I read this book several years ago and had completely forgotten about it until I saw it mentioned in another place.

I had initially thought that it would offer a female perspective similar to that of The Wanderers, which is also an excellent novel. However, to my surprise, I discovered that it delves more deeply into the themes of friendship, loyalty, and retaliation against sexual abuse.

One aspect that stuck with me was the setting of the story in the 1950s. I remember wondering why the author chose this particular time period instead of the late 1960s or early 1970s, considering that the themes explored are timeless.

Perhaps the author wanted to highlight the social and cultural context of the 1950s and how it influenced the characters and their actions.

Overall, this book left a lasting impression on me, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring these important themes.

I would have expected a book about a tattooed vigilante girl gang in the 1950s to be an absolute thrill ride. It should have been filled with seductive charm, heart-pounding scares, and an overall cool factor that would leave readers breathless. The emotions should have been flushed and vivid, the storylines plump and engaging.

However, what I got was a pancake-flat novel that left me completely underwhelmed. The characters were one-note, lacking any depth or complexity. They followed the most predictable paths, making it easy to guess what would happen next. It was like reading a story that had been told a thousand times before.

To be honest, I found myself yawning more than once while reading this book. It failed to capture my imagination and left me feeling disappointed. I had such high hopes for this story, but unfortunately, it just didn't deliver.

Maybe if the author had put more effort into developing the characters and creating more original storylines, this could have been a great book. But as it stands, it's just another forgettable novel that will soon be lost in the sea of mediocrity.

I couldn't finish this book even if I tried really hard.

It is supposed to showcase how badasses these girls are? But I kept wondering why they do what they are doing. Are they supposed to be rebels? And if so, why that?

There is no logic whatsoever and it is written so poorly. It's truly the worst book I was ever advised to read.

I found myself constantly confused and unengaged as I tried to make sense of the story.

The characters' actions seemed random and without any real motivation.

The writing style was also very choppy and hard to follow.

I would not recommend this book to anyone.

It was a waste of my time and I'm disappointed that I was misled into thinking it would be a good read.

Hopefully, I'll have better luck with the next book I pick up.

The stream of consciousness style in which this was written simply did not appeal to me.

Nor did the frequent and rather jarring switching from first person to third person.

Weird racial politics and racial slurs were introduced into the story, yet there was no real payoff or consequences for these elements.

Moreover, the completely random tangent about the girl who Legs witnessed being tied up and raped seemed to come out of nowhere and was, once again, never mentioned again.

I had loved works like "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" and "We Were the Mulvaneys", so this particular piece was a huge disappointment.

It failed to engage me on multiple levels, from its writing style to its handling of various themes and storylines.

I had expected more depth and coherence, but unfortunately, it fell short in many aspects.

Perhaps with a different approach or a more refined execution, this could have been a more satisfying read.

As it stands, however, it remains a let-down for me.

The battle of the sexes is presented in a literal and rather lurid manner. It delves into themes such as class warfare, poverty, male dominance over women, abuse, neglect, and shows how communities strive to make themselves whole and address all these inequities.

I have a particular fondness for the exploration of the theme of the past and how it shapes the present. It reveals how we reconstruct past events to understand them and the different metaphors used throughout regarding this concept.

Legs is an iconic character. I adored the final image of her, immortalized in a newspaper picture beside Castro. It's highly recommended! However, if you can't tolerate a lot of randomly capitalized words, it might be best to avoid it.

Overall, this work offers a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of various complex themes, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in such topics.

I really wanted to have a greater liking for this. The subject matter was precisely the kind that I was extremely interested in. However, unfortunately, the writing style just didn't appeal to me.

Nonetheless, I did take pleasure in all of the all caps FOXFIRE sayings. They had a certain impact and a sense of power.

FOXFIRE REVENGE, it seemed to shout out a determination for vengeance. FOXFIRE WRATH, as if expressing an intense anger. And FOXFIRE NEVER LOOKS BACK, indicating a fearless and unwavering attitude.

These sayings, although in all caps, added a touch of drama and excitement to the overall piece. Even though the writing style didn't completely win me over, these FOXFIRE sayings managed to capture my attention and make me appreciate them to some extent.

A stream of consciousness that I wasn't at all prepared for, yet it's something that I will cherish and love foreverrrrr.

It's so incredibly unique that it has piqued my interest to such a degree that I now have an intense urge to watch the movie.

The experience of this stream of consciousness has been like a wild and unexpected ride, taking me to places I never thought I'd go.

It's as if it has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and emotions within me.

I can't wait to see how the movie will further expand and bring to life this amazing concept.

I'm sure it will be an unforgettable experience, worthy of the 4.6⭐️s it has received.

I have a rather complicated relationship with Joyce Carol Oates. On one hand, I have a deep love for some of her books, finding them to be captivating and thought-provoking. On the other hand, there are others that leave me feeling bored and unengaged. However, I can safely say that I truly loved this particular book.

