In one of the USA's most renowned honeymoon destinations, Niagara Falls, a group of friends is throwing a party to commemorate July 4th. Thirty-one-year-old widow Teena Maguire and her 12-year-old daughter Bethel are at Teena's boyfriend's house and decide to walk home. Teena, having consumed a few drinks, makes a foolish error that nearly costs them both their lives. Instead of taking the well-lit path home along the road, she opts to walk back through the park. A gang of young local men, drunk and high on methamphetamine, force the mother and daughter into a filthy boathouse, physically assault them both. When the daughter manages to wriggle away and hide in a corner, they rape and brutally kick Teena, leaving her bleeding on the floor, close to death.

After the men leave, Bethel escapes to the street and flags down help in the form of John Dromoor, a local policeman who becomes more emotionally involved in the case than he realizes is wise.

As the book progresses, it doesn't take long for the men to be identified, and even less time for the rumors and allegations to begin. However, the rumors are not about the violent young men but about their victim. Teena's only "crime" was being too young and pretty, dressing provocatively, and not conforming to people's expectations of a young widow. In her cutoff shorts and vest tops, with her pretty face and sexy figure, sympathy seems hard to come by, despite the fact that she spends weeks in intensive care fighting for her life after the men leave her to bleed to death on the floor when they've finished their "business" with her. And it doesn't help that her "boyfriend" Casey is separated from his wife and children in a nearby town. Again, regardless of the fact that it wasn't Teena who broke up the marriage, having a married boyfriend is just one more strike against Teena's reputation. If she had been a dowdy, middle-aged woman in sensible shoes and comfy slacks, would they have been less inclined to first hint and then outright allege that "She asked for it?"

Once the physical wounds are healed and Teena is out of the hospital, we accompany her and Bethel to court for the initial hearing. The mother of two of the men sits in the front row, muttering "Bitch! Whore! Liar" at Teena. Her husband hires his "boys" a top defense lawyer, a man with no qualms about destroying the victims if it keeps his clients out of prison or gets them a reduced sentence. Threatening notes are left at Teena and Bethel's home, Bethel is bullied at school, and older girls who know the attackers or are related to them tell people that she's no better than her mother. There's graffiti on her locker, on the walls of the washrooms, and school friends want nothing to do with her. Bethel's life ended on that night in the boathouse, and what follows is something far less than a life.

As I was reading this, I feared I could see exactly where it was going - that the societal psychological "rape" of Teena would be just as painful and devastating as the physical rape on July 4th. I could see that the only way out for the attackers was to completely destroy their victims in a long, drawn-out, and painful way by raping their minds as comprehensively as they had raped Teena's body. And to do it within the constraints of the legal system. I was reminded of the 1988 Oscar-winning film 'The Accused' in which Jodie Foster plays the victim and Kelly McGillis her lawyer. What I wasn't expecting - and what I loved - was the quiet, covert but beautifully effective way that Teena's "avenging angel" takes matters into his own hands. This is the love story of the title - the quiet, hidden revenge carried out without the knowledge of the victims and delivered much more effectively than the "law" could ever do. Yes, it is a love story - but a very strange one and not one that fits any of the usual molds.

It would be easy to dismiss this book as not saying anything new, claiming that the whole debate around "asking for it" has received millions of words of attention over the years. They say prostitution is the oldest profession - I suspect rape is equally the oldest crime, and no doubt since time immemorial, there has been a debate about whether the victim's behavior contributed to her attack. It's true that there's nothing new, but if every book needed to only say what hadn't been said before, our bookshops would soon be out of business and Amazon wouldn't have much to do. Sometimes it's not WHAT you write that matters - it's HOW you write it that counts.

