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The Gothic Saga #4

My Heart Laid Bare

joyce carol oates

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Chronicles the endeavors of the Licht family--a clan of cheats, murderers, and con men--from the late eighteenth century through the 1930s, and details the moral consequences of their crimes and transgressions.

532 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1998
Series
The Gothic Saga

This edition

Format
532 pages, Paperback
Published
July 1, 1999 by Plume
ISBN
9780452280069
ASIN
0452280060
Language
English

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About the author

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joyce carol oates

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Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Her novels Black Water (1992), What I Lived For (1994), and Blonde (2000), and her short story collections The Wheel of Love (1970) and Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories (2014) were each finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She has won many awards for her writing, including the National Book Award, for her novel Them (1969), two O. Henry Awards, the National Humanities Medal, and the Jerusalem Prize (2019).
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014, and is the Roger S. Berlind '52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing. From 2016 to 2020, she was a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught short fiction in the spring semesters. She now teaches at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Oates was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2016.
Pseudonyms: Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 71 votes)
5 stars
25(35%)
4 stars
19(27%)
3 stars
27(38%)
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71 reviews All reviews
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Hudsonwt
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I'm not a fan of her.

She really confuses me.

The reason is that I find some of her works are truly excellent.

They are filled with creativity and unique perspectives that can really touch the heart.

However, on the other hand, some of her works are just awful.

They lack coherence and seem to be thrown together without much thought.

And unfortunately, this particular work is one of those that I consider to be on the bad side.

It fails to engage me and leaves me feeling disappointed.

I hope that in the future, she can be more consistent in her work and produce more of the kind that I really enjoy.

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Zora
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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While wandering around my roommate's hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts, we happened to stop in a bookstore called "The Raven". It was there that I purchased this remarkable book.

My Heart Laid Bare, which delves into the long and sordid history of the Licht family, was truly captivating. As someone who has a penchant for mysteries, scandals, and crimes, this family of con men and women held my full and undivided attention.

This book is a prime example of how the author's poetic sensibilities shine through. The prose is not only gorgeous but also intentionally confusing, making it easy to overlook crucial hints about the unfolding events. What adds to the complexity is that every character has a series of aliases.

I must admit that I really need to explore more of Oates' poetry. However, my one critique of this book is that the beginning was considerably stronger than the end. I did appreciate the collapse into insanity that Abraham faced towards the conclusion, but I found myself missing the convoluted tales of "The Game" from the earlier chapters.

I'm still grappling with the question of why this book struck such a powerful chord with me, but I'm undeniably glad that it did. It has left an indelible mark on my literary experience.
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BernieSorbet
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Damn you, depressing addictive lady.

I'm truly astonished that she isn't more frequently compared to the Faulkner school. Or perhaps she is? In my opinion, she is like Faulkner meeting magical realism. At least in my book, she and Louise Erdrich are the only ones who can skillfully weave such spells and story snippets into a novel.

Anyway, this is a novel that emerges from a series of erotic/mysterious con-artist tales. She has truly mastered a 19th-century voice of skepticism and voyeurism incredibly well. I'm barely 100 pages in, and I'm still just learning who the main characters of the book will be and what on earth is going on. But I'm completely hooked!

The way she crafts her stories is both captivating and perplexing, making it impossible to put the book down. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me as I continue to explore the pages of this fascinating novel.

Her writing style is unique and engaging, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are a part of the story. I'm excited to discover more about the characters and the plot as I read on.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a touch of eroticism and a hint of magical realism. It's a literary masterpiece that will leave you spellbound.

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aHappyPikachu
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This tale of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century escapades of a family of con artists is indeed a departure for Oates in terms of its setting. While her theme and tone may remain somewhat consistent, the backdrop of this era offers a new canvas for her to paint upon.

Oates, more renowned for her tough, tragic stories set in the contemporary world or the recent past, here seizes the opportunity presented by the sweep and turbulence of the decades around 1900. She delves into classic themes such as love, loss, ambition, envy, loyalty, betrayal, and the countless other forces that both unite and divide families.

Overall, this is a largely well-executed novel. The characters are colorful and engaging, bravely facing and attempting to capitalize on the rapidly changing times. Oates' prose, as always, is exquisite. However, I did find that the use of some of the internal/psychological/magical imagery had the opposite effect on me. Instead of enhancing the story, it seemed to pull me out of it. Additionally, I wasn't entirely satisfied with the development of some characters' storylines. Several of them felt rather truncated, leaving me longing for more depth and detail. Nevertheless, I would have been more than happy to have a longer, truly epic novel about this family. Despite its flaws, the strength of the characters and the story is evident.
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deepfiction
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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A great read!

I not only relished the process of devouring this book, but the story itself was truly remarkable! The utilization of language and the art of wordcraft were nothing short of spectacular. In one particular passage, when describing a swamp, the author unleashes a few sentences that are around 150 words each. The reader is compelled to soak in the detailed description of the surroundings all at once, and is left feeling somewhat breathless.

The story of the confidence artist and his family was incredibly engaging. By the middle of the book, I couldn't help but wonder where they would surface next! However, I was enjoying the reading experience so much that I was a bit melancholy to realize that I was already halfway through! The characters carry out their cons on multiple levels of society and across vast geographic regions, which made the book extremely interesting to peruse. The employment of the main character's children and numerous wives as pawns in the con games gave rise to memorable characters and a plot that surely kept me eagerly turning the pages.

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DreamerofDreams1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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My Heart Laid Bare is an absolute masterpiece. It is brilliantly written, with a scope that is almost biblical and a nature that is deeply poetic. This book is truly unforgettable.

I find it quite astonishing that so many reviews complain about the characters being "unlikeable." However, that is precisely the point! The scheming and deceitful Lichts have this uncanny ability to draw you into their game. They make you feel as if you are one with the players, as if you are "in" on their little secrets.

I am awarding it 4 stars instead of 5 simply because I believe JOC could have easily trimmed 100 pages from it. Nevertheless, it remains a mesmerizing read. I am eagerly looking forward to exploring the other books in her Gothic Saga. I have a feeling that they will be just as captivating and engaging as this one.
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Kikisemaru
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Another great read by Joyce Carol Oates, easily my favorite author.

Her works are always a source of inspiration and excitement for me.

This particular piece is no exception.

It is dazzling, with its vivid descriptions and engaging plot.

The complexity of the characters and their relationships adds depth and nuance to the story.

And the gothic elements give it an air of mystery and intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Joyce Carol Oates has a unique ability to create worlds that are both familiar and strange, and to draw you in and make you feel as if you are a part of them.

Her writing is powerful and evocative, and it has the ability to stay with you long after you have finished reading.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great literature.
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The513Cyclone
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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At times, this story is truly very engaging. It has the power to draw the reader in and keep them hooked. However, I did struggle with some of the characters.

The writing is of a high quality, and it manages to encompass a wide range of events from American history, spanning from the late 1800s through the early 20th century. The narrative follows a family of con artists as they navigate their way in the world.

Interestingly, the characters that I was most interested in unfortunately disappear midway through the novel. This was a bit of a disappointment as I was eager to see how their stories would unfold.

Despite this setback, the overall story still holds a great deal of charm and offers a unique perspective on a particular era in American history. It makes for an interesting read that combines elements of drama, adventure, and historical context.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and are looking for a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking.
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