Customer Reviews

Son of the Morning

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This book has all the things one has come to expect from Oates (if one is a fan): the otherworldly in the realistic, rich language, even slight goriness.

_Son of the Morning_ is about a man by the name of Nathan Vickery, who comes into the world by unfortunate circumstances. From an early age he is blessed by God; some go further and claim that he is the manifestation of Christ, reborn into human form. He has his demons, like all the rest of mankind, however, and must confront them one by one.

The title refers to a Biblical passage dealing with Lucifer's fall from grace. Take from that what you will.

Oates definitely has the evangelical patter to a science. Fascinating fiction. Four stars out of five, however, as the book is a bit dated (from the early-to-mid seventies).

Joyce Carol Oates begins this novel using tools not available to most authors. She can lay down characters with actions and dialogue. She does not have to always rely on the narrator telling what they are feeling. When she does this, you feel like the character dictates what transpires, and Ms. Oates is just there to recount it for you. This is why I can get so absorbed in her books--I feel like they are actually happening, that they are truthful. This is terrifying when her books reach their usual Gothic slant, for you cannot but go along and be swept up in whatever is going on.

This is the first book of hers in which I encountered such an extrapolation on Christian faith. I hesitate to comment too much on the religious views presented by the characters, for fear of attack or controversy, but, someone not familiar with Ms. Oates' writing will think she believes what she writes. It is my opinion that her personal beliefs have nothing to do with the protagonist's, Nathaniel, a man touched by God, and revered by those who witness him. Every thought of Nathaniel's and of the "narrator's" seems logical, and yet, they take you far out on a branch of belief that may seem extreme to some, and make strike a chord with others. I, for one, had never heard some of the logic and conclusions that Nathaniel believed in, and I was caught up in his raptures, visions, and beliefs.

This is typical of Ms. Oates. She will get inside the belief, get inside the character, get inside the realities of what she writes, and somehow makes herself a veritable authority on the subject. ZOMBIE is used in criminal literature, YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS and ON BOXING are among the top contributions to sports literature, BLONDE is an authoritative text on Marilyn Monroe, etc. With SON OF THE MORNING, she goes as far as one's intellect, heart and soul can delve into the teachings and ministries of Christ. I have no idea of her beliefs, and feel that maybe she herself was caught up with an otherworldly inspiration, as in her stories translated in her mind from the Portuguese, THE POISONED KISS.

My only criticism was that, towards the end, I got lost in the musings and wildfire thoughts of Nathaniel, and my mind started to wander. However, her portrayal of the lower class, the unfortunate, and the disillusioned were as masterful as always. This may not be one's first choice for entry into her catalogue, but any fan of hers cannot miss this one. Also recommended for fans of IMAJICA.