charlottekaas's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect. Few authors can handle such a gruesome, cruel and scary topic with as much elegance and as little crudeness or graphicality as JCO. What a treasure she is.
littleowllost's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
okenwillow's review against another edition
4.0
Le thème abordé dans Daddy love est des plus délicats. Il fallait au moins le talent d’Oates pour en faire un récit lisible et sans voyeurisme. Les premiers chapitres sont consacrés à l’enlèvement de Robbie, qui nous est raconté plusieurs fois. Cette répétition où des ajouts viennent se greffer au déroulement de l’action, nous plonge froidement dans la gravité du moment. On imagine la mère ressassant ce souvenir de la même manière, essayant de se jouer la scène encore et encore pour tenter de comprendre.
[Vous pouvez lire la suite sur mon blog, merci :)]
[Vous pouvez lire la suite sur mon blog, merci :)]
owlribbon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Confinement, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Rape, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Torture
vickiallard's review against another edition
4.0
This book made my stomach hurt but I still wasn't able to put it down. I would like a sequel where we learn more about the trial and what happened to this terrible person. It would also be nice to hear how Robbie grew up and was able to cope with the horrors of the past.
itsdanixx's review against another edition
2.0
2-3 stars. Not her best: Read if you are a Joyce Carol Oates fan already, but if it's your first by her then start with something else.
shelleyrae's review against another edition
3.0
I have had an awkward track record with work by Joyce Carol Oates, despite the acclaim she has received, and primarily I requested this novel in yet another effort to connect with her writing. Oates has published more than 50 books, many of which probe sensitive, dark subjects. In Daddy Love, Oates explores the shocking abduction and abuse of five year old Robbie Whitcomb by a sadistic pederast who keeps him captive for six years.
The story of Daddy Love was no more than what I expected, confronting, disturbing and thought provoking. It is difficult to read of Diane's despair at the loss of her son, her misplaced feelings of guilt and shame. It is horrendous to read of Daddy Love's justifications for his deviant behaviour, his remorseless manipulation and abuse of young children and to know that such monsters walk amongst us undetected. It is utterly heartbreaking to imagine the fear, pain and sense of utter helplessness experienced by Robbie whose innocence is destroyed and will never be the same.
And yet somehow Oates fails to move me, my reactions are dictated by the subject matter rather than the way in which she tells the story. I find her style spare and distant, even dry at times. Perhaps that is necessary in writing about such an emotive issue to reduce the risk that the reader will be overwhelmed by the sheer, shuddering horror of the situation but for me the result was a disconnect I am hard pressed to articulate.
Even though Daddy Love left me with a painful ache in my chest, and desperate to keep my children a little closer to my side for a little longer, I think I will have to admit I am defeated by Joyce Carol Oates.
The story of Daddy Love was no more than what I expected, confronting, disturbing and thought provoking. It is difficult to read of Diane's despair at the loss of her son, her misplaced feelings of guilt and shame. It is horrendous to read of Daddy Love's justifications for his deviant behaviour, his remorseless manipulation and abuse of young children and to know that such monsters walk amongst us undetected. It is utterly heartbreaking to imagine the fear, pain and sense of utter helplessness experienced by Robbie whose innocence is destroyed and will never be the same.
And yet somehow Oates fails to move me, my reactions are dictated by the subject matter rather than the way in which she tells the story. I find her style spare and distant, even dry at times. Perhaps that is necessary in writing about such an emotive issue to reduce the risk that the reader will be overwhelmed by the sheer, shuddering horror of the situation but for me the result was a disconnect I am hard pressed to articulate.
Even though Daddy Love left me with a painful ache in my chest, and desperate to keep my children a little closer to my side for a little longer, I think I will have to admit I am defeated by Joyce Carol Oates.
kilosmom7's review against another edition
i was so annoyed by the way the author kept recounting the instances before the abduction I just gave up. so repetitive within the first couple of pages and i was just not having it. im sure this one was good but i really couldnt get past the first 20 pages. no stars for i have no real knowing of the story.
vallard1024's review against another edition
4.0
This book made my stomach hurt but I still wasn't able to put it down. I would like a sequel where we learn more about the trial and what happened to this terrible person. It would also be nice to hear how Robbie grew up and was able to cope with the horrors of the past.
megs2kool's review against another edition
1.0
This book creeped me the heck out. That is probably the intent of the writer, but I didn't care much for this book at all. The first several chapters repeated themselves, which I hated, and then the rest of the book just left me with a vaguely icky feeling, like I needed a shower when I was done reading. I actually put the book upside down when I was finished because I didn't want to look at the title anymore. Very creepy and odd book. Not for me.