JCO teaches creative writing at Princeton University, and at times this book reads like a virtuoso performance in writing technique. There's nothing "straightforward" about the delivery of this book - she plays tricks, writing incomplete sentences, making us wait for pages to get to the point of the overly long paragraph, taunting us with the expectation of what's still to come, and then contrasting that with short sentences that convey far more than anyone could expect. Her opening paragraph runs for nearly four pages and tells us everything we need to know not only about the rape but also about how quickly the crime is turned against Teena, how rapidly she becomes the cause and not just the victim of the rape. It's impressive stuff - we're hooked by every word. She writes most but not all of the book from the perspective of the daughter, addressing it to the reader as if WE are that daughter and reflecting on what has happened to us. It's clever, emotional, and very powerful writing. One small warning for anyone who hates bad language - there's plenty of swearing, but it's entirely appropriate in context. Mind you, if you hate swearing, you're probably going to hate this book for many more reasons than just a bit of "effing and blinding". It's raw, painful stuff and not for those of a delicate disposition who only read "love" as something that occurs in chick lit or Mills and Boon.

If this had been written by anyone other than JCO, I'm sure I wouldn't have wanted to read it - but I knew that with a writer as accomplished as her, with such long-established and often-rewarded credentials, it was certain that there would be something clever and thought-provoking behind her choice of title.

JCO is probably best known for some of her massive thick books, but I like her best when she sticks to slim volumes. This one weighs in at just over 150 pages and packs such a punch that nothing more is needed. Like a perfect haiku, anything more would just ruin the perfection.

"Viol: A Love Story" by Joyce Carol Oates is a profoundly moving work that approaches difficult themes with a particular sensitivity. Through the prism of Teena Maguire's experience, Oates offers a harsh critique of how society, including the authorities, manages gender violence and the treatment of its victims. The book is an invitation to reflect on empathy and social responsibility, calling on readers to examine their own prejudices and reactions towards the victims of rape. At the heart of this disturbing story lies an essential question about love, suffering, and how we can offer support to those who need it.

The novel is, above all, an attack on misogyny. It is remarkable how capable the author is of projecting herself into the minds of the idiotic misogynists she describes. She delves deep into their warped perspectives, showing the readers the ugliness and toxicity that lies within. By doing so, she forces us to confront the reality of misogyny and its far-reaching consequences. Oates's writing is powerful and engaging, drawing the readers in and making them feel every emotion that the characters experience.

"Viol: A Love Story" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the complex issues surrounding gender violence and misogyny. It is a thought-provoking and eye-opening work that will leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Terribly Disappointing.

I must admit that I was completely suckered in by the title. It is such a blatant contradiction in words that it piqued my curiosity. I was extremely interested to see how Oates was going to justify it. This is the second time she has drawn me in based on the title, and unfortunately, the second time I wished I hadn't bothered.

The story begins with a woman being brutally gang raped in a park while her daughter is a witness. It quickly becomes a high-profile crime, with the entire town divided as to who is on the victim's side and who isn't. While there is a love story aspect to it, it is rather underplayed to the point that it really doesn't add any significant depth to the novel at all.

Basically, I felt as if I was watching a Lifetime movie. The cast of characters is highly stereotypical. The perpetrators of the crime are all asshole meth fiends who, for some reason, are able to hire a prominent defense attorney. The lawyer manages to come up with a ridiculous defense that, somehow, the Judge buys. The prosecutor is completely inept. The hero is dark, stoic, and brooding. Almost all of the women are portrayed as helpless victims. The plot line is extremely predictable and has been done countless times before.

It is truly a horrific crime, but unfortunately, it is also a pretty bad novel.

A book with a provocative title and a disturbing subject.

The book cares. It pulls triggers. On a superficial level, it resembles some aspect of our real world. It confronts the monstrous reality of human cruelty, callousness, and especially the perversity of our social reaction to an atrocious crime. However, unfortunately, it doesn't succeed very well.

By some ironic twist, In Cold Blood is a better novel than this, even though In Cold Blood is not a novel, and this is.

This book takes a sensational story like those in our news reports and presents it in a way that is not more human or personal than a news report. Maybe some more details are supplied, perhaps there's a point of view, and maybe there are a few more literary flourishes. But while reading and after reading, I feel that I know the characters about as well as I know Tawana Brawley and the men accused of raping her. That is to say, I don't know them at all. I just know a few things from the news and what people with no business forming an opinion had to say.

