I think that this book reached its zenith of power when it delved into the descriptions of people causing harm to themselves or others. These sections were the most exquisitely written and captivating. It's my firm belief that the book could have been significantly enhanced if substantial portions of Book two were pruned away.

Besides, from my perspective, Jesse didn't appear to be the same character in the first and the second book. There was a noticeable disparity in his portrayal. The third book, on the other hand, gave off a rather strange vibe and seemed to have been written in a rush. It lacked the depth and polish that one would expect from a well-crafted literary work.

Overall, while the book had its moments of brilliance, there were also several areas that could have been improved upon to make it a truly outstanding piece of literature.

Joyce Carol Oates writes a universal and timeless novel. The historical background is so hazy for the protagonist that it also becomes so for the reader. Yet, all of American history is contained within it. In this solitude, in the search for a spiritual and physical perfection, in the need for an elusive point of reference. It is a novel that flows incredibly, full of themes applicable to any reality, with a simple, concise, disturbing language, at times experimental, that gifts us a story that is a cage: an America without resolution, a brutal and endless family condemnation, and a land of wonders that is only an illusion.

The novel seems to transcend time and place, as if it could be set in any era or any part of the world. The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, their struggles and desires palpable. The writing is masterful, drawing the reader in and keeping them engaged until the very end. It is a work that makes us think about the nature of America, about our own search for meaning and purpose, and about the power of literature to揭示 the truth about our lives and our world.

Overall, Joyce Carol Oates' novel is a tour de force, a work of art that will be studied and admired for years to come. It is a testament to her talent as a writer and her ability to create a world that is both familiar and strange, both beautiful and tragic.

First published in 1971, Wonderland holds a significant place as the fourth installment of a quartet and Oates' fifth published novel.

As she eloquently expressed in a 1992 afterword to the novel, the title "Wonderland" refers not only to America, seen as a land of wonders, but also to the human brain, which is equally a realm of mysteries. And "wonders" here can encompass both the beautiful dreams and the terrifying nightmares.

Consequently, readers, as is often the case with most of her novels, can anticipate the appearance of violence.

The novel follows the life of Jesse over approximately 30 years. It begins when he is 14 years old in rural upstate New York. He endures a horrifying violent incident and then lives in three different places before being adopted by a family in Lockport, NY. From there, he progresses to college and medical school in Michigan, then works at a hospital in Chicago, and finally founds his own clinic.

Although the trajectory might seem straightforward at first glance, it is overly reductionist. There are numerous strange incidents along the way. Jesse becomes embroiled in a peculiar set of events with his adopted mother. He meets a strange fellow student who enters and exits his life unexpectedly and strangely. In Chicago, he encounters a girl on the street who becomes an obsession for him, despite being married and loving his wife. Additionally, his own daughter runs away, forcing him to repeatedly track her down.

The book does have some parts that can be a little long and tedious. However, by the end, I found myself longing for more. And isn't that one of the measures of a great book? I'm certain that in the near future, I'll be on the hunt for another Joyce Carol Oates novel to devour.

At first, it was quite interesting. The story seemed to have a certain allure that kept me engaged. However, as I continued reading, it went completely weird. I found myself constantly thinking that there might be a sci-fi explanation for all the strange happenings. Maybe hypnotism was involved? But as the plot progressed, I became more and more confused. It completely lost me. It was just so weird, weird, weird. I couldn't make sense of what was going on. The story took such unexpected turns that it left me scratching my head. I had high hopes at the beginning, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. I'm not sure if I would recommend this to others.

Oates is my favorite author. However, this book didn't rank among my favorites. In fact, I didn't like it in the slightest. I couldn't make it through the overwhelming hospital misery halfway through the novel. As I perused other reviews, many people have discovered redemptive qualities. I'm glad to know that since I truly love Oates. But for me, I just couldn't force myself to continue. I gave it a very honest attempt, yet it wasn't enough. It's not even worthwhile to say more about it. Next...

Of the four in the cycle, this is the one I have suffered the most: a book as dense as molasses, as bitter as bile, and as viscous as quicksand.

Perhaps a bit too rhetorical and even exaggerated in some ways, yet Oates remains an incredible writer and absolutely recommended.

This work of Oates presents a complex and profound world. The density of the narrative is like a thick syrup that slowly seeps into every corner of the reader's mind, making it difficult to extricate oneself. The bitterness it contains is like the taste of bile, leaving a lingering aftertaste that makes people think deeply. And the viscosity is similar to that of quicksand, pulling the reader in and making it hard to escape.

Although there may be some elements of exaggeration and rhetorical flourish, these do not overshadow the overall excellence of the work. Oates' writing skills are truly remarkable, and her ability to create such a vivid and engaging world is worthy of our admiration. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to all those who love literature and are looking for a deep and thought-provoking reading experience.

