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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Master storytelling at its best,
This review is from: Faithless: Tales of Transgression (Hardcover)
Looking at the cover of this book, you might easily delude yourself into thinking that these stories are all in some way about marital infidelity. In fact, they are not. I happened to look inside the front cover of the book, and was reminded that many years ago Ms. Oates published a collection called "Marriages and Infidelities," which in a way seems like some sort of irony. Taking a cue from the title story, "Faithless" in the middle of the book, we learn that meaning of the word here is tied to religion and a particular character's lack of belief in God, and secondarily, her supposed lack of marital fidelity. Looking at the subtitle: "Tales of Transgression", we might think of sin. If we look at the introductory quote from Pascal to the entire collection, you get a further clue, " When one does not love too much, one does not love enough." So, what ties these 22 very different stories together? Where do the characters fail or go awry, as most of them do? Is it lack of faith in God, sinning against an individual or society, being dangerously devoted to a misguided cause or belief, or a simple lack of inner strength?Sometimes the stories are slices of life, the simple grinds, the fears of ordinary everyday life. Example: The daily routine of an unloved and lonely young waitress. Others go deeper and darker, touching on chilling family secrets and contemporary societal evils, from a suspicious disappearance of a wife and mother, to euthanasia, to a planned murder by a spurned lover, and to the physical violation of an undercover TV reporter. These are just a few. What is exciting and what elevates Ms. Oates' stories are that they invite endless speculation and don't give up automatic answers. The only common thread is Ms. Oates' consistent and enduring style, very similar to her other collections, yet managing to sound fresh. These are never comforting, lighthearted or heartwarming bedtime stories. There is always a nervous precision edge, a razor-sharp tone that accurately finds its mark, causing the reader's heart to palpitate. Once again, Joyce Carol Oates is in top form with this new group of short stories.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Faithless: Et Tu Bruti?,
By
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This review is from: Faithless: Tales of Transgression (Hardcover)
In her latest book, "Faithless: Tales of Transgression", Joyce once again shows her readers her virtuosity in the mastery of the short story. While the book is a compilation of stories relating to "transgressions" the manner of selection and the juxtaposition of the tales within the book is masterful in and of itself. Not only does Joyce deal with transgressions of marital fidelity, but she captures the essence of other transgressions. Those against oneself. Those against others not our lovers. Those against family members. And those of society against its people.Joyce's articulation of the mental processes and logic of the transgressor and the transgressed provides a window into the "existential human experience" the likes of which are only rivaled by such authors as Camus, Kafka and Sartre. The book is constructed to take the reader from self-transgressions all the way through the entire spectrum to perhaps the ultimate societal nightmare, the "faithlessness" of those sworn to "protect and serve", the police forces of the country and specifically those of New Jersey. Joyce makes very little attempt to hide the venue of her stories, and by doing so, she makes them even more personal. Yet, her manner of writing and her incredible acumen and sensitivity allow her to write the stories in such a way as to make them timeless and placeless, so that the reader comes to understand that these things could be happening in any place, in any town, in their own backyard. The book is perhaps the finest compilation of stories to come out this year and perhaps will remain so until the end of this year. The book is a must read for any serious literature fans who wish to increase their personal understanding of the deep and often secret workings of the inner mind of the transgressor and how the logic of such a mind can bring virtually any person to the point of committing the most unspeakable crimes, yet Joyce does speak of them, in a manner as eloquent as any ever set down on paper. The book is a highly recommended read and serious lovers of literature should indulge themselves by partaking in this fabulous collection.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stories, Stories, Stories,
By "jatoby" (Western MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Faithless: Tales of Transgression (Hardcover)
As I was reading this book, I kept thinking 'wow, where does this all come from'. Oates has a deep well of endless stories, thoughts and ideas. This book stirred my mind up -- during the period of time I was reading it, I was dreaming every night. An excellent read for variety, emotion, suspense and wonder!!
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