abbimmorgan's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
I really had to convince myself to finish this book. It’s hard to believe a woman wrote this because of the uncomfortable and unnecessary descriptions of women’s bodies, sex, desire, and sexual assault. It’s on one hand a murder mystery but on the other a really weird love story? The main character honestly sucks and would probably be diagnosed with a mental illness today. The plot was confusing, no character growth, and I didn’t feel like there was much resolution.
I give it 2 stars because the concept is interesting. Could’ve been done so much better though
I give it 2 stars because the concept is interesting. Could’ve been done so much better though
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, and Rape
Moderate: Racial slurs
harvio's review against another edition
3.0
- I quite enjoyed Oates' "We Were The Mulvaneys" and so I thought I'd try another by the same author. Firstly, I cannot see the point of printing on the cover "Joyce Carol Oates writing as Rosamond Smith". There are a number of reasons for an established author to publish under a pseudonym, but placing both names on the cover makes every reason moot. Secondly, well, it was only a so-so suspense novel all-in-all.
birdmanseven's review against another edition
3.0
This was hard to rate. It's compelling and mysterious which almost bumps it to a 4. The weakness lies in the uncertainty. Too much is left unsaid for it to be satisfying. 3 stars it is.
Podcast spotlight on Joyce Carol Oates: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-6-threes-company-too
Podcast spotlight on Joyce Carol Oates: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/episode-6-threes-company-too
litdoes's review against another edition
2.0
This is the first JC Oates book that I didn’t enjoy. Written under one of her pen names, Rosamond Smith, this less-than-engaging thriller centred on a thirty-something real estate agent Matt McBride, who is forced to confront his memories of the abduction and murder of his high school crush, when a young female artist disappears.
Matt’s connection and attraction to this missing girl is never fully nor convincingly explained, which leaves the reader wondering about his obsession with her. Did he or did he not have a relationship with her? It appears even Oates did not quite know. His deteriorating relationship with his wife is also rather sketchily played out. Although there was some attempt to address Niezsche's quote 'Ultimately one loves one's desire, not the desired object', this was also rather hastily inserted with Matt's transference of attraction to the missing girl's twin.
Perhaps this novel was not written in Oates’s name for good reason – it bore none of her incisive characterisation and breadth and depth of her other works. Definitely an off-day effort by an otherwise accomplished writer.
Matt’s connection and attraction to this missing girl is never fully nor convincingly explained, which leaves the reader wondering about his obsession with her. Did he or did he not have a relationship with her? It appears even Oates did not quite know. His deteriorating relationship with his wife is also rather sketchily played out. Although there was some attempt to address Niezsche's quote 'Ultimately one loves one's desire, not the desired object', this was also rather hastily inserted with Matt's transference of attraction to the missing girl's twin.
Perhaps this novel was not written in Oates’s name for good reason – it bore none of her incisive characterisation and breadth and depth of her other works. Definitely an off-day effort by an otherwise accomplished writer.
cindyann62's review against another edition
3.0
Hardcover
Uhhh...this is only my 2nd JCO book (the other was a book of short stories) and I'm..not sure. It felt more like there was some mental illness going on instead of just an obsession. And how an amateur figured things out but not the police? That might not be soooo far fetched but..the way it was done just confused me. I may give her one more chance before I put her on the back burner. Also, side note, the front cover of this book says 'JOYCE CAROL OATES writing as Rosamond Smith' WTH?
Uhhh...this is only my 2nd JCO book (the other was a book of short stories) and I'm..not sure. It felt more like there was some mental illness going on instead of just an obsession. And how an amateur figured things out but not the police? That might not be soooo far fetched but..the way it was done just confused me. I may give her one more chance before I put her on the back burner. Also, side note, the front cover of this book says 'JOYCE CAROL OATES writing as Rosamond Smith' WTH?
More...