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bradbury's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
BOOM!!!! Just genius. JCO can be really a hit or a miss for me, but THIS IS NOURISHING GOTHIC HORROR, like the middle child between Shirley Jackson’s “eldest” collections of flawless short storytelling in the genre and something like Stephen King’s relatively infantile yet comforting Night Shift. The gothic balance Oates tows in Equatorial between reality and self doubt was obviously inspired by works like Jackson’s The Daemon Lover (all time fav) and is a perfect example of how Oates leaves the reader in a middle ground of the unknown, providing the perfect amount of dread and detective work at the end of the story. these are all easily inhaled and will BLOW YOU AWAY. The switch in language in The Doll-Master between inanimate and humanlike descriptors was so carefully treaded, you really have to experience it to feel the sensation of having your mouth agape once Oates plunges you into the deep end halfway through the story.
Wonderful!! If excellent gothic horror that only takes a single finger to reverberate waves across the gothic’s dark waters doesn’t blend well with your reading style, maybe try something more bite-sized and predictable, like I don’t know, the amityville horror or something.
Wonderful!! If excellent gothic horror that only takes a single finger to reverberate waves across the gothic’s dark waters doesn’t blend well with your reading style, maybe try something more bite-sized and predictable, like I don’t know, the amityville horror or something.
remigves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
marselli's review against another edition
1.0
I'd probably like this collection more if I had read it for a lit class, but for pleasure, I found it boring. Maybe I'll give it a try out side of my fall reading and develop a different opinion. If you are looking for a collection of short stories for Halloween reading, this is not one I'd recommend.
jsdrown's review against another edition
3.0
It’s funny to see these goodread reviewers caught off guard by Joyce Carol Oates. So many go into her novels expecting simple thriller and are confronted by literature. Blame the publisher not Oates. She’s one of our best living authors and is still hanging out books at 84.
amandatacklestbr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
magyklyxdelish's review against another edition
1.0
Misleading Title
It’s almost offensive to call this horror or insinuate that these stories will terrify you. And I’m saying this as someone who scares easy.
Honestly, the first story is the only one that I would consider horror/creepy. Soldier was very political and not at all horror. The one with the wife and husband was insanely dull.
I honestly found myself skimming through a lot of this. Definitely not one I’ll read again.
It’s almost offensive to call this horror or insinuate that these stories will terrify you. And I’m saying this as someone who scares easy.
Honestly, the first story is the only one that I would consider horror/creepy. Soldier was very political and not at all horror. The one with the wife and husband was insanely dull.
I honestly found myself skimming through a lot of this. Definitely not one I’ll read again.
hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
The Doll-Master and other Tales of Terror is a dark exploration into the depths of psychological terror. Author Joyce Carol Oates doesn’t skimp on the horror; she just doesn’t need to spell it all out. There isn’t much blood and guts in these stories, but they stay with the reader regardless.
The titular story The Doll Master follows a young man whose cousin dies of childhood leukemia. His response is to steal her favorite doll, and then begin collecting other “dolls” from around his neighborhood.
Soldier is the weakest and least memorable of all the stories. Perhaps it was the subject matter that I found repelling. Alternatively, perhaps I just couldn’t connect with the protagonist.
Gun Accident forces a young girl to make some devastating choices.
Big Momma explores the concepts of friendship and alienation and how things aren’t always what they seem.
Equatorial is classic paranoia in an exotic setting. However, just because you are paranoid, it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.
Mystery, Inc was my favorite story of all. Maybe it was the setting. Maybe the characters. Maybe the twist at the end.
The titular story The Doll Master follows a young man whose cousin dies of childhood leukemia. His response is to steal her favorite doll, and then begin collecting other “dolls” from around his neighborhood.
Soldier is the weakest and least memorable of all the stories. Perhaps it was the subject matter that I found repelling. Alternatively, perhaps I just couldn’t connect with the protagonist.
Gun Accident forces a young girl to make some devastating choices.
Big Momma explores the concepts of friendship and alienation and how things aren’t always what they seem.
Equatorial is classic paranoia in an exotic setting. However, just because you are paranoid, it doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.
Mystery, Inc was my favorite story of all. Maybe it was the setting. Maybe the characters. Maybe the twist at the end.
brisamar's review against another edition
4.0
Me gustó. El final abrupto y abierto de muchas de las historias dejan deseando más y toca apelar a la imaginación. Uno de los mejores cuentos fue Mamaíta logró estremecerme. Recomendado.