Joyce Carol Oates - Them

Pros: Interesting characters, powerful writing, masterful control of plot lines, and astute observations.

Cons: Some could be offended by the romanticized rape scene and other suggestions of victim precipitation.

The Bottom Line: I strongly recommend this book as it tells a very interesting story and the author shows complete command of the material.

Review: In the epigram to “them,” Joyce Carol Oates quotes John Webster from “The White Devil,” as saying, “. . . because we are poor/Shall we be vicious?” The question echoes through this complicated, impassioned, and masterful novel. ...