Scan barcode
mollydelahoya's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
spinstah's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first book in a quartet Oates wrote when she was young, and it is both like and not like her more recent writings. While the focus of the book is still on a woman (Clara) and the choices she makes to get by, much of the story revolves around and is told from the perspective of the men in her life -- father, son, husband, lover, etc.
This book isn't quite as dark as I have come to expect from her writing, though that is not to say it is a happy story. For the second half of the book, it felt as though Clara had more control over her life than I usually feel Oates' female characters do (though one can always argue she was "choosing to choose" her only options). In any case, I recommend this -- it was an interesting, compelling story.
This book isn't quite as dark as I have come to expect from her writing, though that is not to say it is a happy story. For the second half of the book, it felt as though Clara had more control over her life than I usually feel Oates' female characters do (though one can always argue she was "choosing to choose" her only options). In any case, I recommend this -- it was an interesting, compelling story.
tonytharakan's review against another edition
2.0
This was my first Joyce Carol Oates novel and it's a difficult read beginning with the lives of "white trash" migrant farmworkers in the United States. Teenager Clara somehow escapes this depressing life and finds herself torn between her unreliable saviour Lowry and lover Curt Revere. Her son Swan cuts a tragic figure. Protagonist Clara is a strong yet almost unlikeable character in a novel that takes a harsh look at the difference between the social classes. I would have given it more stars and it probably isn't Oates' fault, but Swan's story in the third part just didn't resonate with me.
hannyjsmith's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️ beautifully written, but sadly I had a hard time getting through this one, only to end up feeling quite depressed by it in the end.
rdhuff's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lil1inblue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
pikola86's review
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
marilynsaul's review against another edition
1.0
The book blurb paints Clara as "memorable" and struggling for "independence". I'm going to guess that whoever wrote that blurb did not mean "memorable" in a good way. As for struggling for "independence" (by being dependent on men), well, that's just fanciful. Manipulative? yes. Phony?
yes. Grasping? yes. Contemptuous of her child? yes. Loving to Revere, or at least liking him, or at least maybe liking him? Your guess is as good as mine, as she is mercurial in her relationships with anyone but herself. Vindictive? well, just check out her opinion when Revere's wife finally dies. I had to take many 1-2 day breaks from this book because I could not find a single character in it that I liked - not a single one. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I'm sorry I wasted my time.
yes. Grasping? yes. Contemptuous of her child? yes. Loving to Revere, or at least liking him, or at least maybe liking him? Your guess is as good as mine, as she is mercurial in her relationships with anyone but herself. Vindictive? well, just check out her opinion when Revere's wife finally dies. I had to take many 1-2 day breaks from this book because I could not find a single character in it that I liked - not a single one. I had to force myself to finish this book, but I'm sorry I wasted my time.