Reviews

Night. Sleep. Death. the Stars. by Joyce Carol Oates

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al07734's review against another edition

4.25

I feel like long books always eventually become enjoyable.

I liked Virgil's part from beginning to end but some of the other parts, particularly Jessalyn's psychosis, was not the best for me.

The book touches on a lot of topics without following through with any of them-- not sure if I like that or not. This is my first Joyce Carol Oates book.

softhesquirrel's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

soliteyah's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I really enjoyed this, despite the length and the fact that several of the characters were truly despicable. The writing was absorbing, insightful, often beautiful. And the characters were very vividly drawn. I was eager to see what would happen to all of them.

kate_neverwhere's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective

5.0

elingunnar's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

moonpeach's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

pam2375's review against another edition

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3.0

Be prepared because this is a door stopping chunkster of a book with 800 pages to sift through. This is a family drama told only the way that Joyce Carol Oates can tell. She sure knows how to write about family dysfunction!

Perhaps, if I had not experienced my own sort of family drama due to a death of a loved one, I may have rated this higher. Maybe, because I have experienced this I should give this book a higher rating. It has clearly affected me! I may revisit this rating after I simmer about this book...

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this advanced readers copy. This book is due to release in June 2020.

unknownunearth's review against another edition

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1.0

great waste of a goddamned hour.

fkshg8465's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

I can’t quite figure what I read in this book. It certainly disappointed me in multiple ways. I loved Mudwoman so much that I’ve been hoping to find another of those author’s that was equally as compelling. I keep trying and failing. I thought this one was going to be close, but just when I thought it was going to be good, it dropped into a chasm that made me want to DNF it. I kind of wish I had. It was a long book to slog through with very little payoff. And the characters were all disgusting aside from the doctor at the very beginning - for him, I only feel pity.

Content Warnings

craftbuzz's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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