Rape: A Love Story
£2.37
Don t do with Me as You will - Over the years, Joyce Carol Oates has used the short novel form as a way to expiate her literary and personal demons, subjects she only touches upon in her more serious novels. In Rape, A Love Story we have the horrible gang rape of Teena Maguire witnessed by her daughter, Bethie. Much of Rape reads like a police report or something you might watch on Court TV. The writing is very spare, direct, and journalistically precise: the woman had to be drunk, high on coke herself, partying since early evening and by midnight you can figure the state she was in, how the hell could Teena Maguire even recognize who had sex with her? And how manyThe Love story angle of the title is of course not a straight ahead, direct man-to woman one but one involving a Niagara Falls Policeman, Dromoor, who finds Teena at the crime scene and who takes it upon himself to become her avenging Angel: A gun excited him. It was a good feeling. Quickened his pulse so he could actually feel it. Sometimes a tinge in the groinRape is not a treatise on rape, per se, nor is it wholly a comment on the tendency of society to place blame on the victim. What it is, is a serious commentary on the randomness of crime: crime that is too often fueled by drugs and alcohol. More imprtantly though it is about the devastating personal effect crime has on the victim and the family of the victim.Like Zombie, The Rise of Life on Earth and last years Beasts, Rape is out to make a point about a very specific subject. Oates doesn t waste any time getting there and uses very few words in the process. Rape is not a major Oates work but it is an interesting, often pathetic and emotionally aware one. And as such it is of interest to all of her fans that crave a quick Oates fix before the next full length novel.
a good read - well as i was looking for a quick read for a uni assignment/book review about rape this was perfect, definatly a quick read, only took a few hours to read. The book definatly makes you want more when you ve finished as the ending isnt as satisfying as expected nor predictable. overall an interesting, thought provoking book.
Good, but not great - This snack-sized book certainly gives the reader plenty to think about, but none of it very original. One of its strengths is that is leaves out the obvious exploration of the reactions of the rape victim, her family and the gossip of the town in reaction to the crime. However, this leaves the book light on plot. The second part of the story revolves around the vigilante actions of a police officer to ensure justice is done. What is the love story aspect of the book? Well, that s where the food for thought is.
A Challenging read - If this is the first book that you have read by Joyce Carol Oates and I can guaruntee that you won t be dissapointed. You will find your perceptions of victim and assailant constantly challenged, wondering how this tragic start to a story could ever be resolved. And Yet Oates manages to drag us in to this world of the victim of a gang rape and her daughter who witnessed the event. Your heart is twisted continually as you are dropped into the story at crucial moments allowed to feel what the victim feels and yet see the perceptions of others towards a victim of rape. Each character is carefully and beautifully painted and this book has an unbearable tension as we wait to see if justice can ever be done. And yet without any air of predictability the story is beautifully resolved and leaves the reader breathless with relief and wanting to pick it up and start again! Try it and see for yourself
masterpiece - joyce carol oates is definitely the best LIVING american (usa+canada, no way margaret atwood is better)writer. this is her best book: amazing and shocking story, great style in writing.is a book that everybody should read. moreover,the cover is sooooo beautiful!!!!!is the perfect book!i love it!she should win the nobel(finally).