Powerfully written, Joyce Carol Oates truly showcases a remarkable writing style.

It's difficult to precisely define, yet it flows with such ease and naturalness.

She masterfully captures the painful and awkward eagerness within Monica's thoughts.

At the same time, Sheila is one of those captivatingly unique characters.

She is cruel and beautifully selfish, making it hard for the reader not to be torn between loving and hating her.

It's no wonder that Monica experiences the same conflicted emotions.

This is a short yet well-written book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

However, disturbingly obsessive friendships between women often seem to have a rather dismal outcome.

It's a pattern that never seems to change, unfortunately.

Nevertheless, the story still manages to draw the reader in and keep them engaged until the very end.

Joyce Carol Oates is truly a remarkable and fantastic writer.

It can be argued that she is a master of the literary craft, with her ability to create vivid characters and complex storylines.

However, my only issue when reading her works is that each story seemingly inevitably involves some form of physical or sexual trauma.

This can be quite disturbing and may turn some readers away.

Nevertheless, if one is able to look beyond that aspect and focus on the other elements of the story, such as the exploration of love between two people, then there is much to enjoy.

In fact, I would highly recommend her works to those who are willing to take on the challenge and explore the depth of human emotions and experiences that she presents.

Despite the uncomfortable subject matter at times, her writing is powerful and thought-provoking, and can offer valuable insights into the human condition.

Although Joyce Carol Oates writes beautifully, most of the time I found "Solstice" dull and confusing with little plot progression.

The story seemed to meander along, lacking a clear direction or purpose. However, the complexity of the characters was mesmerizing enough to make me want to keep reading.

Monica's struggle to immerse herself in activities in hopes of finding meaning in her life was familiar enough to be disturbing. It was as if I could see myself in her, constantly searching for something that might never be found.

Unfortunately, the story ended in the midst of what appeared to me to be the main climax. Just as things were starting to heat up and I was on the edge of my seat, it suddenly stopped. This left me feeling dejected and disappointed.

I had invested so much time and energy into reading "Solstice," hoping for a satisfying conclusion, but was left with a sense of unfinished business. Despite its flaws, though, I still appreciate Oates' writing style and the depth of her characters. Maybe I'll give another one of her works a try in the future.

It was an interesting story of friendship, perhaps even more than friendship.

The characters seemed to have a special connection that was captivating and full of potential.

But then, out of nowhere, the story fell off a cliff at the end.

It was as if all the build-up and anticipation had been for nothing.

What the hell happened? I couldn't help but wonder.

Being heartbroken doesn't typically give you a 104 degree fever or chronic diarrhea.

It was a strange and unexpected turn of events that left me totally confused.

I wanted to know more about what led to this sudden and drastic change in the story.

Was there a hidden secret or a misunderstanding that caused everything to fall apart?

Without further explanation, it was difficult to make sense of it all.

The ending left me with more questions than answers and a sense of dissatisfaction.

I hope that in the future, the author will provide more clarity and closure to this otherwise engaging story.

The plot of ‘Solstice’ unfolds in a rather loose and aimless manner. It follows the friendship between the beautiful yet mediocre Monica Jensen and the Falstaffian artist, Sheila Trask. Sheila's eccentricities and haphazard lifestyle serve to liberate Monica from the sense of mediocrity that has clouded her life. From her passionless and banal marriage to her lackluster career as a teacher, Sheila becomes the guiding light for Monica to navigate through the sea of conventionality that surrounds her. She jolts Monica out of the steady undulations that have been keeping her afloat.

However, Monica soon finds herself drowning in the passionate friendship, or perhaps it is a romance, that develops between her and Sheila. As the two become embroiled in an unusual relationship, its foundation never truly convinces.

A pale and almost translucent atmosphere pervades the novel, similar to one of the paintings Sheila bequeaths to Monica. The atmosphere evoked by Glenkill, where the novel is set, is one of serenity and steadiness, interrupted only by the acerbic behavior of its most (and only) famous resident, Sheila. In many ways, Glenkill symbolizes both Monica and the novel: nice enough, with a few pleasant passages, but ultimately mediocre and somewhat forgettable.

Solstice delves deep into the complex themes of co-dependence, obsession, and the brink of insanity. Sheila and Monica, initially friends, find themselves increasingly drawn into each other's orbits, spending perhaps an unhealthy amount of time together. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that their relationship is far from normal, and something has to give.

Oates masterfully portrays this downward spiral of mutual obsession. In the beginning of the book, I felt a palpable sense of tension, as Oates writes in a slightly off-kilter manner, similar to how a Hitchcock film might capture a seemingly normal relationship. However, as the story unfolds, this tension gradually gives way to a feeling of treading water and a desire to simply reach the end to discover what happens. While the central premise of the book is interesting, it does seem to be drawn out a bit too much. Towards the end, Oates feels the pressure to wrap things up, and as a result, events unfold in a blur. If the ending had been more drawn out (and it is actually quite good considering its brevity) and the middle less elongated, this could have been an even better book. It has the feel of a novella that has been stretched to novel length.

I'm not entirely sure if some parts of the book are out of place or if the intense focus on the relationship between Sheila and Monica makes these sections seem irrelevant. There is a fair amount of name-checking of modern art and literature figures, but it doesn't quite feel natural. Oates's prose is competent and effectively mimics the characters' states of mind, but it lacks that certain something that would make it truly memorable. Overall, it's a middle-of-the-road book.

