JCO has crafted excellent stories in this collection.

Most of them are truly enjoyable and I consider them to be among her best works.

Although I think JCO's writing can be a bit hit and miss at times, this collection is definitely a hit.

I highly recommend it.

There is some really good stuff in here that kept me engaged from start to finish.

In fact, I was quite disappointed when many of the stories came to an end.

It felt like I was just getting started and then it was over.

But that's a testament to how good the stories were.

They left me wanting more.

I can't wait to read more of JCO's work.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for any fan of short stories or JCO's writing.

It's full of interesting characters, engaging plots, and beautiful prose.

Don't miss out on this great collection.

Okay, I'm swearing off JCO for at least a year. Her writing is truly phenomenal, but I've really had enough of death, despair, and dark obsession. Seriously, Ms. Oates, there's SOME good in life and people.

These 11 short stories were all so heavy. There wasn't a single story that was uplifting in any way. They were definitely classic JCO. Every character was of a "youthful middle age", always breathless and confused. It started to irritate me a great deal.

The only reason I gave this collection three stars is because I can't deny that her writing is uniquely amazing. For example, this one passage really made me stop and think:

"You fall in love with what is not-known in the other. And what is not-known becomes the identity of the other. Sexual intercourse is the mining of the desire to make the not-known into the known. The strongest desire in the species - and sometimes the most ephemeral."

Whew!

This collection offers a great selection of short stories that span the last 40 years.

It commences with her more recent stories, which provide a contemporary perspective. Then, it takes a leap back to some tales from the 1960s, allowing readers to experience the different literary landscape of that era.

Each story within this collection is truly unique, filled with vivid and engaging characters. However, it should be noted that all of the stories have a somewhat dark undertone.

This darkness adds an element of mystery and depth to the narratives, captivating the reader's attention and leaving them with a sense of intrigue.

Whether you are a fan of modern literature or have a penchant for the classics, this collection of short stories is sure to satisfy your literary cravings.

It offers a diverse range of voices and perspectives, all brought to life through the author's masterful storytelling.

So, sit back, relax, and embark on a journey through the pages of these captivating short stories.

So, I am well aware that I am expected to have an affinity for J.C. Oates.

When I had the opportunity to see her read in person, she was truly remarkable.

She was even funnier than any stand-up comic I have ever witnessed.

However, I couldn't even make it all the way through this particular work of hers.

Her stories simply don't resonate with me on a deep level.

Even "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," which I adored when I first read it over 10 years ago, now seems to lack the same impact it had when I was younger.

Perhaps it's a matter of personal taste and life experiences.

As the saying goes, different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to literature, and what speaks to one person may not have the same effect on another.

While I appreciate the talent and creativity that J.C. Oates possesses, her writing just doesn't click with me in the way that it does for some others.

Maybe I'll give her work another chance in the future and see if my perspective has changed.

But for now, I have to admit that I'm not fully on board with the J.C. Oates bandwagon.

Joyce Carol Oates is an incredibly prolific and talented writer. Her works span a wide range of genres and styles, from psychological horror to character studies. In her collection "New and Selected Stories: 1966 to 2006", she showcases her mastery of the short story form. Each story is unique, with its own distinct voice and tone. Some, like "Spider Boy" and "The Fish Factory", are chilling tales that explore the darker side of the human psyche. Others, such as "The Cousins" and "Soft-Core", offer more nuanced examinations of relationships and emotions. Oates' ability to create complex and believable characters is truly remarkable. She has a keen eye for detail and a talent for capturing the essence of her subjects in just a few words. Her use of language is also impressive, with a rich vocabulary and a gift for constructing sentences that are both beautiful and powerful. Overall, this collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

The stories in this collection are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. They make you question your own beliefs and values, and they force you to confront the harsh realities of life. Oates does not shy away from difficult topics, such as violence, abuse, and mental illness. Instead, she tackles them head-on, using her writing to shed light on these often-taboo subjects. Her work is a testament to the power of literature to inspire, educate, and transform. Whether you are a fan of short stories or not, I highly recommend giving this collection a try. You may be surprised by what you discover.

