturally I was traumatized. I figured I was older and maybe her "nightmares" were less nightmarish or at least better than I remembered. I was wrong. I just can't get into Oates' horror and grotesque stuff. It is indeed grotesque.

But seriously, I wonder, what is Oates' obsession with trepenation?

Also a complaint about this audio book, I really did not like the readers. The guy pronounced a lot of things wrong and that annoyed me. But what can you do.

So I've learned my lesson, no more non-novel Oates' for me.

lilcoop71's review

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3.0

Creepy and dark!

emjay24's review

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1.0

I saw this on my library's new book shelf.. picked it up and started reading at home. For one, I can't read this writing style. It doesn't flow at all, it's like walking through heavy, tall snow. For a second thing, i think the whole thing is just too disturbing. Not for me, I'm returning it.

bigbookgeek's review

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4.0

Somehow, I have made it this far in life without reading much of Joyce Carol Oats' work! I have read an occasional short story in collections, but that's it. This was such a good collection of shorts that I will now definitely seek out more of her work. Chilling, creepy, and very real, she really knows how to keep readers on the edge of our seats!