Think of this book as a less dramatic version of the movie Parasite. Here, we have a money-hungry family engaged in a "game" where they deceive the rich and swindle millions from them.

However, what is lacking in these interesting characters and their ambitious schemes is any sort of culmination, climax, or resolution. It seems as if JCO's characters simply emerged from her mind and she allowed them to wander through 500 pages without having a clear direction for them. I don't believe there is any thematic offering for readers in this regard.

A few book club members proposed that the story would have been more effectively told through an unreliable first-person memoir style, and I concur. This could have added a deeper thematic layer to make everything fit together coherently.

By presenting the story in this way, the readers would have been able to experience the events from the perspective of an unreliable narrator, which would have added an element of mystery and uncertainty. It would also have allowed for a more in-depth exploration of the characters' motives and desires, as well as the themes of greed, class, and deception.

Overall, while the book has its interesting aspects, it falls short in terms of providing a satisfying conclusion and a clear thematic message. The suggested change in narrative style could have potentially enhanced the story and made it more engaging for readers.

Long, rambling, and incredibly 'wordy'. At times, it is brilliant, while at other times, it is absurd and even a little irritating.

All families are dysfunctional, but the Licht 'family' goes beyond that common trope in ways that are perhaps more memorable than most you might come across in fiction.

Is there something the author wants to convey about human nature or the family? The Lichts serve as a strange vehicle for that muddled message, and it's not always convincing.

Nor are the Gothic and mystical overtones especially effective, as they are abandoned for large portions of the novel. I believe that ultimately, the author fails to lay 'bare' the heart of any of her protagonists; they remain strange victims of an unidentified spiritual pathology.

Still, there are moments of sheer JCO brilliance in her characterizations and dialogues, as well as her dissection of the social order of the time.

However, these excursions have to compete with long passages that are rather more mundane and detailed to the point of exhaustion for the reader.

Her portrayal of late 19th and early 20th century America at the dawn of the Modern age is a more convincing effort and perhaps better than the story itself.

Yet, hers is an unrelentingly dark vision of that America, one filled mostly with unadulterated greed, rampant racism, classism, corruption, duplicity, and cynicism, culminating in (deserved?) War and Depression.

Yup, countries are dysfunctional too, just like families.

This book was extremely entertaining. I happened to read it during a vacation in South Carolina.

The part where the son's organs are delivered in pretty boxes was both fascinating and horrifying. It was such a vivid and unexpected description that it truly left a lasting impression on me.

I don't think I will ever forget that particular scene. It added an element of shock and mystery to the story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

The author's ability to create such a powerful image in my mind is a testament to their writing skills.

Overall, it was a great read that I would highly recommend to others.

I just don't like Oates. This was her third chance for me. Even though I liked this particular work better than the others I had read, I just can't seem to get into her writing style.

It's really quite frustrating because she has an extensive body of work out there. I thought for sure that with so much material, she would be able to keep me thoroughly engaged and entertained. But alas, that has not been the case.

If anyone out there has a suggestion as to which of Oates' works is the BEST, I would absolutely love to hear it. I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to like her writing. I was so hopeful that I would find that one amazing piece that would change my perspective. But so far, it hasn't happened. Maybe there's a hidden gem out there that I just haven't discovered yet.

Another one I couldn't get into.

The first few pages were so confusing that I simply couldn't enjoy the time I spent reading. I found myself unable to get into the story at all.

It was a real struggle to try and make sense of what was going on.

As a result, I ended up taking this one back to the library unfinished.

I was quite disappointed because I had been looking forward to reading it.

But unfortunately, the confusing beginning just put me off.

I hope that the next book I pick up will be more engaging from the start and allow me to fully immerse myself in the story.

Maybe then I'll be able to have a more enjoyable reading experience.

Exacting, exasperating, essential Oates.

Her work is a sumptuous and meticulous exploration of historical America during the Progressive Era. It is a time filled with graft, fraud, imposture, and murder, a complex and often dark period that she brings to life with vivid detail.

Oates also offers an acidulous skewering of American religious, political, social, and racial foibles. She doesn't shy away from exposing the flaws and contradictions within American society, using her sharp wit and incisive prose to make her point.

Yet, despite the serious nature of her subject matter, her work is also quite funny. She has a knack for finding the absurdity in even the most dire situations, injecting a sense of humor that makes her writing all the more engaging and accessible.