New and Selected Stories: 1966 to 2006

Oates was born on June 16, 1938. She entered the world with a pen in her hand and a completed manuscript written on the placenta.

She is widely recognized as one of the world's most prolific writers. Many consider her to be among the great sages of storytelling, while others criticize her work as melodramatic fluff. However, I firmly disagree with the latter view. Oates is not afraid of experimentation. With each tap at the keyboard, she tests the boundaries of her writing range. (She openly admits that she has lost track of how many stories she has written.)

This collection reveals that she is a literary chameleon, adept at mastering numerous writing styles and techniques. If I hadn't known that these were all her stories, I might not have noticed her unique imprint on some of them, neatly folded in envelopes. She thrives on discomfort, fearlessly exploring the human psyche and the human condition from various perspectives. Some argue that she lacks her own distinct voice, but I beg to differ. She has many voices, all at her command.

This is the first time I have finished and reviewed an entire collection of short stories by the same author. I am compiling the comments I made in the What Are You Reading? topic in the Library Classroom. I had thoughts on every story, but there are no spoilers here, just general impressions. Oates is a personal favorite, in part due to my nostalgic youth, when I devoured her stories in my high school cafeteria and college courtyard.

This collection firmly establishes that her works are worthy of the title "Modern Literary Classics." Her control over voice, character, point of view, punctuation, perspective, mood, and tone is truly remarkable and should be widely recognized.

Example: One story in particular deviated greatly from any style I associate with her. If I hadn't known that Oates wrote it, I would have been convinced that it was the work of a middle-aged man.

This collection is a treasure trove of observations, details, interactions, innuendos, and Oates' ability to pause, reflect with precision, and transform those thoughts and observations into words. She painstakingly absorbs life, and she knows exactly how to bring it to her readers. Here are her stories and my original thoughts. (It took a great deal of willpower not to go back and edit or expand on them.)
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New Stories
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The short story \\n  Spider Boy\\n (no relation to Spider-Man) by Joyce Carol Oates. She is incredibly prolific, and her physiological horror stories are, dare I say, on par with those of Stephen King. Some might even argue that she rivals Edgar Allan Poe. Her stories have the power to cause goosebumps, cold sweats, and sleepless nights. But she defies genres, with a keen eye for the human condition and everyday life. I highly recommend the three-minute video provided if you're interested in learning more about her craftsmanship.

The short story \\n  The Fish Factory\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. It harks back to Faulkner's stream of consciousness prose. This is a chilling tale of identity, with her use of the second person point-of-view gradually creeping up on you, hidden in the background. When it finally reaches you, it makes the story even more terrifying and tragic. (Thank you, Lovella. I had no idea that "The Hunger Games" had prequels. I'm really looking forward to reading them.)

The short story \\n  The Cousins\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. Her ability to create anxiety, emotion, and dread in a reader is truly masterful. The narrative is presented as two corresponding letters. One person is a Holocaust survivor, and the other claims to be a distant cousin. At first, the letters between the two seem innocent, enthusiastic, contemplative, and touching (with one narrator less willing to reciprocate a response). But the tone quickly shifts and escalates into resentment, anger, obsession, and aggression. This is yet another perfect example of Oates delving into the human consciousness and exposing psychological horror at its finest.

I'm currently reading the short story \\n  Soft-Core\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. The opening line, "Why are you showing me these?" is a prime example of how to grab a reader's attention right from the start. You'll have to discover what "these" are in her short story collection "High Lonesome 1966-2006." Honestly, there isn't a single work by her that I haven't liked or at least gained some deeper meaning from. The stories I mentioned above were psychological horror. I haven't finished "Soft-Core" yet, but it seems to be more of a character study between two sisters. I probably say this every time I post about one of her stories: she is a master, highly prolific, and has an uncanny ability to capture the human condition in short form. For any writers and readers in Mrs. Walker's class, I wholeheartedly recommend diving into Joyce Carol Oates's work.

