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jrhart's review against another edition
2.0
It's been awhile since I've read JCO and I had forgotten how "wordy" her novels are. They have moments where you think "wow!", that analogy, or sentence was profound! But then there are others where you are screaming "JUST GET ON WITH IT!" In your head. All the characters here are cold and not necessarily audience friendly. I was drawn in by the title and the summary, and expected more interaction between Iris and Jinx. The author tried to sell a love story here and it just didn't work for me. If there had been more dialogue between these two, their connection would've seemed more realistic. I also got sick of Iris and her naive, self destructive ways. I wanted more about Jinx and less about her. This book just kind of rambled on and on until it randomly came to an end. I wasn't impressed with Meet the Mulvaney's from this author either, maybe her story telling just isn't for me.
jilliannelarson's review against another edition
3.0
How do you rate a book that is so well-written but so problematic? Here is a book that wants so desperately to challenge racism but ultimately perpetuates it in a very dangerous way; there is no black character in this novel who is not violent in some way - even Jinx who is the star basketball player *sigh* who might also be the exception because he’s smart *double sigh* commits a violent act out of protection and love. In the end the black boy dies a meaningless death in Vietnam and the white girl achieves upward mobility and lives happily (?) ever after. This seems to be less a challenge of race and more so a piece of evidence that suggests one’s life is determined by one’s race. While this is true to a point, I don’t think these characters needed to be thrown down the rabbit hole and be examples of so many dangerous stereotypes.
It is interesting that JCO is so highly recommended and seems emblematic of American fiction; as if the American tradition lies in white people writing the black experience and failing to dispel dangerous stereotypes.
However, what kept me reading this story was JCO’s gift for storytelling - even though the story itself should not have been told. The background and cultural context for this novel becomes a character itself. This book would be highly beneficial in a fiction writing class due to its incredible narrative and storytelling abilities. However, the content itself should be challenged.
It is interesting that JCO is so highly recommended and seems emblematic of American fiction; as if the American tradition lies in white people writing the black experience and failing to dispel dangerous stereotypes.
However, what kept me reading this story was JCO’s gift for storytelling - even though the story itself should not have been told. The background and cultural context for this novel becomes a character itself. This book would be highly beneficial in a fiction writing class due to its incredible narrative and storytelling abilities. However, the content itself should be challenged.
abiveeke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Classism
rdoose's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 Stars
This was an intense read. The first 1/3 of it, for me, was much less enjoyable than the last 2/3. It was beautifully written, Oates is undeniably talented. But it was just so heavy and slow at first that I really wanted to be done with it. But I still liked the book, and I'm glad I read it. It is definitely one of the least predictable books I have read. Besides what is told in the book description, nothing else I expected to happen ever did. It was extremely complex, the POV switched between many different characters, and none of them were simple or one-dimensional. I would recommend this book if you are prepared for a heavy story, but don't expect a traditional happy ending or a feeling of resolution. I think one of the goals of the book is to leave the reader feeling unresolved or unsettled, and it definitely achieves that goal.
This was an intense read. The first 1/3 of it, for me, was much less enjoyable than the last 2/3. It was beautifully written, Oates is undeniably talented. But it was just so heavy and slow at first that I really wanted to be done with it. But I still liked the book, and I'm glad I read it. It is definitely one of the least predictable books I have read. Besides what is told in the book description, nothing else I expected to happen ever did. It was extremely complex, the POV switched between many different characters, and none of them were simple or one-dimensional. I would recommend this book if you are prepared for a heavy story, but don't expect a traditional happy ending or a feeling of resolution. I think one of the goals of the book is to leave the reader feeling unresolved or unsettled, and it definitely achieves that goal.
olledes's review against another edition
4.0
the highs of the book were truly highs while there were some sections that truly dragged, but all written with amazing prose
arikapat's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book. Looks at the dynamics race played/plays in day-to-day lives.
booksandquilts's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
imperfectcj's review
4.0
I almost gave this book 5 stars. After taking a while to warm up to the story and almost putting it aside a few times, I found that after about 150 pages, I couldn't put it down. During those first 150 pages, I couldn't relate to or find anything I cared about in the characters. I found them a little tiresome and confusing. I only kept reading because of Oates' prose style, which I find fluid and very appealing, and my experiences with Oates' work in the past, which have so far never disappointed (and also because I really dislike leaving books unfinished). Maybe I just had to get to know the characters, because I really connected with them by the end. The progession of the characters through their lives made sense to me, even as their lives took turns that weren't quite what I expected. But caring about and understanding the characters is part of why I ended up giving the book 4 stars.
Reading Oates' stories, I find myself really understanding the appeal of the unrealistic happy ending. Oates gives an accurate representation of the confusion and disappointment that comes when life doesn't live up to expectations. But sometimes when I willingly suspend my disbelief to delve into a novel, I want the story to not seem so true, and to be a little less ambiguous than life often is. Maybe it's not fair to give a 5-star quality book a 4 just because I'm in the mood for a rainbow in my rain storm, but that's what I've done.
Reading Oates' stories, I find myself really understanding the appeal of the unrealistic happy ending. Oates gives an accurate representation of the confusion and disappointment that comes when life doesn't live up to expectations. But sometimes when I willingly suspend my disbelief to delve into a novel, I want the story to not seem so true, and to be a little less ambiguous than life often is. Maybe it's not fair to give a 5-star quality book a 4 just because I'm in the mood for a rainbow in my rain storm, but that's what I've done.
accidentalspaceexplorer's review
2.0
This book was just not my style. It felt like it was trying to be way more profound than it was, and I just wasn't really into it.
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