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dam3md's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book starts off fairly straightforward, but the suspense and tension build as you learn more about Genna's horrific home life and the racist incidents plaguing Minette increase in frequency and severity.
By the end, there are more questions than answers and none of what the narrator writes or herself can be believed fully.
Overall, a really interesting inspection of white guilt, white savior mentality, and the lingering racial tensions that continue to plague social and interpersonal relationships today.
By the end, there are more questions than answers and none of what the narrator writes or herself can be believed fully.
Overall, a really interesting inspection of white guilt, white savior mentality, and the lingering racial tensions that continue to plague social and interpersonal relationships today.
lisagray68's review against another edition
2.0
Yawn. If you've ever read a book on black/white racial relations in America, you've read it. Nothing new here, move along. Joyce Carol Oates is her wonderful self, pick another of her books though. I recommend "We were the Mulvaneys".
szeglin's review against another edition
3.0
This one is really hard for me to rate. I found the language well-crafted, but the plot was not constructed as well and I can honestly say I didn't like a single character that made an appearance. The flyleaf doesn't describe the point of the book very well, but then again, it's hard to determine what the point is, exactly.
marianapereira's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kmrose's review against another edition
3.0
It was an interesting story, but I wished it had cleared things up a bit more. It's supposed to be about self-analysis for the main character more than the story, but I still wanted to know what really happened.
dgodek's review against another edition
2.0
According to the jacket cover, this book chronicles the death of a white girl's black college roommate after several racial incidents have occurred at their dorm, but that's really just the marketing to pull you in to a novel that is undeveloped and drags on. Joyce Carol Oates, once I have finished the books that I have by you, I will not buy another!
theremightbecupcakes's review
- 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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
pepper1133's review against another edition
3.0
This book was . . . odd. I kept waiting for it to really "start," you know? It felt like it was a lot of lead up to nothing, really. The story takes a very drastic turn away from what you thought it was going to be about in the final chapters. Generally I love JCO, but for newbies I wouldn't start with this one.
qofdnz's review against another edition
4.0
My first Oates. I'm picking that if this is not one of her best I'm going to continue to enjoy reading her. I found this to be a well paced and interesting story. Somewhat uncomfortable in content with far from lovable characters.
indiepauli47's review against another edition
4.0
Relecture 2018 :
Le roman qui m'a fait découvrir Oates, c'est donc un livre qui a une petite place sentimentale pour moi.
Cela dit, j'ai très certainement moins apprécié ma relecture que lors de sa découverte. Pourquoi ? Mystère..
Le personnage de Minette m'ait apparu beaucoup plus stupide cette fois, plus "enfant-qui-fait-son-petit-caprice", et Genna trop effacée et sans personnalité, pas assez développée par rapport à sa relation avec ses parents. Il y a des explications et des faits, mais pratiquement aucune émotion.
Cette année 2018, avec ce challenge des relectures tous les mois me prouve que j'ai énormément évolué en tant que lectrice, et suis peut-être un peu plus compliquée à satisfaire qu'il y a 3, 4, 5 ans. Bonne ou mauvaise chose ? Chacun sa vision.
Le roman qui m'a fait découvrir Oates, c'est donc un livre qui a une petite place sentimentale pour moi.
Cela dit, j'ai très certainement moins apprécié ma relecture que lors de sa découverte. Pourquoi ? Mystère..
Le personnage de Minette m'ait apparu beaucoup plus stupide cette fois, plus "enfant-qui-fait-son-petit-caprice", et Genna trop effacée et sans personnalité, pas assez développée par rapport à sa relation avec ses parents. Il y a des explications et des faits, mais pratiquement aucune émotion.
Cette année 2018, avec ce challenge des relectures tous les mois me prouve que j'ai énormément évolué en tant que lectrice, et suis peut-être un peu plus compliquée à satisfaire qu'il y a 3, 4, 5 ans. Bonne ou mauvaise chose ? Chacun sa vision.