Unrelated note: I purchased my copy of this book at a garage sale. The paperback cover features a picture of two 1980s-looking women staring vacantly, with the word Solstice in silver embossed cursive. I can easily imagine some housewife picking it up, thinking it was a trashy romance novel. It just goes to show that you should never judge a book by its cover.

2 stars - this book went nowhere.

The premise was good, but it did not deliver.

It was a hard read with no real outcome.

From the very beginning, the book had an interesting concept that promised to take the readers on an exciting journey. However, as the story progressed, it seemed to lose its direction.

The characters were not well-developed, and it was difficult to connect with them on an emotional level.

The writing style was also quite dense, making it a struggle to get through the pages.

Despite several attempts to find something redeeming in the book, it ultimately failed to satisfy.

There was no clear resolution or conclusion, leaving the readers feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

In conclusion, this book had great potential, but unfortunately, it did not live up to it. It is a prime example of how a good idea can go wrong without proper execution.

I truly loved this novel that delved into the themes of connection, friendship, obsession, and love.

As I was reading, I had the distinct feeling that I could relate to the emotional landscapes that the characters traversed.

The characters in the story often refrained from fully exploring their emotions or dissecting what was transpiring between them.

However, perhaps it is precisely this aspect that lends an air of authenticity to the narrative.

It made the story feel more like real life, where people often struggle to express and understand their own feelings.

After finishing this novel, I am absolutely determined to read more works by this talented author.

I am eager to see how they continue to explore these complex themes and develop their characters in future books.

Their unique writing style and ability to create such engaging and relatable stories have left a lasting impression on me.

I can't wait to embark on more literary adventures with this author.

Two truly remarkable female characters grace the pages of this story. They are complex, multi-faceted, and bring a certain charm and allure to the narrative. However, despite their engaging personalities, the plot seems to fall a bit short. There are moments of excitement and anticipation, but it fails to fully develop and explore all the potential storylines.

The pacing could have been improved, with more time dedicated to building the tension and driving the story forward. As a result, the ending feels rushed and unsatisfying. It doesn't provide the closure and resolution that the reader is hoping for.

Overall, while the female characters are a strong point of the story, the lackluster plot and underwhelming ending prevent it from reaching its full potential. With some revisions and improvements, it could have been a truly outstanding piece of work.

I truly love Joyce. Her works always have a certain charm that pulls me in. This particular piece was no exception. From the very beginning, I was hooked. The story unfolded in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what would happen next.

However, as I reached the end, I found myself a bit confused. I just didn't get it. The conclusion seemed rather abrupt and left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I was expecting a more satisfying resolution, something that would tie up all the loose ends and make everything clear.

But perhaps that's the beauty of Joyce's writing. She often challenges her readers and makes them think. Maybe there is more to the ending than meets the eye, and I just need to read it again and analyze it further to fully understand its significance. Despite my confusion, I still appreciate the overall experience of reading this work and look forward to exploring more of Joyce's writings in the future.

I thought from the publisher's summary that this was going to be a dark lesbian thriller. However, it turned out to be really just about having a bad friend with untreated bipolar disorder.

I think I would have liked it better if it had ended with any kind of character growth or realization by Monica that the relationship was unhealthy. Oates attempts to draw us into the two main characters' folie a deux, making us feel crazy ourselves. In my opinion, this romanticizes mental illness.

All of this I would've forgiven if it were explicitly gay instead of a subtextual "obsession." There is a content warning for several threatening/sexually violent encounters Monica has with men.

The story seems to fall short of the expectations set by the summary. Instead of a thrilling exploration of a lesbian relationship, it focuses on the turmoil caused by a friend's untreated mental illness. The lack of character growth and the romanticization of mental illness are disappointing aspects.

If the author had made the gay aspect more explicit, it might have added a different layer to the story and made it more engaging. Additionally, the content warning for the violent encounters with men is an important note for readers.

Overall, while the book has some interesting elements, it fails to fully deliver on its potential.

One of the saddest novels I have ever read is truly a heart-wrenching experience.

I found myself continuously waiting for something truly revelatory to occur, something that would perhaps bring a glimmer of hope or a lesson to be learned. However, to my great disappointment, the novel simply ended in a state of stark and unrelenting sadness.

There was no lesson to be gleaned from this sadness, no hope to hold onto, and no explanation provided for the depth of this despair.

Throughout the entire book, I had an insatiable craving for more from the character of Monica. I wanted to understand her better, to get closer to her, but the distant third-person narrator seemed to keep us at an arm's length.

This distance only served to make the sadness at the end feel that much more devastating and overwhelming.

If it weren't for the beautiful, haunting writing that carried me through this book, I'm not entirely sure how I could have managed to get through it.

The prose was so captivating that it almost made up for the emotional turmoil that the story put me through.

Despite the sadness and the lack of resolution, I have to admit that this novel left a lasting impression on me.

It made me think about the nature of sadness and how sometimes, in life, there are no easy answers or happy endings.

It also made me appreciate the power of good writing and how it can draw us into a world and make us feel things we never thought possible.

Overall, while this novel was a difficult read, it was also a memorable one that I will not soon forget.