Carol Oates' collection of short stories spanning 40 years, from 1966 to 2006, is an extremely readable and often striking one. With a collection of this length, there are bound to be some hits and misses. However, the hits far outnumber the misses. Some stories are okay, while others are stunning and memorable. For example, in one story, an unhappy woman in her early 20s has a messy, unstopped period while speaking with a priest at a seminary. In another, a young man kills himself in his car and an object in the glove compartment may insinuate he would have killed someone else. The collection contains 11 new stories as of 2006, including the title story which is perhaps the best of the bunch. Despite having been writing for over 50 years, Oates shows no sign of losing her touch.

The stories in this collection are diverse and cover a wide range of themes. Some, like "Spider Boy," are chilling and short, exploring the unknown side of someone's personality. Others, like "The Cousins," are award-winning. "The Gathering Squall" has a nice metaphor tying a painting in with the story's theme, while "The Lost Brother" is a good story about the hopelessness of having hope for a lost soul in your family. "High Lonesome" motivated the reviewer to start their own story, and "Upon the Sweeping Flood" is good and memorable, with a recurring image of children suffering at the hands of insane adults.

The collection is broken down into decades, and the stories from the 1970s are all good, though representative of John Updike and maybe Cheever. "The Hair" is a very good, very John Cheever expose of suburban couples, while "Life After High School" is interesting and reminds the reviewer of someone they know. "Mark of Satan" was a story the reviewer was critical of on their blog a long time ago, but now realizes it's not as bad as they thought. Overall, this collection is highly recommended, especially for fans of Oates' gothic stories, although none of those are included here.

Another outstanding compilation of stories!

As Booklist remarks, they are nearly all replete with "obsession, desolation, annihilation, and creepiness (yes, creepiness!)". However, this is precisely a part of what I adore about JCO. Besides the darkness pervading her stories, she invariably delves into the psychology of her characters, their imperfections, and the reasons why they (at times sympathetically) are so eerie!

Oates herself believes that these approximately two dozen stories are her finest, and this unapologetic perspective on life and all its blemishes truly radiates through in this book!

It's as if she peels back the layers of the human psyche, revealing the hidden fears, desires, and the often disturbing undercurrents that drive our actions. The stories are not just tales of horror or mystery; they are profound explorations of the human condition.

JCO's ability to create such vivid and complex characters, and to place them in such unsettling situations, is what makes her work so captivating. Each story draws the reader in, making them question their own beliefs and perceptions, and leaving them with a sense of unease long after they have turned the final page.

This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates thought-provoking literature that dares to explore the darker side of life.

This was a bit long for short stories.

I really enjoyed the earlier stories quite a bit. They had a certain charm and吸引力 that kept me engaged.

Interestingly, there were several stories that deviated from her typical signatures. For example, there were a couple of science fiction stories that took me by surprise.

I also had the sense that there were seeds of thought planted in these stories that could potentially lead to even more interesting tales in the future.

Some of the stories were so characteristic of her style that I had an odd feeling as if I had read them before, even though I knew I hadn't.

However, there were a few stories that just didn't quite hit the mark and went a bit flat.

Overall, though, there was more to like than not. I'm looking forward to seeing what else she has in store for us.

I was browsing through the discount rack in a bookstore when I came across a real gem.

It was a rare and valuable book that I had been searching for quite some time.

The moment I laid my eyes on it, I knew it was a steal.

As I picked it up, I couldn't help but notice the envious looks from a couple of the booksellers.

They must have recognized the significance of the book and were probably kicking themselves for not spotting it first.

I quickly made my way to the cashier, eager to claim my prize.

The booksellers watched me with a mixture of jealousy and admiration.

It felt great to have found such a wonderful book at a discounted price, and I couldn't wait to take it home and add it to my collection.

I have read approximately a quarter of the way through this book. The stories within it are truly breathtaking and are masterfully written.

However, it has reminded me of the reason why I had to cease reading Joyce Carol Oates after having a huge binge during my high school and college years. The stories are just incredibly dark. By the time I reached a quarter of the way through this book, I simply could not stomach another single one.

If you do not mind reading about dark and deeply disturbing themes, then by all means, pick up this book as it is truly amazing. But for me, I must unfortunately put it down.

I am left with a sense of both admiration for the author's skill and a feeling of being overwhelmed by the darkness that pervades the stories. It is a complex and powerful reading experience, but one that I may not be able to continue at this time.

Unsurprisingly, the city of San Diego provides meager funding to its libraries. As a result, the collections vary from tolerable to horrible, depending on which branch one visits. I despise Joyce Carol Oates, but this was literally the only reasonable 'literary fiction' I could find while visiting a nearby branch.

Ugh, she is so morbid. In every story, you think, "Oh, maybe this one will be normal," but no. By the end, one character is always killing another, often with a hammer and usually with elaborate detail. Fortunately, it didn't include her recent New Yorker story about the death of a fraternity pledge, which was truly excruciating both for his humiliation and for the author's speculation about what exactly killed him in the end. The icing on the cake was the letter the following week from a reader chastising Oates for sensationalizing an actual news story, barely deviating from the facts of what happened except to embellish the violence by hypothesizing about the amount of pain the boy went through when he died. Why is this woman so famous? I'm not sure.

