A painful subject, a book that presents us with reality without censorship: what is rape? How is the victim of a rape regarded? What do men think about rape? And the saddest aspect - how can a woman be physically and morally destroyed.

The most powerful idea drawn from the book are the words of the lawyer -... because when a woman is brutally attacked, as they attacked your mother, all women are attacked. An idea with which girls should be raised, an idea with which every woman should breathe, an idea that should run through our blood.

And then there is also the ugly part of society, the patriarchy, when the guilty are taught how they should have done better, and their parents are encouraged by pastors on how to act further to defend their sons.

This book shines a light on the harsh truth of rape and its far-reaching consequences. It challenges us to confront our own attitudes and beliefs about this heinous crime. We must listen to the voices of the victims and work towards a society where such atrocities no longer occur. It is only through education, awareness, and a collective effort that we can hope to make a difference and create a safer world for all women.

Powerful story told in something of a rush. Joyce Carol Oates, like John Updike, has a tendency to produce books at a prolific pace. She typically publishes at least one novel a year, along with a barrage of cultural criticism. However, this often comes at the expense of the book itself.

The title of this work is provocative, isn't it? It is a love story, indeed. It is the love between a mother and a daughter who both endure a vicious attack from a dog-like pack of 4th of July revelers. These are vicious young men, high on meth, drunk, and on the prowl. There is also the love of a man, a cop, for the two women. He is a (stereotypically) strong, silent type who exacts his own brand of justice - the Dirty Harry kind - on the rapists.

What Oates does extremely well is展示 the sociological ramifications of the rape. She描绘s a community in denial and a sham trial where a sleazy defense lawyer turns the tables on the victim and distorts facts to the point that she appears the instigator, not the sufferer, of her own attack. Oates describes the trial as almost another form of rape.

However, Oates stumbles at the level of character and psychology. This is where more time and more space might have been beneficial. Although the book is a quick read (at 150 pages, one could finish it in an afternoon), what it gains in intensity it loses in depth. Motivations are obscure, and certain plot twists, such as the voice on the other end of a phone call late in the book, could use some explaining.

Overall, though it is a quick and interesting read, both the author and its subject deserve more carefully considered attention.

At the falls, she leaned over the railing. The wind, with its force, blew the cold spray into her face and clothes.

In just a matter of seconds, her clothes became completely soaked and tightly clung to her thin body. The tourists around her, seeing her in this state, perceived her as a drunk, drugged, or deranged woman. As a result, they all kept their distance from her.

On her head, she wore a silk scarf. However, in the wind, the scarf loosened, slipped from her head, and was then blown out above the thunderous water. Without the scarf, her hair was revealed. It was sparse, tufted, and completely without color. Now, the tourists' perception of her changed. They thought she might be a sick woman, perhaps one who had lost her hair due to chemotherapy.

Her face was a chalky-white color, looking as if, like a mask, it might be torn from her and blown away into the frothy water.

I have read several books that have the theme of rape, both physical and psychological. However, I don't remember having the same emotional impact as I had with Oates. Her style is unmistakable. If I had read the story without knowing the author, I would have bet on her.

It is a bad, crude, and sharp writing that hurts you like a punch in the stomach. It is a narration that makes you grateful for all the stupid things you have and for the fortune of not living in one of her anguishing novels.

The first half of the novel is really painful. I don't know how else to define it. Teena is raped by a group of boys and left almost dead while her twelve-year-old daughter, Bethie, is present at the event. Beyond the horrible act itself, it hurts because "Teena is a whore; Teena asked for it; Teena provoked the young men; Teena frequents bad environments and dresses like a girl, she WANTS to be raped." Not only is there no minimum of understanding and desire for justice for this broken life and for the trauma suffered by the child, beaten bloody and escaped from rape by chance; NO! The people in the town attack her, insult her, and consider her equally guilty of the fact because she asked for it.

I was indignant. I was very indignant! Not only as a reader or as a woman; I was outraged as a human being!

The most disgusting thing, besides the rape and the malevolence of the people, was to see how the guilty not only did not feel the slightest remorse (they were drunk and on methamphetamine: not that this justifies them, of course... but maybe then they understand what they did!), but they were also quite satisfied with themselves and the only regret they had was: "If we had killed them, now there would be no eyewitnesses."

I was shocked, I swear.

The second part is a little less painful, always keeping in mind that it is a book by Oates. The policeman who intervened first at the scene carries out a kind of private justice against the rapists who risk remaining unpunished thanks to a good lawyer who instills doubt in the jury (What doubts could there ever be, you say?! Well, he manages to create them).

Teena and her daughter gradually manage to get out of the spiral of despair in which they have fallen and someone else will take their place.

As I said before, Oates has a unique and unmistakable style: the narration is not from the point of view of Teena or her daughter, nor is it completely in the third person; Oates seems present in the story and speaks directly to Bethie, understands her, brings out her emotions and thoughts. Unique, really!

