Because It Is Bitter, and Because It Is My Heart (Plume)
by Joyce Carol Oates
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 496)
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
everybody
This book starts out with the introduction of a girl named Iris Courtney with a father that did not care about the family and a mother that was promiscuous and an alcoholic. She is a white girl living in a time period where racial discrimination had still existed. As the story evolves, the reader is greeted with a murder; Iris watches Jinx Fairchild, who is black, kill a man for her and she is the only witness. Also, with the eventual divorce of Iris's parents, you can also see how the action...more
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Read in July, 2008
I almost gave this book 5 stars. After taking a while to warm up to the story and almost putting it aside a few times, I found that after about 150 pages, I couldn't put it down. During those first 150 pages, I couldn't relate to or find anything I cared about in the characters. I found them a little tiresome and confusing. I only kept reading because of Oates' prose style, which I find fluid and very appealing, and my experiences with Oates' work in the past, which have so far never disappointe...more
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Read in March, 2008
I don't think I will read this author again. The "realism" thing felt more like a soap opera than actual life. I found that if I put this book down for even a few hours I couldn't remember what the hell the characters were up to. I also thought the picket fence ending was such a cop out. Also, the author may have shown some racism toward the end that threw me for a loop. It may have been inadvertent privilege based racism but that is no excuse and I kinda wish I could remove this ...more
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This book was recomended to me when I was 17 by my incredible teacher Gerry Dodge. It took me ten years to finally read it, but it did not dissappoint. I read it in two days. I went to school and told my students who asked for suggestions to read it as well. This is a novelthat could help mend the racial wounds that have scarred the underbelly of our nation. It is about the pain and suffering life so often plagues the human species. However, it exhibits the healing power and strength that l...more
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Has a copy to sell/swap
It's accessible and I'm sure JCO was very proud of her handling of race issues in a somewhat complex way. --Not complex enough to satisfy me, I guess, and I don't give her prose the adulation the book jacket seems to expect, either.
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Read in January, 1993
Joyce Carol Oates is just so amazingly talented. This is a terrific, powerful and haunting book. The title is so perfect, and after reading the book I had to track down the full poem (by Stephen Crane) the title was taken from.
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Read in January, 2007
I struggled to develop any attachment to any of the characters in this book. Except for the uncle, I found the characters to be flat, unexceptional. I'd heard good things, but I wouldn't count this amongst JCO's best.
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Read in January, 1997
I found this book. . .ok. If there is an average sort of Joyce carole Oates book this would be it--destruction of family, victimized woman--it's done well, but the song and dance seems too familiar.
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Read in January, 2002
I pretty much love all JCO so no surprise. As usual, I find her ability to be brutally honest in her characters to be the most appealing part of her writing.
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Read in January, 2008
This was actually a pretty good book. I'm not sure why I chose to read it but it was a good story. Not particularly light, but I found it easy to read.
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The description of the mother's alcoholism is so terrible I don't think i took a drink for a week after reading this book. She's a great writer!
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I haven't read anything by her, and while "Blonde" seems to be her most widely appreciated, the plot of this sounds more up my alley.
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This was the first book I ever read by this author. It is by far my favorite one out of the many books she was written!
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Long, long, long.
I can't complain too much because the story told is amazing.
But long, long, long.
I can't complain too much because the story told is amazing.
But long, long, long.
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Read in January, 2006
Title alone makes it worth the read. Great examination of American race issues.
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joyce carol oates is amazingly prolific. wish i could keep up with her...
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