novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
"Dinah Whitcomb seemingly has everything. A loving and successful husband, and a smart, precocious young son named Robbie. One day, their worlds are shattered when Dinah is attacked and Robbie is taken in a mall parking lot. Dinah, injured, attempts to follow, but is run over by the kidnapper's van, mangling her body nearly beyond repair.
The kidnapper, a part-time Preacher named Chester Cash, calls himself Daddy Love. He confines Robbie in a device called the Wooden Maiden, in essence a small coffin, and renames him 'Gideon'. Daddy Love slowly brainwashes 'Gideon' into believing that he is Daddy Love's real son, and any time the boy resists or rebels it is met with punishment beyond his wildest nightmares.
As Dinah recovers from her wounds, her world and her marriage struggle to exist every day. Though it seems hopeless, she keeps a flicker of hope alive that her son is still alive.
As Robbie grows older, he becomes more aware of just how monstrous Daddy Love truly is. Though as a small boy he was terrified of what might happen if he disobeyed Daddy Love, Robbie begins to realize that the longer he stays in the home of this demon, the greater chance he'll end up like Daddy Love's other 'sons,' who were never heard from again. Somewhere within this tortured young boy lies a spark of rebellion... and soon he sees just what lengths he must go to in order to have any chance at survival." (From Amazon)
A difficult subject matter but is realistic and an interesting read.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
"Dinah Whitcomb seemingly has everything. A loving and successful husband, and a smart, precocious young son named Robbie. One day, their worlds are shattered when Dinah is attacked and Robbie is taken in a mall parking lot. Dinah, injured, attempts to follow, but is run over by the kidnapper's van, mangling her body nearly beyond repair.
The kidnapper, a part-time Preacher named Chester Cash, calls himself Daddy Love. He confines Robbie in a device called the Wooden Maiden, in essence a small coffin, and renames him 'Gideon'. Daddy Love slowly brainwashes 'Gideon' into believing that he is Daddy Love's real son, and any time the boy resists or rebels it is met with punishment beyond his wildest nightmares.
As Dinah recovers from her wounds, her world and her marriage struggle to exist every day. Though it seems hopeless, she keeps a flicker of hope alive that her son is still alive.
As Robbie grows older, he becomes more aware of just how monstrous Daddy Love truly is. Though as a small boy he was terrified of what might happen if he disobeyed Daddy Love, Robbie begins to realize that the longer he stays in the home of this demon, the greater chance he'll end up like Daddy Love's other 'sons,' who were never heard from again. Somewhere within this tortured young boy lies a spark of rebellion... and soon he sees just what lengths he must go to in order to have any chance at survival." (From Amazon)
A difficult subject matter but is realistic and an interesting read.
moogen's review against another edition
4.0
Whoa that was intense. The first few chapters are deliberately repetitive which I found annoying rather than clever. But after that this novel just raced. It's often sickening without being too graphic. Certainly not a read for the faint hearted but Oates can really write.
illmakeyoulaugh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Idk what I expected from a book about a pedo written by a old white lady but this ain’t it. I don’t like the way the black characters were described and talked about and the use of the n-word is completely unnecessary. I don’t like the authors writing style, it’s really just obnoxious. There’s a lot of really interesting reviews for this book so if you’re interested I’d say read some of those reviews. I don’t know anything about this author, this is my first read of her’s so just want to put that out there. Probably won’t read any of her other books.
split_figures's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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 :)]
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, this one's difficult to rate. I want to give it three stars because there were a lot of lulls in the storyline that didn't keep my attention nor add to the plot. I also hate to give a high rating to something that is insanely horrific and realistic, content that actually made me feel physically ill as a mother. Joyce Carol Oates has been on my radar for many years, there have been some books I could have done without but very few. Her best work is the work that draws from reality, digs into the psyche of perpetrators and victims, and just rocks me mentally with visuals. Some people want to fold her for some of her choices and writing styles, but I think it's important to remember how long she's been writing, and the style in which she has created for herself and American literature. I also think it's really important to think about why someone might zoom in on such horror. I appreciate that this was a shorter work, and it definitely functions like many of her horrific short stories, which tend to be my favorite. If you are sensible to stories about grooming, that are particularly graphic and violent please skip this one. But if you are prepared for the emotional undertaking it is wonderful better shorts.
elisabeth1st's review against another edition
4.0
The topic is unsettling, the abductor despicable, the family so lost. Yet, I read the book. After I figure out why I finished this book, I will pursue why Oates writes such harsh, dark, 'ripped from the headlines' fiction. Then I'll figure how she can write so prolifically, maintaining quality, regardless of the quantity of books or topic. Don't look for that review update any time soon.
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
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