I absolutely adored this book.

Above all else, it was the writing that truly captivated me. The author, Joyce Carol Oates, has a remarkable talent for keeping the story flowing at an incredibly intense pace.

It was so engaging that every time I had to put the book down, it felt like a struggle.

I find it quite strange that I had never read anything by Joyce Carol Oates before this.

However, I have now made up my mind that I will read another one of her works very soon.

The only dilemma I have is deciding which one to choose.

With so many great options to choose from, it's going to be a tough decision. But I'm excited to explore more of her writing and see where it takes me.

I'm sure it will be another amazing literary experience.

It is truly disappointing, especially considering that this is the final book in the Quartet.

The story has several parts that are extremely dull, lacking the excitement and engagement that one would expect from the conclusion of a series.

Moreover, it feels as if the book is at least 100 pages too long. The excessive length makes the reading experience rather cumbersome and slows down the overall pace of the story.

It is a pity that the final installment fails to live up to the expectations set by the previous books in the Quartet.

Readers who have invested time and emotion in following the series may be left feeling let down by this lackluster conclusion.

Hopefully, future works in this genre will learn from the mistakes of this book and offer more satisfying finales.

A long, rambling, and at times rather difficult book. However, it is filled with sequences, vivid imagery, and unforgettable characters that continue to haunt me weeks after I've finished reading. Reading JCO's works is often a grotesque experience, yet her writing always manages to make a profound impression. Now that I've read this particular book and "Them", which I found to be an incredible and spellbinding work of art, I am eagerly looking forward to completing the Wonderland quartet. Although I'm doing it completely out of sequence, I'm excited to explore "A Garden of Earthly Delights" and "Expensive People" next. I'm curious to see how these books will fit into the overall narrative and what new perspectives and emotions they will evoke.

It is truly very depressing. We are presented with these weird characters who are stuck in dysfunctional relationships. Their interactions are filled with confusion, misunderstandings, and a lack of genuine connection. The dynamics between them seem to be constantly on the verge of breaking down. Each character has their own set of issues and insecurities that contribute to the chaos. It's as if they are trapped in a web of their own making, unable to find a way out. The whole situation is a breeding ground for unhappiness and frustration. We watch as they struggle to communicate effectively, to understand each other's needs, and to find a way to make their relationships work. But alas, it seems that their efforts are in vain, and the cycle of dysfunction continues.

Depressing Depressing Book


This book truly took me an eternity to finish reading. I usually have a penchant for bizarre story lines as they can offer unique and captivating perspectives. However, this particular one seemed to be stuck in a rut with no real progress being made. It was just a continuous retelling of tragic family stories, one after another, without any glimmer of hope or the breaking of the vicious cycle. The author went into great detail, perhaps too much detail, to the extent that it became tedious and tiresome to read. By the time I reached the end, I had a genuine "WTF" moment. I'm giving it 3 stars only for those rare parts that managed to capture my attention and hold it for a brief period. But overall, it was a rather disappointing reading experience.

A novel unfolds in three distinct parts, chronicling the life journey of Jesse Vogel. It begins with Jesse's youth, where he starts life as an orphan after narrowly evading his homicidal father. At the tender age of 10, his father shoots Jesse's mother and siblings, and then takes his own life.

The first third of the novel delves deep into Jesse's life in his foster home. Here, he is adopted by Dr. Karl Pedersen, a world-renowned diagnostician. Dr. Pedersen's adoption of Jesse stems from an obsessive need to cultivate an heir. This section is filled with the novel's most captivating passages. The drama that drives the narrative is Jesse's struggle to break free from his birth father's shameful and murderous past, while also being pulled away from Dr. Pedersen's oppressive parenting.

Then, Jesse distances himself from the family and becomes a diligent medical student, which makes up the extremely long second section of the novel. After that, he marries and has two daughters. The third section of the novel progresses similarly to Roth's American Pastoral. Jesse's youngest daughter runs away from home and gets involved in the kooky Sixties Counterculture. Jesse's final act becomes the pursuit to find her in an urban slum and bring her back home.

Oates's ending implies that despite Jesse's efforts in the second and third parts of the novel to avoid becoming like either of his fathers, he is fated to repeat the same acts of parental control he endured. However, Jesse's actions at the end are clever as he tracks down his daughter in an apartment where she is suffering from jaundice and malnutrition and brings her home.

Am I too old-fashioned to see no instance of "demonic-paternal control" in the novel's final act? Shelley shows no ability to take care of herself. Was the Sixties' gift to let free spirits follow their blisses regardless of the consequences?

Sigh, boomers. Roth does far more remarkable things with point of view and the sentence. So, it might be better to read his book instead of this one.