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andykrahling's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed these four stories, all quite different takes on love and love's problems. My biggest complaint is that they all ended very abruptly, without (to me) real resolution. It was nice to read writing by an actual author, one who is good at their craft.
mascha_blue's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this collection subtitled "Four Novellas of Love Gone Wrong." Each story features a woman preyed upon by a man, either through psychological abuse, stalking, incest, or attempted murder. Oates is talented in dropping signals to foster a sense of disturbance that steadily deepens into outright alarm, and in creating believable, although not necessarily lovable, characters.
Don't look for closure in these stories. Oates lets you summon your own imagination about what could have happened next, especially to bring justice to some bad men.
Don't look for closure in these stories. Oates lets you summon your own imagination about what could have happened next, especially to bring justice to some bad men.
llyrrhiannon's review against another edition
5.0
One of the few authors who I think is pretty much perfect !
selvalucerogarcia's review against another edition
2.0
Algunos relatos están buenos pero no me gustó tanto como pensé.
beritt's review against another edition
4.0
After finishing Beasts a few days ago, I literally went to the bookstore to buy one of Oates' other books. Yes, it was an impulse, but I don't regret it at all. On the contrary - I just admire her SO much. There is always something eerie about her stories that is incredibly well done: slow, uncomfortable, uneasy. And yet, they never slip into the surreal but stay grounded in the here and now.
The second story, "So Near Any Time Always" was my favorite. I stayed up late, finishing it. I already know I will reread it, just to experience it again - that sense of vague unease.
And on top of that, beautiful language, too (from a later story):
"All that she could remember of those years was both faded and over-bright, like a photograph of an exploding nova. You understood that there was something inside the blinding light but you could not see it. You could not identify it" (195).
Might have a new author to add to my "favorites" list.
The second story, "So Near Any Time Always" was my favorite. I stayed up late, finishing it. I already know I will reread it, just to experience it again - that sense of vague unease.
And on top of that, beautiful language, too (from a later story):
"All that she could remember of those years was both faded and over-bright, like a photograph of an exploding nova. You understood that there was something inside the blinding light but you could not see it. You could not identify it" (195).
Might have a new author to add to my "favorites" list.
candiemarsh's review
4.0
Well-written stories. I liked the 2nd and 4th stories the most. Fast and easy read.
kcourts's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty sure I officially love JCO. So good she might even turn me on to the short story.
hollyannsa's review against another edition
4.0
Four creepy and interesting stories. She is really good.
midnightbookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Great, moody short stories by a gifted author. I really loved the 2nd and 4th stories. Review to come!