Joyce Carol Oates was born on June 16, 1938. As of March 2022, she is 83 years old. Her first book, the short story anthology "By the North Gate", was published in 1963. Since then, she has published a total of 58 novels, numerous novellas, short stories, plays, poems, essays, and articles. Despite her advanced age, she remains extremely productive and publishes at least one novel every year.

This remarkable productivity has sometimes been misinterpreted negatively, as has her choice of themes. In the past, she was often advised to focus on "women's themes" and leave the "great social novel" to authors like Norman Mailer. Against the backdrop of this criticism, her 22nd book, "Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang", almost seems like a return, as Oates engages with the dream of a feminist utopia in it.

The books of Joyce Carol Oates are often difficult to interpret. I can only speak for myself, but her socially critical works often leave me somewhat at a loss. I have to let these stories work in my subconscious for a long time before I can make assumptions about their meanings. With "Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang", it took me several months to develop a suspicion of what the author wanted to tell me with this book. The realization was accompanied by an interesting observation: I couldn't settle on an interpretation because I was too close. I had to gain distance first to recognize what was right in front of my nose. I'm firmly convinced that this effect is no coincidence.

Joyce Carol Oates must have either deliberately forced it or at least tacitly accepted it because otherwise, it's not possible to explain why she let me dive so deeply into the first-person perspective of her unreliable narrator Maddy that I couldn't see the forest for the trees. "Foxfire" is a memoir framed by short references to the present. As an adult woman, Madeleine remembers her time as a teenager, as Maddy and as a founding member of the girl gang FOXFIRE. How necessary this separation between Madeleine and Maddy is for her becomes quickly obvious. Her descriptions are like a stream of consciousness, and she often writes without periods and commas, as if she were being carried away.

I could vividly imagine how she types faster and faster, leaving behind every boundary between the present and the past and reliving the events again. Maddy's experiences exert an enormous pull on her, which she can only withstand if she detaches herself emotionally. This makes "Foxfire" extremely authentic, but it wasn't always easy to follow her thoughts. Nevertheless, I instinctively understood how and why FOXFIRE came into being. The gang began as a sisterhood that took justice for women as its banner. It was an answer to many things, and within its ranks, the members found loyalty, dedication, love, and care. They were there for each other when no one else was, especially not the men in their lives, whom they all experienced as overbearing.

Therefore, it's no wonder that anger was a crucial binding factor in the dynamics of FOXFIRE. Its potential for violence was recognizable early and clearly; so it's no wonder that the gang quickly became criminalized because the girls intoxicated themselves with their anger, which was given an outlet for the first time. Female violence is thus a central motif in "Foxfire" – Joyce Carol Oates vividly describes how it arises, is channeled, and ultimately escalates. Therefore, I believe that the author wants to emphasize with this novel that female emancipation and feminism are inevitable. That's the message whose definition I struggled with so much. He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind.

"Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang" is a novel about the emancipation experience of young women in the 1950s. I thought for a while whether it could also be qualified as a coming-of-age story, but I came to the conclusion that this category is too weak for what Joyce Carol Oates describes in this book. The violence with which the girl gang FOXFIRE emancipated itself is too dominant for that. "Foxfire" has nothing to do with the description of a gentle, innocent awakening. Rather, it's about the dream of radical, vengeful equality that shatters when the gang goes too far. In the end, these young warrior women have to realize that feminism is not possible against society but only with it – and that includes men, of course. I found the reading hypnotic and extremely inspiring. It's a brutally feminist book that gripped me, as a female reader, mercilessly in my sense of justice. Whoever believes that women couldn't fight for their rights with all their might is very wrong.

This novel truly evoked an overwhelming sense of discomfort as I delved into its pages.

It was as if I was half-submerged in a disconcerting waking dream. The main character, Lean Legs Sadovsky, simply leaps off the page with such vividness.

You can feel her intense caring, her adolescent brutality, and the inescapable tragedy that stems from her big dreams, all while being shaped by the poverty and misogyny that pervades her life.

The scenes描绘了那些笨手笨脚、汗流浃背的中年男人，自以为把你逼到了绝境，这些场景实在是太过熟悉。

The story is set in the 1950s in New York, but these kinds of brutalizing sexual predations are unfortunately still very much with us in the present.

In this regard, it is indeed a really brave book that calls out men. However, I did stumble upon the socialist utopian narrative that loosely connects these episodes of rage against patriarchy.

At times, it seemed more like a dissertation on the intersections of patriarchy and class in the creation of feminist consciousness.

