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The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel (P.S.)by Joyce Carol Oates |
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Fleeing Nazi Germany in 1936, the Schwarts immigrate to a small town in upstate New York. Here the father?a former high school teacher?is demeaned by the only job he can get: gravedigger and cemetery caretaker. When local prejudice and the family's own emotional frailty give rise to an unthinkable tragedy, the gravedigger's daughter, Rebecca heads out into America. Embarking upon an extraordinary odyssey of erotic risk and ingenious self-invention, she seeks renewal, redemption, and peace?on the road to a bittersweet and distinctly “American” triumph.
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In the mood or not? -  |
The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel Review |
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First I must say that this is the first book I have ever read by Joyce Carol Oates. This book is easy to get into, but once strapped in, be ready for the bumpy ride! There is no question (at least to me) about Ms. Oate's genius. I found myself reading passages repeatedly just to appreciate the complexity of word use and the fascinating mirror on humanity that Ms. Oate's holds up again and again in her story. There is a lot of violence in this book, however, I found its use necessary to the story. The story is about a strong woman's survival against incredible odds. I say that the book is a bumpy ride simply because the author flashes backwards and forwards in reality. When the book ended I felt somewhat dissafisfied and didn't know exactly why. However, I find myself thinking of the story and reflecting on the characters. So I think I am dissatisfied because I wanted the book to continue. In any case I recommend this book, however, this is not your "vacation" book. Be in the mood for heavy themes and startling insights into human nature. |
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Oates explores impact of childhood abuse on development of woman's identity -  |
The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel Review |
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In "The Gravedigger's Daughter," Joyce Carol Oates explores the impact of childhood abuse on the development of a woman's identity. Her intricately designed and compelling novel details the brutal early life of Rebbeca Schwart and follows her into adulthood, one in which the grown woman casts off previous sufferings but never escapes their cruel shadow. The youngest child of an impoverished German Jewish immigrant family, Rebecca endures a barren early life that includes being subjected to an ill-tempered, violent father, the slow and tortured descent of her mother into mental illness and the callous disregard of her two insensitive older brothers.
Unable to endure the moral and spiritual poverty of their graveyard surroundings, Rebecca's brothers flee the wrath of their father and the hopelessness of their condition. Eventually, Rebecca witnesses the murder/suicide of her mother and father, an event whose impact reverberates throughout her life. Abandoned, traumatized and directionless, Rebecca must reinvent herself, first as a ward of the court, then as a wife and mother. It is Oates' brilliant depiction of a woman struggling to create a new self while simultaneously attempting to submerge her previous identity that gives "The Gravedigger's Daughter" its emotional impact. Rebecca's cryptic personae permit her to survive but never grant her existential peace. What solace she savors derives from her brilliant but tormented son, he the product of one of the most nefarious characters of contemporary literature. Beguiled and then beaten by Niles Tignor, Rebecca re-experiences the controlling, violent outbursts that characterized her father. Her act of personal liberation, her reinvention of identity and her commitment to her child's wellbeing exemplify a quiet, implacable will to live. Always wary of being discovered, perpetually cautious and suspicious, Rebecca refuses to give herself away to any man or idea. She lives to survive. Written with excruciating detail, "The Gravedigger's Daughter" is much more than an exploration of one woman's consciousness. Joyce Carol Oates has crafted a work that explicitly describes violence, directly confronts social injustice and sensitively describes how a thwarted human spirit heals itself. This is a novel that will unsettle and upset, but it is also a cautionary tale of how identity, however shattered, will undergo reformation and reinvention. |
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Great Book! - |
The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel Review |
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I'm not even quite done with the book yet and I love it! Can't put it down.... |
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A Work of Genius! - |
The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel Review |
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I loved it. One of the best novels I've read in a while. Oates' heroine is a truly fascinating character, and her story forces you to wonder about the histories of women you meet. |
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An American classic - |
The Gravedigger's Daughter: A Novel Review |
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We all know Joyce Carol Oates is a fabulous writer. This is a fabulous book, written by a fabulous writer. It had the quality of a Theodore Dreiser, an American story of lower class people, and one breaking out of it. It took a while and a number of pages, but when I did get hooked, I could not put it down. Such a heroine surviving such obstacles, making decisions for survival that few of us have to make, and making good decisions although seemingly intuitive ones! A wonderful read for people who love beautiful writing. |
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