Quite brilliant.

My second JCO experience has been truly outstanding. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and a friendly atmosphere. The variety of donuts on display was simply amazing. Each one looked more delicious than the last.

I decided to try a few different flavors, and I was not disappointed. The donuts were light, fluffy, and had the perfect amount of sweetness. The fillings were rich and decadent, adding an extra layer of flavor to each bite.

As I sat there enjoying my donuts, I couldn't help but think about how quickly I was becoming a fan of JCO. The quality of their products is top-notch, and the attention to detail is evident in every aspect. I can't wait to go back and try more of their delicious treats.

In conclusion, I highly recommend JCO to anyone who loves donuts. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for a sweet treat that is both delicious and satisfying.

Violation, a "love story" by Joyce Carol Oates.

We are presented with yet another of those stories that prove who is the best American novelist at the moment. It offers us one of those tales that leave you breathless, that overwhelm you and that is written with an intensity and a narrative tension like no other. The gang rape of a mother in the presence of her daughter will trigger a spiral of all kinds of events, both between the raped woman and her family and between the rapists and the entire town.

Oates handles the plot with short, quick chapters, sometimes longer, changing the point of view every two or three. From the mother, the daughter, the lawyers, all have a place in this story, and in all of them she breathes not only personality but life. You can feel the desolation of the mother ("Teena carried her wounds inside, where no medicine could heal them") to the bad breath of the defense lawyer ("it was possible to confuse the jury. Because the heart of man beats with the desire to be confused. The truth is an attraction, but not the most appealing one"). You feel everything that each of them feels and you yourself experience the heart-wrenching nature of the situation, a shameful crime that seems not to have a punishment because everything can be manipulated, because it is very easy to convince oneself of an error and convince the rest.

What a story, it is impossible not to feel broken when reading it, but what a reading. It is essential to read JC. Oates, a total master, and this masterpiece is a wonder to start with, to savor, to feel...

This is an extremely ugly book. It is filled to the brim with nothing but filth and darkness.

It takes your perception of humanity, brutally throws it to the ground, and then administers a series of forceful kicks to it until it is bleeding and crying out in pain.

Hate is indeed a powerful word, yet I truly hated the story, the characters, and practically the entire book. I loathe the fact that I exist in a world where this is not mere fiction but the genuine and harrowing story of thousands of 'Teena's and 'Bethie's every single day.

I despise the fact that people consider it acceptable to label rape as 'unfortunate' or'sad'. A slip on a staircase and breaking one's neck is unfortunate or sad. However, rape is nothing more than a depraved act of utter cowardice.

Joyce Carol Oates tells a deeply disturbing story that simultaneously disgusts and fascinates you with its raw brutality. There is no redemption, no magic wand that can be waved to make it all go away and allow you to simply move on. She narrates a tale of despair, loss, and trauma from which there is no escape.

The title is somewhat misleading, and it would be a major spoiler to discuss the reason why.

By the way, it is a brilliant book. This may sound contradictory, but it is a loathsome story presented in a brilliant book. This is a story that leaves a truly terrible taste in the mouth and makes you wonder how some so-called humans can become so dehumanized. It makes you question the humanity of all those who ask questions such as, "But what was she wearing?" or "Why was she out so late?"

It is brutal, horrifying, and extremely well-written. Read it, but there is no guarantee that you will be able to sleep soundly afterwards or keep your meal down. So, I can't say that I "really liked it," but it definitely elicited some very strong emotions within me.

A book that really shouldn't have to come into being, and yet its very existence holds an incredibly powerful force. Rape is not just an unfortunate incident like falling over and breaking a bone. It is something that strips a person of their humanity. This book, with its unwavering honesty, validates this truth and also mocks those who attempt to shift the blame onto the victims.

Perhaps that is why, in my view, the title holds such significance. It serves as a bold statement, challenging the society's often wrong perception and highlighting the true horror of rape. The author's unflinching portrayal of this heinous act forces the readers to confront the reality and think deeply about the issue.

It is a book that demands to be read, not because it is pleasant, but because it is necessary. It makes us aware of the pain and suffering that the victims endure and reminds us that we have a responsibility to stand up against rape and support the survivors.

A vengeance tale that is truly worthy of Joyce Carol Oates' renowned reputation, and it delves into serious subject matter.

When a single mother is brutally raped in the presence of her young daughter and then left for dead, and the judicial system fails miserably - smearing the victim's character and making it appear as if the rapists are the ones who have been wronged - an otherwise uninterested party suddenly takes an interest in order to ensure that a form of justice is carried out.

Told from the perspective of the young girl, this story focuses less on the physical aspects of revenge and more on the psychological. It explores the intense fear that grips the girl, the seething hate that simmers within her, and finally, the compromised recovery that she experiences.

This is a serious and dark story that tackles a serious and dark subject with great depth and sensitivity. It forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of such a heinous crime and its far-reaching consequences.