I could have done without the rather stark lecture, but still, there was a great deal to admire in the highly charged vignettes that展现了女孩帮派成员之间坚韧的温柔和嫉妒，她们对这个世界无尽的不公感到愤怒。

Overall, this novel is a complex and thought-provoking work that leaves a lasting impression.

At the beginning, I didn't like this book. I thought it was written in a special way that made it difficult to read and slow-paced. I even thought about stopping reading it.

However, after a while, as one delved into the story and got to know the characters, it became exciting and very educational.

The unique writing style that initially seemed like a drawback actually added depth and complexity to the narrative. It made me think more deeply about the themes and ideas presented in the book.

As I continued reading, I found myself becoming more and more engaged with the story and the characters. I was eager to find out what would happen next and how their lives would unfold.

In the end, I'm glad I didn't give up on this book. It turned out to be a great read that taught me a lot and left a lasting impression.

I have an intense love for this book. It's so difficult for me to write about it without going overboard with enthusiasm. The reason is quite evident. It's about a girl gang that takes aim at predatory men and boys, and even horrible pet shops, with a sense of prefeminist vengeance. Feminist vigilantism has a certain appeal to me on a basic, primal level, despite my general reservations about violence.

The book offers a wealth of insights into the time and place where everything unfolds. There are the sharp class divides, the social instability left in the aftermath of World War II (which is quite interesting considering what popular history might suggest otherwise). There's also the racism that persists even among the poorest and most outcast white girls, the Red baiting, Legs' proto-socialist tendencies, and the power of the cult of personality. The list goes on and on.

Each time I read it - and this is my third time - I discover something new. This time, two things stood out to me. First, I thought about how frequently writers seem to use bookish, slightly introverted, observant characters - which often seem to mirror the personalities of writers themselves - as their narrators. It's as if, no matter how imaginative a writer may be, they still need to enter their stories through someone who is similar to them. I'm not sure if this makes sense, as I'm writing this in fragments, but it's something I've noticed a great deal lately.

The other thing that came to my mind was Oates' description of Legs' time in solitary confinement. It matched up remarkably well with a New Yorker article I had just read about the use of solitary in American prisons and how depriving prisoners of human contact can distort and break even the most stubborn mind.

There's more to say, but I don't want to inundate anyone's email with more of my half-formed thoughts and ramblings.

I was approximately 50 pages from the end when it dawned on me that this book was not grounded in true events or characters. There was something in Oates's writing that led me to believe it was, despite the fact that it was not stated anywhere. However, these "confessions" felt so genuine and sincere that I simply assumed it was based, even if loosely, on the newspaper stories of a real girl gang. (After all, the town is fictional!) Foxfire burns and burns

I'm seriously considering getting a Foxfire tattoo, and it seems like nothing short of a miracle will stop me at this point.

Now, if you happen to be a grammar enthusiast who is overly particular about every little detail, then this might not be the story for you. In fact, perhaps you should just avoid all forms of fiction altogether and simply immerse yourself in the dictionary.

But here's an update for you: I went ahead and got that tattoo after all. It's now a permanent part of my body, a symbol that holds some sort of significance for me. Whether it was a wise decision or not, only time will tell. But for now, I'm happy with my choice and ready to embrace whatever comes next with this new addition to my body art collection.

I had never come across Oates in my readings before, and now finding her in the words of Maddy-Monkey and the gestures of Legs has been a decisive encounter.

It is the story of a female gang in the States in the 50s, a gang that wants to fight against the male, against men, and ends up behaving exactly like the same men, in their violence, in their hooks, in their tricks.

It is a hard and delicate book at the same time. A dramatic story with a happy ending, in a sense.

A girl who believes in an ideal and fights to obtain it, even if the means are not the right ones.

A girl who loves but does not forgive.

And around her, her subjects, many other girls who want to imitate her, want to be like her, want her affection, want to be her.

And they wait for her when she is not there, they prepare for her return.

They will be able to live their lives completely only when she disappears.

It is hard to read, it seems that evil and love are intertwined in a double thread and that there cannot be one without the other.

When then the threads are inevitably unraveled, finally it is understood that that intertwining was an illusion...

Fire truly serves as the ideal symbol for this narrative.

It was frenzied, all-consuming, untamed, terrifying, and utterly unstoppable.

The story had such a powerful hold that attempting not to complete a page or even a single sentence was almost an insurmountable task.

Even when the disturbing fears, harsh realities, and haunting memories of female existence seemed to be glaring back at me, I couldn't tear myself away.

Overall, this is not a piece that should be read in a public setting or prior to engaging with others.