Except this book also has a Charles-Bronson-style movie plot woven into its background. With a protagonist of sorts who is not really a character but perhaps an archetype.

The last page was good. I mean the very last page. It was pretty good or okay.

Somehow, it is still effective in its way. It's compelling and rage-provoking because, of course, it's terribly upsetting, and one can't doubt that the skeletal form of this book's story really does reflect some of what goes on in our horrible world. But that just comes down to the choice of subject. Anyone who chooses the subject of injustice in a rape case is bound to provoke strong reactions. When a book resorts to such trite passages as this:

...The last he'd seen of Teena Maguire she'd been another woman. Leaning to kiss his cheek saying Love ya, Casey! Call me in the morning.
  There had been no next morning. For Casey and Teena there would never be another next morning.

Well, you're tugging at my heartstrings. But please stop.

Ultimately, it was an obvious book, a conventional book with mainstream-literary leanings. It's a book not afraid to look into darkness and confront trauma, but one that is populated more by phantoms from newspaper clippings than by human beings.

Am I too harsh? Maybe a little. Because the one part that was a little more intriguing was the second-person \\"You\\" observer, because of the barely touched-on fantasy element that develops in her mind - the \\"Love Story\\" aspect. Without that hinted-at spark, perhaps the book would have truly been dreadful.

From the first to the last page, it stands out for its raw harshness. This which exists around us anyway, but we don't see it or turn a blind eye to it. The fear of every woman exists here. Dark and bestial. Clearly dosed with simple, everyday language, without covering up the facts or becoming complainers from the other side. Just like the corruption of the system exists here. Justice is not only a moral state. It has intensity, it has genuine human characters who go through fire and iron until they come out on the other side. If they actually come out in the end. But mainly it creates images that, as a woman, I would rather it hadn't created for me.

This book has a dual character. You love it and hate it at the same time. Everything that exists in it somehow churns your stomach. For everything it warns us about, it makes it a more generally necessary book. Its purpose is not completed through the shocked reader. Its purpose is to wake up his conscience, the one that sleeps or is indifferent or closes its eyes to the ugliness of this world.

The book presents a vivid and unfiltered picture of the harsh realities that often remain hidden or ignored. It forces the reader to confront the uncomfortable truths and face the fears that lie within. The author's use of simple language adds to the impact, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. Despite its disturbing nature, the book also has a certain allure that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. It challenges our perceptions and makes us question the world we live in. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and powerful piece of literature that leaves a lasting impression.

The topic that the writer is discussing in this book is an extremely challenging one.

Despite the hardness of the topic, there are no overly difficult or complex scenes presented.

Rather, it is through the daughter's perspective that we are able to gain insights and understanding.

This unique viewpoint adds a layer of depth and authenticity to the narrative.

We get to see the world through her eyes, experiencing her emotions and thoughts.

The daughter's view allows us to approach the hard topic in a more relatable and accessible way.

It makes us empathize with her and consider the issue from a different angle.

Overall, the combination of the hard topic and the daughter's perspective makes this book a thought-provoking and engaging read.

A brutally well-written book.

This reading completely destroyed me. And I won't forget it anytime soon.

The violence itself, the described images, the memories of the mother and her daughter... hard to digest.

And then the suspects, the accused, the animals that are men, boys, drug addicts.

To end with justice and righteousness. So unorthodox and so sweet. I savored the second part of the book without breathing.

It was a truly intense and unforgettable reading experience. The author's writing style is so powerful that it draws you in and makes you feel every emotion. The story is complex and full of twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

My first encounter with the writer Joyce Carol Oates was through a title that was misleading until one reads the book.

Personally, it is extremely difficult for me to read or watch scenes of sexual violence in movies. Recently, in La Dos, they screened the movie by José Luis Garci: "Luz de domingo" and it was a bad experience for me.

Reading Joyce Carol Oates' novel has also been a difficult exercise, but at the same time, it is necessary to visualize the concepts of the North American judicial system and the negative machismo that poisons our lives in a cross-cutting way.

It is still an interesting novel, written by a woman, that shows us that sexual violence and gives us an idea about the ambiguity of justice and its application in response to victims and perpetrators.

