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A review by jilliebeanreads
Cardiff, by the Sea: Four Novellas of Suspense by Joyce Carol Oates
4.0
“Cardiff, by the Sea” is my very first read by the celebrated contemporary American author Joyce Carol Oates. And it’s the perfect time of year to dig into this collection of four, suspenseful novellas. (Publishers Weekly even calls Oates the “grand mistress of ghoulishness.")
Each story features a teen or young woman at the center who must battle with threats (mostly of the opposite sex). There’s bullying, sexual abuse, exploitation and murder (oh my). And each ending leaves me wanting to talk another reader to determine if I think happened really happened. These psychological thriller essays are perfect book for a book club!
While I read the ebook on my Kindle, I also listened to the audiobook, narrated by the talented voice actress Lauren Ezzo. Based on some research, Ezzo has done a ton of narration for other suspense stories, so she’s perfect for this genre. As usual, I sped up the audio to 2 to 2.5 times the normal speed, and it made the storytelling even more dramatic. Ezzo’s voice is especially awesome in the first novella when she creates the characters of the aunts who live in Cardiff, Maine.
I recommend these spooky stories whether or not you’re an avid reader of Oates or not. She’s an award-winning author for a reason.
Special thanks to the publishing houses RB Media (High Bridge Audio) and Grove Atlantic, via NetGalley, for the electronic copies in exchange for my honest review.
Each story features a teen or young woman at the center who must battle with threats (mostly of the opposite sex). There’s bullying, sexual abuse, exploitation and murder (oh my). And each ending leaves me wanting to talk another reader to determine if I think happened really happened. These psychological thriller essays are perfect book for a book club!
While I read the ebook on my Kindle, I also listened to the audiobook, narrated by the talented voice actress Lauren Ezzo. Based on some research, Ezzo has done a ton of narration for other suspense stories, so she’s perfect for this genre. As usual, I sped up the audio to 2 to 2.5 times the normal speed, and it made the storytelling even more dramatic. Ezzo’s voice is especially awesome in the first novella when she creates the characters of the aunts who live in Cardiff, Maine.
I recommend these spooky stories whether or not you’re an avid reader of Oates or not. She’s an award-winning author for a reason.
Special thanks to the publishing houses RB Media (High Bridge Audio) and Grove Atlantic, via NetGalley, for the electronic copies in exchange for my honest review.