Overall, Oates is a masterful writer whose work is both thought-provoking and entertaining. She forces us to confront the uncomfortable truths of our past while also making us laugh along the way.

I am truly loving this book.

It has this certain charm and allure that makes me believe it will soon ascend to the ranks of one of my favorite Joyce Carol Oates books to date.

Now, granted, I haven't even read a fraction of her extensive body of work.

But there's just something about this particular book that keeps drawing me in, page after page.

The way Oates weaves her words, creates vivid characters, and constructs a captivating plot is truly masterful.

I find myself completely engrossed in the story, unable to put the book down.

It's as if I've been transported into a whole new world, one that is filled with mystery, drama, and emotion.

I can't wait to see where this literary journey takes me.

This book is indeed a rather significant departure for JCO. It presents a different side of her writing style and approach.

While it may not be my absolute favorite among all of her works, I must admit that I still have a great deal of affection for it.

The story unfolds in a unique way, captivating the reader's attention from the very beginning.

The characters are well-developed and their relationships add depth and complexity to the narrative.

Although it may not have the same impact as some of her other more renowned books, it still manages to hold its own and offer an enjoyable reading experience.

I appreciate the risks that JCO has taken with this particular work and look forward to seeing what she has in store for us in the future.

This is my very first encounter with Oates. The story is a period piece set in the early 1900s.

I'm really hoping that she deliberately chose to write in a style that was characteristic of that era. If this is her normal writing style, then I'm going to have a really tough time getting through her other books.

The book revolves around a family of con-artists who meander through life, constantly hoping to amass infinite wealth but continuously stumbling along the way. They are never honest with anyone, not even with themselves, which makes the title rather ironic.

Their plots and schemes are indeed interesting and are written with an extremely high level of detail. However, it's just a bit too much. Each individual scheme could potentially be a novel on its own.

The entire book is rather long-winded. When combined with the stylistic writing, it makes the reading experience quite monotonous. It was a difficult and long read.

Those who have a penchant for historical fiction would most definitely love it. But for me, I think I will steer clear of it in the future.

Meh.

The first half of the book really grabbed my attention. It was engaging, filled with interesting characters and a captivating plot. I couldn't put it down.

However, as I reached the second half, it felt like torture. The story seemed to drag on, the pacing became slow, and the characters lost their charm.

I found myself skimming through pages, hoping for something exciting to happen.

It's a shame because the beginning had so much potential. But by the end, I was left feeling disappointed.

I expected more from this book, especially after the promising start.

Maybe it was just a matter of personal taste, but for me, the last half really let the whole thing down.

I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to others.

It might be worth giving it a try if you like the genre, but don't be too disappointed if it doesn't live up to your expectations.

Overall, it was an okay read, but definitely not one of my favorites.

One of my all-time favorites is an experience that is truly remarkable.

It is difficult, requiring great effort and determination to overcome. The intensity of it keeps me on the edge of my seat, constantly engaged and challenged.

And it is epic in every sense of the word, with a magnitude and grandeur that leaves a lasting impression.

Whether it's a book, a movie, a game, or a personal achievement, this favorite has the power to inspire and move me.

It pushes me to my limits and makes me believe that I can achieve great things.

It is a source of motivation and a reminder that the journey is often as important as the destination.

I will always cherish this favorite and look back on it with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

It is a part of who I am and will continue to shape my future.

I am officially over J.C. Oates's lengthy, repetitive passages of quasi-poetic word salad.

This book, which is classified among Oates's "Gothic" novels, may technically be one. However, the tone of My Heart Laid Bare is not what one would anticipate from a Gothic novel. The subject matter, at least on the surface, has a bit of a Dickensian feel (con artists), but the Lichts are not jolly pickpockets. Instead, they are a family cult who become increasingly less charming and intriguing as the story unfolds.

Perhaps it is the story itself that loses its allure. It begins with a family origin story involving an ancestress who was a petty criminal and met her supposed end fleeing into a mysterious swamp after being shot for horse thievery. The story concludes with a paranoid old man with dementia who has been plotting revenge on JP Morgan and others for causing the crash of '29. I'm certain Oates had a valid reason for allowing all the magic to gradually seep out of the story, but it left me feeling disappointed.

Nevertheless, I will be pondering this story for some time to come.