This novel presents a fictionalized portrayal of an all-female gang that emerges in a working-class community located in upstate New York. The gang, known as Foxfire, is established by a group of girls who have all endured alienation and a lack of parental attention.

These girls share a profound sense of being marginalized and deprived of any real social advantages or meaningful relationships due to their age, gender, economic standing, and family circumstances. The gang is formed and initially employs public humiliation and minor acts of violence to exact justice on local men who have abused the privileges associated with their gender. However, their activities rapidly escalate, and it becomes evident that the gang is headed down a path of self-destruction.

The book was initially a bit challenging to engage with as it is written in the tone and style of one of the gang's members. Nevertheless, the writing gradually becomes captivating. Oates truly embodies the tone and spirit of a teenage girl gang. While this aspect contributes to the initial difficulty in getting into the book, it ultimately results in an engrossing narrative. It is remarkable how anti-male Foxfire's violence is, and the book seems to imply that this is one of the numerous social responses to a world where girls are treated as expendable objects, sexualized, and undervalued. Indeed, Oates encourages the reader to view the gang and its activities as part of a continuum of responses that individuals in a depressed, sexist, and emotionally alienated society might generate. The book serves as both a critique of the world that made Foxfire possible and a narration of the gang's activities. While Oates does not condone the violence, she clearly attributes broader responsibility to the world in which these girls exist.

Joyce Carol Oates is truly the Lon Chaney of literature, a writer with a remarkable ability to assume a thousand voices.

Her work has had a profound impact on me. The sociopathic journalising in ZOMBIE sent shivers down my spine, while the purposely pompous and sometimes Gothic narrative of THE MYSTERIES OF WINTERTHUN delighted me.

In Maddie Wirtz, a professional stargazer and former girl-gang member, Oates has once again crafted a unique voice to tell a powerful and hard-hitting story.

The girls of FOXFIRE are teenagers from the wrong side of the tracks, banding together to strive for self-reliance, strength, and independence from male support and attention. These ambitions are especially out of step in the 50s blue-collar community they are attempting to escape.

Their leader, the idealistic, fierce, and uncompromising 'Legs' Sadovsky, is an unforgettable character. She is a naive yet knowing, charismatic person trying to set things right and be herself in a world that has no patience for either righting wrongs or true selves.

However, in the end, it is Maddie's voice that carries the story. Oates brilliantly captures the sideways eloquence of someone who is intelligent, has lived through experiences that have marked her with a certain wisdom and otherness, has lost the love of her life but lived to tell the tale.

She may not be a practiced writer, but she has something important to say. This immersion in a voice so un-writerly is a remarkable writerly feat, and the story itself is equally remarkable.

They even made it into a movie starring Angelina Jolie. One glance at the film posters was enough to burn my eyes out.

I don't understand the consistently low ratings for JCO.

It seems that many people simply don't "get" her work. However, I do.

This book is truly a masterpiece that delves deep into the themes of feminism and class struggle, two subjects that are near and dear to my heart.

As a member of the working class, I can relate to the struggles and challenges depicted in the book.

I think JCO did an amazing job of capturing the essence of these issues and presenting them in a thought-provoking and engaging way.

From the bottom of my soul, I am grateful to her for writing this book.

Thank you, again, Ms. Oates. This book was truly FABULOUS. It has opened my eyes to new perspectives and made me think more deeply about the world around me.

I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in feminism, class struggle, or simply a good read.

I truly despised this extremely whiny and self-righteous story that was centered around girl gangs in the fifties.

The narrative seemed to be filled with an excessive amount of complaining and a sense of unjustified superiority.

It failed to capture the essence and complexity of that era's girl gangs in a meaningful or engaging way.

Instead, it came across as a one-sided and rather tiresome account that did little to offer any real insights or perspectives.

I found myself constantly rolling my eyes and longing for a more interesting and well-written story that could have done justice to the subject matter.

Overall, this particular tale about girl gangs in the fifties was a major disappointment and left me with a negative impression.

The other thing is memory. If it's not a museum of things condemned to oblivion, then that's why History exists. You must work hard to invent History. To show fidelity to the marked things that happen to you, to record days, dates, events, names, places. Not to rely only on your fading memory, just like a Polaroid photograph, where you see how the memory disappears right before your eyes, as if time itself were retreating.

Memory is a fragile yet crucial aspect of our lives. It holds the key to our past experiences and shapes our understanding of who we are. Without memory, we would be lost in a sea of forgetfulness, unable to learn from our mistakes or cherish the beautiful moments. Just as a museum preserves the artifacts of the past, we must strive to preserve our memories. By documenting our lives, we create a tangible record that can be passed down through generations. This record becomes a part of History, a testament to our existence and the events that have shaped us.

However, memory is not always reliable. It can fade, distort, or even disappear completely. That's why it's important to not solely rely on our memory but to also seek out other sources of information. We can consult historical documents, talk to witnesses, or use technology to record our experiences. By doing so, we can ensure that our memories are accurate and complete. In conclusion, memory and History are intertwined. We must work hard to preserve our memories and create a true and accurate account of our past. Only then can we move forward with a better understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

FOXFIRE is a rather unique white girl gang. At its helm is a radical feminist leader named Legs.

However, it's interesting to note that not all the members of this gang truly meet the radical feminist standards. In fact, most of them are unfortunately racist.

