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samdoucette's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
pjv1013's review against another edition
5.0
COMENTÁRIO
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"O primeiro amor"
Joyce Carol Oates
Tradução de Carvalho Oliveira
Um detalhe sobre os livros de Joyce Carol Oates: mulheres jovens ou adolescentes são personagens frequentes.
A pequena novela "o primeiro amor" é mais um desses exemplos, pois é uma história que tem Josie como protagonista, numa "trama", marcada igualmente, por uma família destruturada e onde diferentes formas de violência são uma constante.
Nesta história, próxima do pesadelo, a jovem Josie é vítima de violência sexual no seio da sua família. Mas indelevelmente constrói um fascínio pelo seu agressor, num quadro familiar cheia de segredos sussurados, de intensa religiosidade e de violência física e psicológica.
Estás problemáticas são narradas por Carol Oates com o brilhantismo que caracteriza a sua escrita criando um plano de tensão que envolve o leitor.
Este foi o "livro mistério" que li este mês e que integra as iniciativas #lêseteatreves da @aoutramafalda e #outonogótico da @papeiseletras. Na segunda quinzena de Novembro terei um novo "livro mistério".
(li de 8 a 10 de Outubro de 2022)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"O primeiro amor"
Joyce Carol Oates
Tradução de Carvalho Oliveira
Um detalhe sobre os livros de Joyce Carol Oates: mulheres jovens ou adolescentes são personagens frequentes.
A pequena novela "o primeiro amor" é mais um desses exemplos, pois é uma história que tem Josie como protagonista, numa "trama", marcada igualmente, por uma família destruturada e onde diferentes formas de violência são uma constante.
Nesta história, próxima do pesadelo, a jovem Josie é vítima de violência sexual no seio da sua família. Mas indelevelmente constrói um fascínio pelo seu agressor, num quadro familiar cheia de segredos sussurados, de intensa religiosidade e de violência física e psicológica.
Estás problemáticas são narradas por Carol Oates com o brilhantismo que caracteriza a sua escrita criando um plano de tensão que envolve o leitor.
Este foi o "livro mistério" que li este mês e que integra as iniciativas #lêseteatreves da @aoutramafalda e #outonogótico da @papeiseletras. Na segunda quinzena de Novembro terei um novo "livro mistério".
(li de 8 a 10 de Outubro de 2022)
dwcofer's review against another edition
1.0
This book is more a long short story (86 small pages) than a novel, or even a novella. The story centers around an eleven year old girl named Josie. Josie is lonely as is her mother who left her husband and moved with her and Josie in with her aunt. Enter Josie's second cousin Jared, Jr. who is on leave from his theology studies and moved into the house as well. Josie and Jared, Jr. are both fascinated by one another, and Jared takes advantage of Josie's young age and interest in him and uses her as a test of his celibacy. He physically abuse her and strips her naked, yet not acting on his lust for her. All this occurs while Josie’s mother finds a boyfriend and stays out late at night and takes off out of town for days at a time, totally neglecting young Josie. Obviously, loneliness is a prevalent theme in the book.
This is not one of Oates best books, by a long shot. It is not well written, with many confusing sentences. Often who is being referred to is obscure. The book is written in the second person, which actually works well for this book.
Overall, I did not like the story. None of the characters were likeable, and I could not relate or pull for any of them, not even little, innocent Josie. Being so short, the book lacked any depth and character development was possible, leaving the characters very one-dimensional.
It was painfully obvious Oates mission in writing this book was to address what she felt was hypocrisy in religion. She would have been better off presenting those views in an essay, rather than attempting to disguise them in a fictional account.
This is not one of Oates best books, by a long shot. It is not well written, with many confusing sentences. Often who is being referred to is obscure. The book is written in the second person, which actually works well for this book.
Overall, I did not like the story. None of the characters were likeable, and I could not relate or pull for any of them, not even little, innocent Josie. Being so short, the book lacked any depth and character development was possible, leaving the characters very one-dimensional.
It was painfully obvious Oates mission in writing this book was to address what she felt was hypocrisy in religion. She would have been better off presenting those views in an essay, rather than attempting to disguise them in a fictional account.
grumpymostly's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Child abuse
painauchocolat's review against another edition
My morning of election read yesterday. Disturbing and immensely quotable.
'Mother said, her gaze on me calculating, impatient, of the silver glint of light reflected in swift-moving water, "There is no 'there', there is only 'here'. Just as there is no 'then', but only 'now'. America is founded upon such principles, and, as Americans, we must be, too."'
'Mother said, her gaze on me calculating, impatient, of the silver glint of light reflected in swift-moving water, "There is no 'there', there is only 'here'. Just as there is no 'then', but only 'now'. America is founded upon such principles, and, as Americans, we must be, too."'
indiepauli47's review
5.0
4.5-5 stars.
Very disturbing, I don't think this book is for everyone.. The more I read Oates' books, the more I want to read Oates' books, it's very strange.
Very disturbing, I don't think this book is for everyone.. The more I read Oates' books, the more I want to read Oates' books, it's very strange.
libscigrl's review against another edition
3.0
First, let me preface by saying JCO is one of my favorite authors (tied up there with Margaret Atwood). But I think I can make an unbiased call on how well I liked this book.
Josie and her mom move in with the mom's aunt. Mom's second cousin, a 25 year old man studying to be a minister, lives in the house, but is more or less off limits. This is where the story begins it's darkness (or is it when you realize there are NO other family members...where did everyone go??), as it is not explained why he is off limits.
When they do run into each other, it is painful, literally and figuratively. The darkness is again in the lack of details. At no time is it completely obvious what he is doing to her (besides mentally manipulating her)...your imagination, which is just dark enough, fills in the blanks. We are given glimpses of what he may be doing to her when her mom takes her school clothes shopping.
The length of this novella is just right. Any longer and it would just be mental torture to keep reading it.
Josie and her mom move in with the mom's aunt. Mom's second cousin, a 25 year old man studying to be a minister, lives in the house, but is more or less off limits. This is where the story begins it's darkness (or is it when you realize there are NO other family members...where did everyone go??), as it is not explained why he is off limits.
When they do run into each other, it is painful, literally and figuratively. The darkness is again in the lack of details. At no time is it completely obvious what he is doing to her (besides mentally manipulating her)...your imagination, which is just dark enough, fills in the blanks. We are given glimpses of what he may be doing to her when her mom takes her school clothes shopping.
The length of this novella is just right. Any longer and it would just be mental torture to keep reading it.
ghoulish's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, and Incest