Read in a very good translation by Pepa Linares in Editorial Contraseña.

I belong to a generation that has grown up hearing phrases like: "You should see how some girls are dressed, like streetwalkers." I belong to a generation that was shocked by the brutal rape and murder of three girls in a Valencian town, a terribly media-covered news that marked me to such an extent that, when I was walking home alone on the dark streets, I would run like crazy without looking back until I got into the entrance of my house, fearing that if someone did something bad to me, it would be my fault for walking alone at night (even if it was only 9 or 10 pm on a winter's evening) dressed in overly tight jeans.

This novel by Joyce Carol Oates, reissued by Editorial Contraseña, is set in the 1990s, the same era when I was a teenager running scared on the dark streets. It tells the story of a mother and a daughter who, one night, while returning from a party celebrating the 4th of July, are attacked by a pack of men. The girl, only 12 years old, manages to escape and hide, but the mother is raped and beaten by several men until she almost loses her life. And when the worst seems to have passed, the second part of the suffering begins: insults and threats from the families of the accused (both the rapists and the victims live in the same town), the victim-blaming ("she deserved it for dressing the way she did, for being the way she was"), a judicial process with an overbearing judge and an unscrupulous lawyer where the testimony of the victims is put into doubt...

As I was reading this book, the anger and indignation burned within me, realizing that this novel is a fiction inspired by many real cases that have occurred and continue to occur...

From a literary point of view, the book seemed to me of extremely high quality. A dry style, without frills, hard and dry like the very facts it narrates. An impressive handling of narrative tension. The story told from different perspectives: the victim, the victim's boyfriend, the rapists, the police, the prosecutor... and, above all, the daughter of the victim, to whom the narrator addresses directly, in the second person, as if talking to her.

I have always believed that literature, in addition to being art and training, is a means to denounce injustices. So for this reason and for everything I have commented on, this book has become for me one of the best novels I have read so far this year.

The story, in general, is quite good. It has an engaging plot that keeps the reader interested from start to finish. However, one area where it could be improved is in the development of the characters. While the basic outlines of the characters are present, they feel a bit one-dimensional. It would have been nice if the author had delved deeper into their personalities, motives, and backstories. This would have made the characters more relatable and the story more emotionally impactful. For example, we could have learned more about the main character's childhood experiences that led them to make the decisions they do in the story. Or perhaps we could have seen more of the secondary characters' relationships with each other and how those relationships influenced the events of the story. Overall, with a bit more character development, this could have been an even better story.

A book that is hard to read due to its theme and the masterful way in which Carol Oates tells the story of the gang rape of Teena Maguire and its consequences.

The story is full of anger, and the way it is told makes us empathize with the protagonist and share her anger. The changes in point of view throughout the narration make us feel more involved in the story. It is a recommendable work.

I would have liked it if more time had been spent developing the different characters and their motivations. This would have added more depth to the story and made it even more engaging.

Despite this, the book is still a powerful and thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you have finished it. It forces you to confront the harsh realities of sexual violence and its impact on the lives of those affected.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring this important and sensitive topic.

H Όουτς has a remarkable ability to psychoanalyze her heroes, without over-dramatizing situations and creating artificial excitement. The heroine addresses the reader in the first person, giving immediacy and the sense that the events are taking place in real time.

Overall, it is a unique story that combines the police plot with the courtroom drama and the social indictment. If only it hadn't had such a predictable ending!

P.S.: I believe that due to its theme, it is good to be read by both women and men.

Total rating: 3.6/5 or 7.2/10.

Rating due to the persuasive psychoanalysis of the heroine and the realistic portrayal of the theme: 4.2/5 or 8.4/10.

This book offers an engaging exploration of the human psyche and social issues. The author's skill in developing the characters and the plot keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. However, the predictability of the ending does slightly detract from the overall experience. Nevertheless, it is still a worthwhile read, especially for those interested in crime fiction and social commentary. The fact that it can appeal to both genders makes it even more accessible and relevant. With its thought-provoking themes and well-written narrative, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression on the reader.