But Legs herself is a force to be reckoned with. She developed a powerful feminist analysis at the young age of 14. She clearly identifies men, whether they are capitalists or not, and also some women such as prison guards and those who have been co-opted by the patriarchy as the enemy.

Legs passionately espouses female solidarity. Under her leadership, FOXFIRE undertakes missions that are both about exacting revenge against sexual assailants who attack women both within and outside the gang, and about waging a class war. They strive to take back the stolen wealth from the capitalists and then distribute it to those people who are in desperate need.

FOXFIRE, with Legs at its head, is thus engaged in a complex and often controversial set of activities that are deeply influenced by her radical feminist ideology.

I really liked this one.

It was like an all-girl version of Fight Club, set in 1950s New York.

The story features strong female characters who are determined, relentless, and stick to their convictions.

Although they are teenagers and some of their ideas may not be the brightest, the core of the story is female empowerment in the face of sexism and going against societal norms.

It shows how these young women are willing to stand up for themselves and what they believe in, even in a time when society was not always kind to them.

The setting of 1950s New York adds an interesting backdrop to the story, with its own set of challenges and opportunities for the female characters.

Overall, it was a great read that left me feeling inspired by the strength and courage of these young women.

This was like Reservoir Dogs meets The Virgin Suicides, and I am totally into it.

The combination of the gritty and violent world of Reservoir Dogs with the mysterious and tragic atmosphere of The Virgin Suicides creates a unique and captivating experience.

It's as if two distinct universes have collided, resulting in a story that is both intense and emotionally charged.

The characters are complex and multi-dimensional, each with their own motives and secrets.

The plot unfolds in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, constantly guessing what will happen next.

I can't get enough of this blend of genres, and I'm eagerly anticipating what comes next.

It's a truly remarkable and unforgettable piece of work that has left a lasting impression on me.

I had really hoped to have a much greater liking for this than I actually did in the end.

Content-wise, it seems to tick all the boxes. There are vigilante girl gangs, a fierce heroine, and the theme of sisterhood, among other things. However, the stream-of-consciousness narrative style has a tendency to drag, and the plot meanders and delves into too many side stories. This is all while foreshadowing a significant event throughout a large portion of the book.

Certainly, the book does have its good moments. The narration can be quite poetic at times, the characters are often admirable, and the side stories are endearing. I really loved the rituals of the girl gang and the overall combination of fierceness and naivety that runs throughout the story. But after a while, it just started to feel old. Ultimately, although the story spans several stages of life, many of the characters (except for our narrator) felt rather static and even one-dimensional by the end.

The main character of this story is Legs. She is part of a girl gang in the 1950s, and there are other members with equally captivating names such as Maddy Monkey, Boom Boom, and Fireball. Their adventure is filled with excitement and drama. It's a fun read that takes you back to a different era.

Unlike the bad 90s flick, this book offers a much more engaging and enjoyable experience. It allows you to immerse yourself in the world of the girl gang and follow their exploits.

So, skip the movie and pick up the book. You won't be disappointed. You'll be entertained from start to finish and get a taste of the 1950s through the eyes of these colorful characters.

The title and the cover of the fourth volume intrigued me. The author's name was not unfamiliar to me, and I was aware of her feminist commitment.

With this book, she pays a powerful tribute to girls and women, to those who are not defended, to those who are left aside, to those who try to survive alone.

She constructs a gang of girls, tough adolescents, imagined all in angles, girls who no longer want to be counted out, who claim their place in a world that privileges only men and boys, whether in gangs, among the poor or the rich.

These girls, led by a leader who is one of those to be admired, will change the world, change their world and give themselves the importance they deserve.

And what about Legs, this charismatic leader who seems never to doubt and always to know. It is she who leads the girls, it is she who knows, it is she who liberates them. She thinks and reflects on her own, she remains strong, intelligent and determined, and she shares her love with all these women who are her sisters, with all the underprivileged who are her family, generosity ingrained in her being.

Foxfire is a family. Unconventional, extreme, whose daily life may elude us but it is a beautiful family. Foxfire is also a bit of a cult, so much does its power attract, so much does its reputation frighten.

This reading is a success. I loved, adored following a book in which all the charismatic characters are girls, women. I liked that the focus is on them and that boys and men are almost excluded. The man appears in an unflattering light, whether he is a father, a family member or a rival, because the strength of the girls overwhelms them and frightens them. They have stopped being silent, they have stopped being submissive, they are tired of not having their share of the cake, and they have deconstructed the gender stereotypes that arbitrarily choose the tastes, rights and duties of each according to their sex.

And I rebelled with my sisters of Foxfire.

Foxfire is a captivating novel that delves into the lives of a girl gang in the 1950s. The characters, burdened by difficult backgrounds and troubled family situations, find solace and a sense of belonging within the gang. Together, they take on the challenge of succeeding where the legal system has failed them. However, the plot unfolds at a somewhat sluggish pace, and the writing style is, to put it mildly, unique. At times, it can be enjoyable, but other times, the rambling sentences and lack of punctuation can be overwhelming. On the other hand, there are moments when the punctuation forces the reader to follow a particular flow, which can be a fascinating experience. Additionally, the novel lacks positively depicted male characters, but this is not necessarily a drawback. Written from Maddy's perspective, based on her diary entries, it reflects her belief that men are the enemy. Overall, Foxfire is an extraordinary book that offers a different reading experience. Although I didn't love it due to the writing style and pacing, I'm glad I read it and would highly recommend it.

3.5 stars