The short story \\n  The Gathering Squall\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. At this rate, I should finish this massive collection of her short stories sometime between 2024 and 2030, depending on the variables of life.

The short story \\n  The Lost Brother\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. It is written in fictional prose and letters. So far, it bears a resemblance to a previous story I listed, "The Cousins," in terms of tone and rising action. I'm left wondering if there is a connection. The opening word, not sentence, is: "Alone."

The short story \\n  In Hot May\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. Another excellent opening: "Why's this door locked? Mom! Let me in." It is told from a third-person omniscient perspective, taking on the voice of a teenager. The tone is playful, but the plot is quite dark. It's a great contrast, demonstrating how tone can be deceiving.

The short story \\n  High Lonesome\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. "The only people I still love are the ones I've hurt. I wonder if it's the same for you." Do you see a pattern? Grab your reader immediately, and they might just stick around. This will be the first short story collection I have read from start to finish by a single author. The initial stories are new (relative to the 2006 publication date), and the latter stories span from 1966 to 2006. The thing is, I often feel as if I'm reading the work of a different writer. This showcases Oates's remarkable range as a writer. She has such precise control over voice and can effortlessly switch from one style to another. It's truly amazing. \\n  (Hi Devin. Welcome. It's great to see you here.)\\n

The short story \\n  *BD* 11 1 87\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This is an example of withholding information from the reader, keeping the pages turning. Here's a slight hint. It's about a high school student. The teachers start behaving differently towards him and are reluctant to write a recommendation letter. Why is this happening? I recommend it to, um, high schoolers. And I have to praise Oates again. Her control over punctuation is truly awe-inspiring. She uses it to maximum effect. Periods, colons, semicolons, etc., seem to bend at her will. If the story goes in the direction I think it will, it's going to be disturbing. Very disturbing. The opening line: "The strangeness began shortly after his eighteenth birthday."

Afterward
Confirmed. Psychological terror at its finest. She's the only author who can give me tremors. The ending was slightly predictable, but it took a sharp turn and was executed flawlessly. The final reveal caused my heart to race, followed by a wave of sorrow. Any writer who can make you feel so strongly towards characters confined to just twenty pages is undoubtedly a master.

The short story \\n  Fat Man My Love\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. In the opening, she repeats the pronoun "he" in short, snappy sentences. It's irritating, no doubt by design. The use of repetition continues throughout, often stating the same sentence in a different way. She plays around a lot with POV (first, second, third) and format (italics, parentheses, parts resembling poetry and screenplays). The story is about a fat movie director and his relationships with women. Oates makes a statement at the end, saying that the story is fictional but contains some factual material from "The Dark Side of Genius: Alfred Hitchcock" by Donald Spoto. What I appreciated most was her chaotic use of style and form, yet she managed to blend it all together, making it an enjoyable read. It starts out messy but congeals beautifully at the end.

"Was he a Zombie Buddha, yes he was a Zombie Buddha but a Zombie Buddha of power."

The short story \\n  Objects in the Mirror are Closer than They Appear\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This is a first for me. I didn't like this story at all. I guess that's a good thing. It got me out of the mindset that "Oates can do no wrong." The story started and ended abruptly. The beginning was clunky, like a flat tire, as if Oates couldn't figure out how to narrate it. Jumping from point of view (mostly second person) and writing style didn't work for me. It's basically about a teenage girl obsessing over an older pharmacist who drives by her house occasionally, thinking that one day he'll stop and whisk her away. Okay. So what? She had a crush. I couldn't see any hidden subtext. It's only three and a half pages long, and when it ended, I kept flipping the last page back and forth, thinking the rest of the story would magically appear. It didn't. It was as if Oates got up for coffee, was called by her publisher, and told to send the collection for publication immediately. So, in her haste, she forgot to finish it. Now that I'm done complaining, the next set of stories is from the 1960s, a period when critics say she produced some of her best work. I just wish the last story of the new story section hadn't left such a bad taste in my mouth.
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The 1960s
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The short story \\n   Upon the Sweeping Flood \\nby Joyce Carol Oates. A man finds himself in the midst of a rising hurricane and attempts to save a teenage girl and her younger brother. It's told in long paragraphs with no dialogue breaks, giving it the feel of the jumbled mess left behind by a hurricane. It leans towards melodrama and alludes to religious dogma, which is then challenged at the end. The conclusion is dramatic but feels a bit out of place, as if Oates was getting bored with telling a straightforward story and decided to add some shock value.