*TRIGGER WARNING*

I never expected to come across this story. I had no prior knowledge of it or the author. It was a long, sweaty day, and I ducked into the library to kill some time before catching the bus home. In fact, I almost walked right past it. But a word leaped out at me from the black and white cover: rape. My feminist instincts were immediately on high alert. Was that a cover of black and white hearts? Was this a story titled Rape: a love story? It only took me a second to do a double take and go back. I picked up this small book with the word rape on the cover and started reading. And I was instantly hooked. I missed two more buses just to sit there and finish this story. It was brutal, and it brought tears to my eyes.

As a feminist, I have read countless articles on rape culture, about survivors being arrested and forced to testify, of teenage girls being wrongly accused of being too mature and seductive. I've read about the failures of universities to address rape on campus, the statistics of sexual assault in the military, and women being gang-raped and ending up in a coma in the hospital, only to eventually pass away. I've seen the pie charts and lines of statistics. One in five women. I'm well aware of the injustice in the courts. Despite all this, this small, obscure story really hit home. The brutality, the inhumanity, the injustice, the alienation. I was right there with Teena and Beth as Teena was brutally assaulted and left to die. I could picture the 12-year-old with a dislocated arm, hearing the screams of her mother.

They talk about how she deserved it, about her clothes, as if she was asking for it. She's in court, and her attackers are right there, while there's only one other woman in the courtroom. They accuse her of being a prostitute and claim the rape was consensual. They try to smear her name and bring up her sexual history. The injustice and horror of it all leave a bitter taste in my mouth and a sickening feeling in my stomach. Teena is shattered and betrayed by a system that's supposed to protect her and bring her justice, and she's re-traumatized. The girl watches as her mother falls apart.
The final justice that the rapists receive is like a sick form of wish fulfillment for the reader; revenge, vigilante justice. The ending shows that these women are not victims but survivors. They don't forget, but they can go on to live happy, fulfilling lives away from the event that they felt defined them. Rape: a love story is a powerful social commentary. It critiques rape culture, the way we treat women, the way we fail survivors, and the way they are humiliated, traumatized, and beaten down. What the hell is wrong with us?

*As a note, I think it would be a valid criticism to say that this book doesn't address the fact that most rapes are committed by people the survivors know and even trust, as well as the fact that many rapes are not as clearly violent and brutal.

“Just one decision, just a second of your entire life and your life has changed forever.”

The life of Teena and her daughter Bethie changed forever when, after celebrating the 4th of July and on their way back home, they decided to take a shortcut through the park to arrive ten minutes earlier. When a group of men, neighbors and acquaintances, blocked their way. When Teena was brutally assaulted. When justice was not just. When the court judged her. When an unscrupulous lawyer appeared. When society blamed her. When Dromoor, the policeman who found them, entered their lives...

As you can see, the theme is very harsh but Oates' pen makes it easy to read and traps you, charms you and absorbs you from the beginning to a tremendous end. It is one of those novels that you start and cannot stop reading.

I also don't want to tell you much more because it is very short and it is better to read it without knowing why, you just have to read it.

Yes, the theme is very harsh but it is not told in a sordid way.

Yes, it hurts a lot because it is a current theme and the wounds are still open but we must not forget it.

Yes, your stomach shrinks and your soul bleeds when reading it because it is very raw and unfair but it is necessary to make it visible in order to educate, so that there are no more injustices, so that we can go out without fear and so that the victims are not the judged, the ashamed and the ones who have to hide.

This is the first book I read by the author and despite the harshness of the theme, I loved how she writes, so I will continue reading her.

2018:

I had only heard good things about Joyce Carol Oates before, but this book truly exceeded my expectations. It was both beautiful and heartbreaking. The story was so well-written that it drew me in from the very beginning and held my attention until the very end. The characters were complex and well-developed, and I found myself empathizing with them on a deep level.

2020:

I reread this book today, and it had the same impact on me as it did over two years ago. It was still sickening but beautiful. Joyce Carol Oates has a way of writing that makes even the most disturbing and uncomfortable topics seem almost poetic. Her use of language is masterful, and her ability to create such vivid and realistic characters is truly remarkable. She remains one of my favorite authors of all time, and I will continue to read and reread her works for years to come.

Joyce Carol Oates has an uncanny ability to tap into the deepest fears that haunted me during the ages of 12 to 14. She takes those intangible terrors and gives them a human face, making them both pitiful and believable, yet still retaining their inherent terribleness.

The setting of this book is in a landscape that holds a great deal of nostalgia for me, which only intensifies the sense of terror and poignancy. Even though the terror presented is of a more mundane and melodramatic nature, it still manages to grip my heart.

I frequently have the impression that JCO writes for a very specific and perhaps somewhat niche demographic that I happen to be a part of, but I'm not entirely sure where the boundaries lie.

