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A review by zoes_human
A Book of American Martyrs by Joyce Carol Oates
dark
emotional
4.0
Complicated yet still stereotypical in some ways.
The characters are complex, unlikeable, and real. The scenario is not only plausible but has happened. The writing was exemplary. Yet it still bought into stereotypes of the poor and it had some very unrealistic moments. Fetuses were never found in dumpsters. There are rules about the disposal of 'medical waste'. Also, carpenters are not generally poor. It's very skilled labor, and the pay is, while not doctor pay, certainly well above poverty wages. It is, in fact, ~20K over the median income.
Overall it was good, but the author's class biases were evident.
The characters are complex, unlikeable, and real. The scenario is not only plausible but has happened. The writing was exemplary. Yet it still bought into stereotypes of the poor and it had some very unrealistic moments. Fetuses were never found in dumpsters. There are rules about the disposal of 'medical waste'. Also, carpenters are not generally poor. It's very skilled labor, and the pay is, while not doctor pay, certainly well above poverty wages. It is, in fact, ~20K over the median income.
Overall it was good, but the author's class biases were evident.