Mother, Missing
£2.51
A beautiful work - Joyce Carol Oates doesn t seem to be that well known this side of the Atlantic which I find rather baffling. For anyone wishing to find a way into her work (at over 30 novels and dozens of other publications it can be rather daunting), a reader won t go far wrong with Mother, Missing. The book follows a year in the life of a 30 something woman following the sudden death of her mother. Neither the death, nor particularly the grieving are the focus of the book, rather it examines at our perceptions of the lives of those closest to us and our assumptions about ourselves. It is not sentimental but rather evokes a deeply empathetic reaction. Perhaps not one to read if you ve recently lost someone close to you - but a great reflection on identity and purpose and a way into a great writer s work.