The short story \\n  At the Seminary\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This story was written in the 60s. The anthology starts with Oates' newest work (as of the 2007 publication). You can easily see how her writing has evolved over the decades. So far, I prefer her newer stories; they're much more experimental. "At the Seminary" is told in the omniscient voice but mostly slips into the thoughts of the father at the beginning and end, and then the daughter throughout the middle. The family is driving to visit their son/brother at seminary school. It serves as a commentary on a woman's role in society and the expectations placed on appearance.

The short story \\n  In the Region of Ice\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. The title is taken from Shakespeare’s play "Measure for Measure." There are clear parallels between the two. Sister Irene is a new English professor at a prestigious university. Her student, Allen Weinstein, becomes infatuated with the nun, similar to Angelo’s love in "Measure for Measure." He is intelligent, flamboyant, arrogant, and confident. Sister Irene struggles with life outside the university, finding the real world too distressing. Allen serves as a bridge between the two. Again, like in "Measure for Measure," it's about finding a balance between two realities: our own world and the real world. A measure for measure also implies treating others as you would like to be treated. Allen Weinstein's character is what sets this story apart from others like it. He's a character you can love, hate, respect, and ridicule all at the same time.

The short-story \\n  Where Are You Going, And Where Have You Been\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This is an acclaimed story by Oates. It's been assigned in colleges, discussed in literary circles, and, for me at least, it's ambiguous. You can read it as literal, supernatural, haunting, cautionary, or as a concoction of the narrator's fantasies. It's based on the serial killer Charles Schmid. If you look at his Wiki page, the connection is obvious. That's my little history lesson for you.

It's a story of psychological terror. Recurring motifs include music, vertigo, and independence. You'll find yourself questioning whether the events are real or imagined. The tone is chilling. Connie is a fifteen-year-old rebellious girl who encounters a stalker. (?) She longs to escape her life, and the antagonist represents an escape, so whether the story is literal or metaphorical is for you to decide. I tend to lean towards the figurative. There are enough clues to suggest as much. That's all I'll reveal for now.

The story is dedicated to Bob Dylan and is based on his song "It's All Over Now, Baby." If you read the story and listen to the song, you'll immediately notice the similarities and the catchy tune. It's a great song.

It's All Over Now, Baby by Bob Dylan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4HW3...

The short-story \\n  How I Contemplated the World from the Detroit House of Correction and Began My Life Over Again\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This is an unconventional story. The narrator refers to herself in the third person, and later, she adopts the first person. It's prefaced with: "Notes for an English Class with..."

It's narrated with lists (1, 2, 3...) and subtitles (Characters, That Night, Detroit...). The style is challenging and fractured, and some passages required multiple readings. The story gradually takes shape, revealing a girl's "criminal" life that led to her imprisonment.

A repeated motif is the temperature dropping and "the bottom falling out," perhaps暗示着 characters hitting rock bottom. I really enjoy Oates's experimental writing. She's always willing to challenge herself and never fears breaking the rules of format. It also helps that I love lists.

