This story initially showed much more potential than Oates' "Black Girl/White Girl." However, it soon devolved into a pointless and overly verbose waste of time.

If all the repetitions of the words "Swarthy," "43 Deer Creek Drive," and "Redwood and stucco" had been reduced to just one use, the book most likely would have been 50 pages shorter.

Oates' writing seems to lack meaning and creativity. The use of words like "fattish" and the cardboard cut-out details that "Nikki" uses to describe people are rather unimpressive.

"Fattish-female perspiration" - really?

I understand that perhaps Oates needed to write this to work through her own personal struggles, but did it have to be so boring and pointless? Nikki's frequent changes in character were more rapid than those of most bipolar individuals I know, and it made my head spin trying to understand that there was only one Nikki and not multiple girls.

I'm quite certain that this is the last JCO book I'll ever read. I'll completely avoid any display related to her writing from now on.

Sad and true.

Some pages are breathtakingly true and painful.

I was completely engulfed in the story and the harsh reality of the loss.

Although the main characters were not to my personal liking,

it didn't matter in the face of JCO's powerful narratives.

Her writing has the ability to draw you in and make you feel every emotion, regardless of your initial thoughts about the characters.

The story unfolds in a way that is both captivating and heart-wrenching,

leaving you with a sense of profound sadness and a newfound understanding of the human experience.

JCO's talent for creating vivid and realistic worlds is truly remarkable,

and it is this talent that makes her stories so unforgettable.

Even though the subject matter may be difficult,

her writing allows you to explore the depths of human emotion and come out the other side with a greater appreciation for life and all its complexities.

"This is my story about missing my mother," Nikki says at the start of Missing Mom. It's a poignant beginning that immediately draws the reader in.

Although many critics compared Missing Mom to Oates's classic, We Were the Mulvaneys, they were quick to point out that the latter is the far superior work. Reviewers had mixed feelings about Nikki as a character. They thought she was inconsistent and uneven, and other characters came off as rather flat. However, the mother remained in their minds as a magnificent, realistic character. In fact, she is one of Oates's best to date, as Oates reveals the underestimated supermom as a woman with her own secrets and complexity.

On the other hand, some critics were less than impressed with the plot. They criticized it as lacking originality and surprise. Despite these shortcomings, the good news is that there's probably another novel just around the corner from this award-winning author. This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.

I picked up MISSING MOM a few months after my own mother passed away, and then put it down. Her death was still too raw for me to read Joyce Carol Oates' tribute to her own mother. Looking at the various reviews of the novel, many readers claim that this is a departure for Oates. I have no idea, as I've never read her before. However, I was still intrigued by MISSING MOM and finally decided to give it a try.

Nikki Eaton is a reporter for the Beacon. She is trendy. She wears her multicolored hair short, just like her skirts. She is the black sheep of the family. She isn't married and is having a scandalous affair with a married man. At 31 years old, she is young enough to consider her mother, Gwen, old-fashioned and often ignores her. "I didn't visit home often. I tried not to feel guilty: Mom tried not to make me feel guilty. But a kind of constriction came over me when I returned, an invisible clamp across my chest...When will you get married, Nikki? When will you have children...Without family, what is there?"

Nikki soon discovers. Her mother is murdered. Nikki is determined to find out who killed her mother and caused so much pain to her and her sister, Clare. She grows both in character and in her love for Gwen. "Mom had been strong; Mom had not been weak and self-pitying. But I was made to realize now that grief would come in waves and there would be wave after wave, there was not one big wave to be overcome and endured." Gwen "Feather" Easton is rediscovered by this black sheep through these waves of grief and the police investigation. She is much more than Nikki ever imagined, and is amazed as she learns about her grandmother and father's death. She finally understands Gwen's need for perfection, albeit an external one.

Oates is brilliant. Who could write such a touching coming-of-age story through a literary mystery? I dare say, not many authors. Although we readers grieve with the two Eaton sisters, we also celebrate the life of their dear mother as we follow the police investigation and the eventual trial. Her descriptions of grief and its stages are spot-on and would be very difficult for anyone who has just lost their own mother. But when you're ready, I highly recommend this wonderful literary novel.

It offers a powerful exploration of family, loss, and the search for truth.

Oates' writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, making MISSING MOM a must-read for fans of literary mysteries.

You'll be drawn into Nikki's world and root for her as she uncovers the secrets of her mother's life and death.

This novel is a testament to the power of literature to heal and to help us understand the complex emotions that come with loss.

This book just never seemed to gain any momentum.

It droned on and on and on and on, as if there was no end in sight.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it was completed.

Moms, it turns out, have secret lives.

They have this interesting habit of collecting notes from their kids.

And then, unfortunately, they pass away.

It is only at that point that the kids discover the existence of these secret lives and stumble upon the collection of notes.

Oops - was that a spoiler?

Well, perhaps it was, but it's hard not to share this little tidbit when discussing this rather lackluster book.

The concept of moms having secret lives and the discovery of the notes by the kids could have been an engaging storyline, but unfortunately, the book failed to bring it to life in a captivating way.

Maybe with a different approach or more developed characters, it could have been a better read.

As it stands, it's just a book that never really took off.

I've read several books penned by Joyce Carol Oates, and without a doubt, I've never been let down.

Years ago, I lost my dear mother, and thus, when Nikki spoke of "feeling" her mother in various situations, I could truly identify with that.