It has the potential to deeply affect one's state of mind and perhaps make interactions a bit more challenging.

The intensity of the story, represented by the symbol of fire, is simply too overwhelming to be dealt with casually.

It demands one's full attention and emotional investment, and should be approached with caution.

This is the second Joyce Carol Oates book that I have delved into.

I was truly hoping to fall head over heels in love with it, given the captivating plot and concept - a girl gang set in the 1950s.

However, the writing style for the majority of the book was rather scattered. It consisted of such long run-on sentences lacking proper punctuation that it somewhat disrupted my immersion in the story.

Yet, it was evident that this style was deliberate, as the structure of most of the narrative was intended to mimic journal entries. Nevertheless, it prevented me from being completely absorbed.

Despite the writing style, there were instances of truly gorgeous language and imagery. The story itself was a complex tapestry, with parts that were compelling and tragic, while others were hopeful and beautiful.

This is a profound exploration of female friendship, love, and what it meant to be an independent woman in the 1950s. There are indeed horrifying scenes of sexual assault and abuse, but there are also uplifting moments that showcase the unbreakable bonds between the girls in the Foxfire gang. (And of course, there is racism, as it was the 1950s.)

Mostly, this story is about the dreams and aspirations of one girl gang, who were fiercely loyal to each other above anyone else until their fateful end. I adored that aspect of it, and I also loved the characters within the gang.

I might even watch the movie adaptation (which, not surprisingly, stars Angelina Jolie). So far, I have developed a genuine liking for Joyce Carol Oates as an author. I have several other books by her sitting on my shelf, waiting to be discovered, and I am eager to see how her writing style varies in each one.

Joyce, you really hit me right in the heart with this novel!

It has now become my favorite among all your works, right after Blonde.

The story is so captivating and engaging that I couldn't put it down once I started reading.

The characters are vividly portrayed, and their emotions and struggles feel so real.

You have a unique way of writing that draws the reader in and makes them feel like they are a part of the story.

Every page is filled with beautiful prose and deep insights into the human condition.

I can't wait to see what you come up with next, Joyce. You are truly a talented writer, and I'm looking forward to reading more of your amazing works in the future.

At first, the language in this story seems quite complicated. There are many words and expressions that might be unfamiliar to the reader. However, as one progresses through the story, they gradually get used to it.

The story itself is truly bizarre, interesting, and unusual. It takes the reader on a journey through a world that is full of surprises and unexpected twists. The plot is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

One of the highlights of the story is the well-developed characters. Each character has their own unique personality, motives, and backstory. They are all very believable and the reader can easily empathize with them. The interactions between the characters add depth and complexity to the story, making it even more enjoyable to read.

Overall, this is a great story that is definitely worth reading. Despite the initial language barrier, it is well worth the effort to persevere and explore the strange and wonderful world that the author has created.

In the sleepy and itchy American province of the 1950s - Hammond, New York - five girls, between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, founded an all-female gang. Legs is the natural leader, intelligent and rebellious, audacious and volcanic in the ideas she wants to realize. Next to her is Maddy "Monkey", small and with a monkey-like face, who will be the gang's chronicler and the narrator of the novel; then Rita, short and plump, Goldie "Bum Bum", and Lana. Five not very beautiful girls, in fact, marginalized, victims at school of the sexism of their classmates, who in Foxfire - the name of the gang - find friendship, redemption, independence, freedom.

The initiation ceremony of this blood sisterhood involves a tattoo on the shoulder and a collective binge, the rules are ironclad, betraying is forbidden, Foxfire above all else, more than life.

The first exploits against men who deserve humiliation and punishment, but also ideally against the injustices and deformities that surround them, are the subject of gossip and scandal in the city; inevitably, after so much daring, the first troubles with the law follow. Legs knows the reformatory for several months, then the decision to live all together (old and new adepts) in an old farm, with the need for money to maintain it leads to hooking the usual enemy, the capitalist and oppressing man, to get money. The big million-dollar heist accelerates the inevitable end of the fellowship. Even the friendships within Foxfire, including the strongest ones, have begun to crack, inevitably that "all for one" that made them feel invincible is gone and the girls take their own path. There is only the memory of when they walked bravely down the street in their "uniform" or in their crazy car races (and one of these ideally closes their story).

A thrilling novel told with verve, which avoids many clichés; one often smiles in the face of their brilliant adventures and gets angry in the face of some of the misdeeds of the adults. Well done to the writer for making them credible characters, who behind the apparent hardness hide a great need for affection. A non-banal read. Four stars.