The short story \\n  Four Summers\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. It's a lesson in loss, complacency, change, and perspective. The beginning feels like a social gathering straight out of "The Great Gatsby," but by the end, dissolution sets in, and the ugliness of society is laid bare. What was once loved becomes hated, and what was new and exciting becomes tiresome and burdensome. The narrator mourns the possibilities lost due to inaction when she decided "to do nothing." Yet, she still manages to retain some happiness from that decision.
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\\n  The 1970s\\n
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The short story \\n  Small Avalanches\\n by Joyce Carol Oates. This story kicks

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There weren't more than a few stories out of this collection that truly wowed me, and yet I am a huge Oates fan. It's quite surprising, really. I really liked, in the order of their appearance: Spider Boy, The Cousins, Soft-Core, *BD* 11 87, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, The Dead, and a few others. However, in this 600+ page book, I found myself struggling to like more than just 1/5 of it very much. It seems that perhaps there were some stories that didn't quite hit the mark for me. Maybe they were a bit too complex or didn't have the emotional impact that I was expecting. But still, there were those few gems that shone through and made the reading experience somewhat worthwhile. I'll continue to be a fan of Oates, hoping that her future works will once again capture my heart and imagination completely.

I believe I have already mentioned the heft of this particular work.

This is an extremely large collection of Oates' best short stories, numbering in the hundreds. In fact, not only the sheer volume of her output is often discussed, but also the consistently high quality of her work.

The short stories in this collection are alternately intense, moody, and downright creepy. The major themes of the book revolve around girls and women being preyed on by men, obsession, and twisted sexuality.

I was particularly captivated by "The Cousins", where a Holocaust survivor writes to an author she is certain is her lost cousin, and "Upon A Sweeping Flood", which delves into how the mind can shatter after a natural disaster.

My main criticism of this collection is that her stories often share a similar tone. This can lead to an emotional lull that makes it challenging to breeze through the book in a short time frame. These stories require being savored over time to truly appreciate the distinctiveness of each.

Otherwise, this is an outstanding collection.

This collection of short stories, which fills a whopping 650 pages, took me several weeks to complete. That implies it took the Oatster only a few days to pen in total. Nearly everyone has an opinion about Joyce Carol Oates, and after seeing her in person, one would surely add to that opinion. Despite her incredibly prolific writing schedule, she even had the time once to take a picture with Mike Tyson. Seriously, think about that: Joyce Carol Oates and Mike Tyson (Google Images has the evidence). I am of the camp that believes Oates' prime days are behind her (although The New Yorker might beg to differ; she supposedly has a carrier pigeon that delivers her stories directly to the fiction editor's desk). Among the "eleven new stories" in this collection, only one is well-crafted, dynamic, and artful.

This book is divided into decades, with the '60s being the strongest. The rest of the stories draw from the familiar elements of an Oates story: a predatory male, a violence-ridden male, "deep-socketed" women, and a fairy tale perception of the world outside the routine. Sometimes these elements translate into stories with a truly ominous sense of indeterminacy; it is the reader's mind that sharpens the edges just beyond the periphery of the story. Interestingly, one of the worst stories (ever?) precedes one of the best stories: "*BD*11 1 87" (yes, that's the name of the story) and "Fat Man My Love". When Oates decides to deconstruct her narrative and infuse her prose with poetic flair, the result is extremely compelling and reminds me of some of the best Jayne Anne Phillips stories.

The following, I believe, are the best stories in this collection: "Fat Man My Love", "Upon the Sweeping Flood", "At the Seminary", "In the Region of Ice", "How I Contemplated the World from the Detroit House of Corrections, and Began My Life Over Again".

The stories about infidelity are lackluster, which means I have to revise my hypothetical situation: Oates did not sleep with Mike Tyson.

Joyce Carol Oates is truly an incredibly prolific writer.

She writes an average of two stories a year and even publishes stories "on the side", which is quite remarkable.

This collection is truly amazing. Reading Joyce Carol Oates is an experience like no other. It's as if you are covering yourself in tar and then rolling in shards of glass, but in a strangely good way.

Her stories are not light-hearted or filled with happiness. Instead, they deal with themes such as rape, murder, adultery, and torture.

Each story is the work of a master. When you first get this collection, make sure you read "Heat", which is one of the best short stories of the past 30 years. It's a truly sick and captivating piece of work.

Overall, Joyce Carol Oates' writing is intense, thought-provoking, and not for the faint of heart. But for those who appreciate powerful and disturbing literature, her work is a must-read.