Have I mentioned that the anthology is organized by decade? Apparently, in the 90s, JCO was really into rape. One story where a housewife was raped made me have to sleep with the lights on. (Is literary fiction supposed to be this scary? How come JCO isn't labeled with the 'genre' tag like Steven King, who is also, by the way, a much better writer than her?) Also, the previous story had twin ten-year-old girls being raped. But oh, then afterward they were partially dismembered with an ice pick, so don't worry, JCO hasn't given up on gore. Seriously, she's disturbing.

JCO represents all that I loathe about Jane Austen, yet has made it into something sublime. None of her characters seem believable, and yet they all behave in the manner that we wish we could under similar situations. They all speak those astonishing, concise lines that we envision ourselves saying two days later. Oates looks favorably upon the ordinary琐事 of our lives and honors the internal significance that we create to get through each day.

"But that night as he gradually falls asleep, he hears himself calmly and deliberately explaining to Annemarie that she will be taking a risk that few men can take. She should know that she is exalted, privileged, and in a way impervious to harm even if she is severely hurt. She'll be taking a risk that he himself cannot take again in his life. And perhaps he never took it at all.

"You'll be going to a place I can't reach," he says.

He would touch her, in wonder and dread, he would caress her, but his body is heavy with sleep, growing distant from him. He softly says, "I'm not sure I'll be here when you come back."

But by now Annemarie's breathing is so deep and rhythmic that she must be asleep. In any case, she gives no indication of having heard."

"High Lonesome" is a collection of out-of-print stories along with eleven new ones. To be honest, the new ones aren't necessary to convince me of the excellence of the old ones. Her touch seemed to fade after the 80s, not that her later stories are bad, but rather that her earliest stories are truly golden. Two pieces in this collection of 36 are filler. Find me another author who can say that after forty goddamn years.

I counted three places where her voice took over - moments that had no other justification than the pleasure she derived from writing them. They were breathtaking. I found myself eagerly reading to discover more of them. Each story on its own is as perfect as cut glass; the collection itself was brilliantly organized. I couldn't stop, and for 664 pages, that's quite something considering how most authors' conceits and voices bore me after the first 150.

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I would also like to note that this book was given to me by a beautiful young woman who tenaciously tracked down JCO to have the bugger signed for me. That's right, bitches. Suck it.

I don't like short stories.

Short stories often seem to lack the depth and complexity that I crave in literature. They are too concise, leaving little room for the author to fully develop the characters, explore the themes, or build a rich and immersive world.

I prefer longer works, such as novels, where I can spend more time with the characters, get to know their thoughts and feelings, and watch them grow and change over the course of the story.

With short stories, I often feel like I'm being rushed through the narrative, and I don't have enough time to really connect with the story or the characters.

Of course, I understand that some people enjoy short stories for their brevity and immediacy, but for me, they just don't offer the same level of satisfaction as longer works of fiction.

I found myself really struggling to make my way through this large anthology of stories. It was a bit of a challenge to get through all of it. However, there were definitely some stories that really made an impression on me and stuck with me. Even though I don't recall the specific names of those stories at the moment, their impact still lingers.

Overall, I would say that it's worth reading this anthology. It might not be an easy read for everyone, but there are gems hidden within its pages. If you already have it, it's definitely worth keeping around. You never know when you might want to pick it up again and rediscover those memorable stories.

It's always interesting to explore different collections of stories and see what kind of literary treasures they hold. This anthology is no exception, and I'm glad I took the time to give it a try.

I’m going to miss this book,

with which I spent nearly half a year. It has been a truly remarkable journey. This is my first time reading Oates,

and I must say it has been an eye-opening experience. Her writing is so vivid and engaging that it has drawn me into a world of emotions and stories.

I hope it’s not my last encounter with her works. Who knows how many more wonderful stories we are able to read before finally shuffling off this mortal coil.

Each book is like a door to a new adventure, and I can’t wait to explore more. Maybe the next book will be just as captivating, or even more so. Only time will tell, but for now, I’ll cherish the memories of this one and look forward to the next literary exploration.

A daily dose of Oates...what could be more fortifying?

Joyce Carol Oates is a literary giant, and her works offer a wealth of intellectual and emotional nourishment.

Reading her novels, short stories, and essays is like embarking on a journey through the human psyche.

Her vivid characters, complex plots, and profound insights into the human condition make her writing both engaging and thought-provoking.

Whether you're a seasoned literature lover or just starting to explore the world of books, a daily dose of Oates can help you expand your mind, deepen your understanding of the human experience, and find inspiration in the written word.

So why not pick up one of her books today and discover the power of her prose for yourself?

After reading the first third of the stories, I have come to a decision.

I only dipped into the collection once in a blue moon, which is why it took me a whopping 11 months to get through that initial portion.

While I have enjoyed some of JCO's longer works in the past, I must admit that I don't think I actually liked any of the stories I read in this particular collection.

It seems that it's time for me to cut my losses and move on.

Perhaps there are other literary treasures out there waiting for me to discover.

I'm not entirely sure what my next reading adventure will be, but I'm excited to find out.

For now, though, I'm content with leaving this collection behind and looking forward to new literary experiences.

Who knows what wonderful stories and characters I'll encounter along the way?

Only time will tell.