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A review by sandra_goodson
A Book of American Martyrs by Joyce Carol Oates
3.0
*2 1/2 stars*
This was an okay read, if somewhat bland. The characters were all uninteresting in their own ways and boring. So you mostly don't care how the story will resolve. The premise is a good one though. We, as a country, are supremely divided by any number of issues, abortion being one. JCO doesn't try to sway you one way or the other. She just kind of dispassionately lays it out for you from each perspective. And therein lies the problem. It seemed like the author kept her distance from the material and her characters. The ending was abrupt and somewhat unbelievable. Read it if you are a fan of Joyce Carol Oates. Otherwise you won't miss out if you skip it.
This was an okay read, if somewhat bland. The characters were all uninteresting in their own ways and boring. So you mostly don't care how the story will resolve. The premise is a good one though. We, as a country, are supremely divided by any number of issues, abortion being one. JCO doesn't try to sway you one way or the other. She just kind of dispassionately lays it out for you from each perspective. And therein lies the problem. It seemed like the author kept her distance from the material and her characters. The ending was abrupt and somewhat unbelievable. Read it if you are a fan of Joyce Carol Oates. Otherwise you won't miss out if you skip it.