Ignore the title if you must. However, it is essential to read this to confront the harsh reality of how society disappoints those it ought to safeguard. Society often fails to fulfill its responsibility towards the vulnerable. We need to be more aware of this and take steps to make a change.

I have to explore other books written by this author. The work done here is remarkable. It makes us think deeply about the issues at hand. The author has a unique way of presenting the truth, which is both eye-opening and thought-provoking. I am looking forward to delving into more of their works and gaining further insights into the complex world we live in.

Well done to the author for this outstanding piece of writing. It serves as a wake-up call for all of us to do better and ensure that society truly protects those who need it the most.

Although it may seem that the title of the novel already reveals a lot, I recommend reading this story that is less than 200 pages long and is capable of provoking such heart-wrenching sensations during the reading.

Teena is a 35-year-old young widow and mother of Beth, a 12-year-old girl. One night, after celebrating the 4th of July with her boyfriend and some friends, she decides to take a shortcut to go home. On the way, they are ambushed by a gang in the town and Teena is brutally raped in front of her daughter.

And this is just the beginning. The torment that both of them go through, the physical and mental wounds that the attack leaves them with, the social judgment they are subjected to, and the questionable legal justice that makes them feel doubly attacked, is narrated in a terrifying way.

Teena falls into a deep well from which no one can pull her out. Beth can no longer trust anyone but feels devotion to the agent who found and rescued her on the day of the attack.

For me, it has been an impeccable reading within its crudeness, since the author's style, the background, and the form of the novel caught me and I couldn't put it down until the very end.

I was at the library, aimlessly wandering around and borrowing novels that I really didn't need. After all, I already have a huge stack of unread books sitting at home. But for some reason, I just "grabbed" this particular novel without really knowing anything about it.

Now, here I am, completely smitten with it. I'm amazed at how short it is, yet it manages to pack such a powerful punch. The way Joyce Carol Oates writes in this one is truly captivating. There's something about her style that draws me in and keeps me hooked from start to finish.

What's even more interesting is that I find myself hating and loving the novel at the same time. It's so awful in some ways, yet so raw and real in others. It makes me feel all kinds of emotions, and I can't help but be drawn to it. I just love it, flaws and all.

What a difficult yet ultimately rewarding read this is!

The story unfolds with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The plot points are executed in a poignant and heart-aching way, rather than the silly fashion that is often seen in other books.

This is a hard book to get through due to the horrifying details of the assault that the young girl and her mother endure. However, it is somehow worth it in the end.

As the reader progresses through the story, they realize that love can be born out of knowing a person who understands life's injustices and finding comfort in the fact that their heart is breaking for you.

Moreover, it becomes clear that sometimes, in strange and dark ways, wrongs can be righted. This book is a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of never giving up hope.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally engaging story.

The writing is very good and it has an impactful and dark theme. It makes me feel very sad and angry about everything.

It is a short book, and I couldn't stop reading until the end. The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged from the very beginning. The author has done a great job of creating a vivid and emotional world. The characters are well-developed and their experiences are relatable. Despite its short length, the book manages to convey a powerful message. It makes you think about the darker side of life and how it can affect people. Overall, it is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and emotional stories.

This book is truly astonishing and remarkable, and astonishing once again.

It is so real that you can feel your blood boiling with rage. You long to step into its pages and embrace its protagonists.

It is short and concise, without a single word wasted. We know little about the victim, but we are aware of what everyone thinks of her. I believe this is intentional, as the message that JCO wants to hammer home to us is that it doesn't matter who she is.

The attack is brutal, unjust, and terrifying regardless of her identity. And the love story, I must say, is such a just and satisfying display of love.

Five stars that can be read in just 3 hours.

It's a book that will leave a lasting impression on you, making you think about the nature of violence, love, and identity.

Highly recommended for those who enjoy thought-provoking and emotionally charged reads.

A thirteen-year-old girl named Kao didn't talk much about her life to her grandmother, and even less to her mother.

Regarding things at school and all that, she held back. She was worried that her mother would be arrested and accused of disrespecting the court if it came to a trial, and yet her mother refused to testify.

She was also worried that her mother might die.

She held back all these things from the adults in her house. She had learned that if something wasn't talked about, then everyone, even her closest ones, would assume that it didn't exist at all.

This young girl was carrying a heavy burden of unspoken thoughts and fears, which she felt unable to share with those around her. It was as if she was living in a silent world of her own, where her concerns and anxieties were hidden away, festering inside her.

One can only imagine the toll this was taking on her emotionally and psychologically.

A much better book than I had initially thought. The plot, while not overly brilliant, has its own charm. What truly stands out is the style. There are very few authors who can manage to end almost every chapter in suspense, and this one does it masterfully. The dialogues are limited, with almost the entire book being an introspection within the mind of a child, Beth. She is too young to fully understand all the aspects of evil, yet sensitive enough to tell the difference between the bad and the good. Contrary to what some critics might say, this is not a book about misogyny. Instead, it is a story about kindness, friendship, and human justice. It is a sad tale, but fortunately, it has a happy ending. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.