It's a complex emotion, a unique blend of sadness and happiness all intertwined. The sense of loss is palpable, yet there's also a glimmer of warmth and comfort in those moments of connection.

I firmly believe that Ms. Oates has portrayed this delicate and profound emotion with absolute perfection. Her words have the power to touch the hearts of readers who have experienced similar losses, making them feel understood and less alone.

Through her masterful storytelling, she has brought Nikki's experiences to life in a way that is both relatable and deeply moving.

It's a testament to her incredible talent as a writer that she can capture such complex emotions and convey them so vividly on the page.

Here’s to moms. Without moms, where’d we all be?” quips Nikki Eaton, toasting her mother Gwen on Mother’s Day.

Two days later, Nikki is suddenly, though an act of inexplicable violence, without her mother. It is a devastating blow that shatters her world.

This novel tells the story of Nikki’s first year missing her Mom. It is a year filled with a mix of emotions. Nikki finds herself moving back into her mother’s house, surrounded by her mother’s presence in every corner. She even starts wearing her mother’s clothes, as if trying to hold onto a piece of her.

During this year, Nikki discovers some startling secrets of Gwen’s past. These revelations are like bombshells, difficult for Nikki to reconcile with the sparkly Gwen she knew. The bread-baking, craft-making, church-going, loving mother she adored seems to have a hidden side.

However, as Nikki delves deeper into these secrets, she begins to understand her mother on a whole new level. At last, Nikki can fully know the mother she must miss all her life, warts and all. It is a journey of self-discovery and acceptance, one that will change Nikki forever.

A year in the life of a young woman is a remarkable and poignant journey that begins on the fateful day she discovers her murdered mother lying on the ground. This event shatters her world and sets her on a path of grief, discovery, and self-discovery.

The young woman must come to terms with her mother's death and the many questions that surround it. She delves into her mother's past, uncovering secrets and mysteries that she never knew existed. Along the way, she meets new people, forms new relationships, and learns valuable lessons about life, love, and loss.

This is a great book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It is a story of hope, courage, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The author does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life and making you feel as if you are right there with them. If you are looking for a captivating and thought-provoking read, then this book is definitely for you.

I am really enjoying this read.

Joyce Carol Oates is incredibly prolific, which is truly remarkable.

I have had various reviews about some of her other novels.

Some I liked, while others didn't quite hit the mark for me.

However, this particular one has good character development.

It may not have quite as much depth as Anne Tyler, who is my all-time favorite when it comes to this aspect of the novel.

Anne Tyler has a unique way of creating characters that feel so real and complex.

But despite that, Joyce Carol Oates' work in this novel is still quite good.

The characters are well-drawn and engaging, and I find myself invested in their stories.

I look forward to seeing how the plot unfolds and what more the author has in store for us.

Overall, it's been a great reading experience so far.

Joyce Carol Oates is indeed a highly regarded writer. I must admit that I truly loved "Blonde", which offers an imagined account of being inside Marilyn Monroe's head.

However, I find it extremely difficult to fathom how this novel could have merited a Notable Book of the Year endorsement from the NYT Book Review. Well, perhaps they considered it notable simply for having been published at all, given how sloppily it is written.

The book reads as if it were an early draft that Oates hastily put together, ran a spell-check on, and then shipped out without even a cursory edit.

It is filled with descriptive phrases that are reused countless times. For instance, every female character is, at some point, described as having "moistly glittering eyes". There is also an excessive number of pointlessly annoying quotation marks peppered throughout. Moreover, it contains some incredibly hackneyed writing, such as "Grief is like one of those roller towels in public lavatories. Shared with too many people, it gets soiled and worn-out" and "... I ran for my life; I mean, my car" (and she used that one twice!).

I'm annoyed with myself for persevering through this piece of junk for its entire 400+ pages, hoping that there might be some kind of redeeming payoff at the end. Sadly, it was completely lame from start to finish.

I guess that's what I get for sampling from the remainder bin.

This is admittedly not one of Oates' stronger novels.

However, I still found enjoyment in it, especially as someone who has unfortunately lost her mother.

The book's exploration of grief was truly interesting. It delved into the complex emotions and stages that one goes through when mourning the loss of a loved one.

Yet, when evaluated as a novel as a whole, it was just okay. The plot may not have been as engaging or tightly constructed as some of her other works.

Nevertheless, it did offer some valuable insights into the human experience of grief, which made it worthwhile reading for me.

Overall, while not a masterpiece, it still had its redeeming qualities and managed to touch on an important and universal theme.

My favorite character in this book is the one who dies. It's no surprise, considering the title.

I truly love what Joyce Carol Oates said about her mom character. She described it as a sort of challenge to create a portrait of an unfailingly 'nice' woman whose very niceness turns into a liability.

This character's niceness is not just a surface trait but something that runs deep within her. It affects her relationships, her decisions, and ultimately, her fate.

Despite her niceness, she faces numerous difficulties and challenges. Her kindness sometimes makes her vulnerable and taken advantage of by others.

Yet, it is this very vulnerability that makes her so endearing and relatable. We can see ourselves in her, and we root for her even as we know her fate is sealed.

Her death is a powerful moment in the book, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. It makes us think about the nature of niceness, the price we pay for being kind, and the importance of standing up for ourselves.

In conclusion, this character's journey, from her unfailing niceness to her tragic end, is what makes her my favorite in the book.