What I truly admire about her writing is her skill in creating a believable internal narrative for a villain. She does this without in any way diminishing the heinousness of his actions. It's a remarkable feat that keeps me coming back to her works, eager to explore the complex and often disturbing worlds she creates.

A gang rape of a 35-year-old woman, accompanied by her 12-year-old daughter.

Something "fictitious" that is as real as life.

This is a truly disturbing and heart-wrenching incident. The idea of a woman being violated in such a brutal way, especially in the presence of her young daughter, is simply unimaginable.

It highlights the harsh reality that violence against women still persists in our society.

We must take a stand against such atrocities and work towards creating a safer environment for all.

The complete opinion can be found at http://www.buscandomiequilibrio.com/2....

We need to raise awareness about this issue and ensure that justice is served for the victims.

It is our responsibility as a society to protect the rights and dignity of every individual.

Let us come together and say no to violence against women.

Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates is an extremely challenging novel to read. It's not because of its length or the style of its prose. In fact, it's a relatively short book, with my copy being only 154 pages long, and the prose is beautiful and captivating. The issue lies in its harsh and gut-wrenching subject matter. As a reader, you know from the title, if not the description, that it will likely be an upsetting and difficult read, but it far exceeded my initial expectations. It's severely tragic. It depicts an event that is evil, terrible, and disgustingly gut-wrenching. And if that weren't hard enough to read, the following pages leave you with the excruciating and heart-wrenching aftermath of the event.

The book blurb describes the story of Teena Maguire, who makes the fateful decision to take a shortcut home on the Fourth of July. Dressed in a tank top, denim cutoffs, and high-heeled sandals, with her twelve-year-old daughter Bethie, she encounters packs of local guys running wild on hormones, rage, and alcohol. Teena becomes a victim of gang rape and is left for dead in the park boathouse. The once vivacious Teena now regrets that she has survived. At a relentlessly compelling pace, punctuated by lonely cries in the night and the whisper of terror in the afternoon, Oates unfolds the story of Teena and Bethie, their assailants, and their unexpected, silent champion, a man who knows the meaning of justice and love.

I truly believe this book should be applauded for its realistic portrayal of the crime, without shying away from the details or sugarcoating any of the facts, despite how difficult it is to read. It also deserves strong recognition for highlighting how victims are too often blamed and shamed for the horrific crimes committed against them, which is sickening. The book does nothing to lighten or brighten what is and will always be a very tragic and depraved crime, not only for the fictional woman and her pre-teen daughter but also for every real person, past and present, who has endured such things to varying degrees. The characters are all very realistic, and the prose is incredible. My only valid complaint is the need to make it a "love story" towards the end, which was strange and thankfully didn't amount to much.

Overall, this book simply portrays the facts of the crime, without any sugarcoating or avoidance of the unspeakable details. And although that makes it even harder to read, it also makes it brilliant. It provides a very disturbing glimpse into a catastrophic event that many people have suffered and are still suffering from all over the world, even in our own towns and neighborhoods. If only to open your eyes to the brutality and devastation of such an act, I recommend reading this book. However, it is not for the faint of heart or those who are squeamish or triggered by the topic of brutal rape, and it is definitely not suitable for underage readers. It is very graphic. [CONTENT & TRIGGER WARNING BELOW...] [OFFICIAL RATING: 4 STARS] [CONTENT NOTE / TRIGGER WARNING: Violent, graphic sexual scene (a brutal gang raping), along with some very dark imagery. Rape is the main focus of this book, and aside from the event itself, the rest of the book recollects, rehashes, and deals with the aftermath of the rape and beating of a mother and daughter. In addition to themes of rape and assault, the book explores the physical and mental psychological state afterwards, as well as the details of a criminal trial. There are also deaths/murders described, strong language, and alcohol/smoking. Not recommended for minors to read, or for those who have triggers with any of these issues or for the faint of heart.]

Behind this title, as catchy as it is provocative, lies a terrible story, of course, but also a story of justice and vengeance.

Tina and her daughter Bethel narrowly escape death, but not suspicion. For although Tina's wounds leave no doubt about what happened to them, some still wonder if Tina, the unworthy mother, didn't ask for it. The starting point of the narrative is as cruel and unbearable as can be. Injustice is at its peak. The victim becomes the culprit.

Oates spares us no detail. The facts are raw, and the words are too. But as is her habit, she doesn't need to pile them on to impress the reader. Beyond the human drama, a unconventional love story unfolds, subtly evoked, translated by actions that speak volumes, rather than by a classic plot.

The novel approaches the novella in its brevity, and one may regret the speed that makes us miss many developments. But Oates has decided thus, no doubt to avoid sinking into a too tearful melodrama. We remain dignified, we say nothing, we act, and we can divine a love story in the background, all in restraint.