I believe this to be an extremely powerful story that delves into the theme of female anger, or perhaps even rage, set predominantly in the 1950s. The teenage girls in the story come from a wide range of backgrounds, some of which are quite bad and others that are simply horrible. Given their circumstances, it is almost inevitable that they form a girl gang. We know from the very beginning, both through the narration of Maddy, one of the main characters, many years after the events have taken place, and also because girl gangs in the 1950s were not likely to be allowed to survive.

All of the girls in the story came alive for me, and I couldn't help but feel a great deal of sympathy for each and every one of them. After the last terrible crime, a couple of the girls ended up in prison, some got married - hopefully happily - and some simply seemed to fade away. The narrator, Maddy, found her calling as an astronomer's assistant. While she is lonely, it is a job that suits her well. And as for Legs, well, she was never seen again, unless it was in a faded newspaper photo of Fidel Castro, with, just maybe, Legs in the background. I truly hope so.

4.5

Gaypede Book Club Pick February

I have had a significant amount of time to reflect after listening to various opinions at the book club. Regrettably, I still find myself as the outlier. Right from the first few pages, I knew that the writing style simply didn't appeal to me. Those who are familiar with my personality know that I am quite Type A, and my mind craves things to be nice, neat, and logical. There are a few writers who can manage to engage me even when their writing seems to jump around, as long as I can understand the reasoning behind it. However, for some inexplicable reason, this particular book was not one of those.

Another major issue that I just couldn't overlook was the concept that being a victim of a heinous wrong, as many of the girls and women are in the book, does not justify using equal or even lesser violence against others. All I could think was that in a place where people are downtrodden, feeling forgotten and neglected, resorting to violence only serves to perpetuate the cycle. This doesn't mean that one should passively accept rape and domestic abuse. It does mean that one has the right to protect oneself, but not to bring others down to the same extent that one has been. It concerns me that there may be those who will read a book like this and misinterpret it as the feminism that so many people are striving for, when in fact it isn't. Feminism is about all people being equal and no one being oppressed; it's not about women having the 'best seat at the table' simply because of their gender and oppressing men in the same way that men have oppressed women in the past.

I was wavering between giving this book 1 and 2 stars in my review. Despite my personal qualms with the book, I can see how it would have been an important piece when it was written. I can also understand that it really strikes a chord with others. However, in the end, I settled on one star because I simply wasn't engaged with this book throughout the reading process. In fact, I was slightly relieved once I was done and knew that I didn't have to pick it up again.

When I first began reading this book, I have to admit that it was a real struggle to keep going.

The opening chapters, which established the core of the book itself, had a distinct feel that reminded me of how juvenile books are typically structured.

Just imagine: someone is narrating from their diary, and the pages actually look like a diary.

The language was also a bit of a challenge for me to get accustomed to, as the tone seemed so intense right from the start.

In the very beginning pages, I was already worried about how I was going to make it through the entire thing.

Joyce is one of my all-time favorite writers, and I have such a deep love for her short fiction that I simply didn't want to give up.

As it turns out, it wasn't her fault; it was mine.

The book is written in a confessional style: it truly is a diary.

The tone that initially overwhelmed me became an essential part of what this story has to tell.

Foxfire burns and burns!

The language, indeed, is what makes this book stand out even more than the narrative of a girl gang.

If it seems tough at the beginning, just keep reading.

Joyce never disappoints. She reveals our secrets and defends us, just like the much-needed female rebels who are righting a male-dominated world.

This is a truly great book.

It has made me deeply reflect on the situation in some societies where girls with fire and potential are unable to thrive and reach their full capabilities.

It is such a waste to see these young girls, full of energy and dreams, being held back by various social constraints and inequalities.

They are not given the same opportunities as boys to pursue their interests, receive a quality education, or participate fully in the economic and social life of their communities.

This not only limits their personal growth and development but also has a negative impact on the overall progress and prosperity of society.

We need to work towards creating a more inclusive and equal world where every girl, regardless of her background or circumstances, can have the chance to shine and make a positive contribution.

Only then can we truly unleash the full potential of half of the world's population and build a better future for all.

My dance teacher recommended a movie to me. However, I have to read the book first. Lmao!

This situation is quite interesting. On one hand, I'm excited about the movie recommendation from my dance teacher. It makes me curious to see what the movie is all about and how it might relate to dance or have some sort of artistic value.

On the other hand, the requirement to read the book first gives me a sense of anticipation. I know that reading the book will likely provide a deeper understanding and context for the story. It will allow me to explore the characters and their development in more detail.

I'm looking forward to both the reading experience and then eventually watching the movie. I wonder how the movie will bring the story to life on the screen and if it will capture the essence of the book. It's going to be an adventure to see how it all unfolds.