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Liked It “A harrowing fictional account that annoyed me by leaving out or changing key details. |
Didn’t Like It“One of the strangest books I've ever read. Oates has a mesmerizing gift for prose, but the depravity and squalor of Marilyn Monroe's life as presented in this novel were both disturbing and incredible. The woman who lent me this book -- thrust it upon me, more accurately -- told me earnestly,...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“no audio CD version available - In her most ambitious work to date, Joyce Carol Oates boldly reimagines the inner, poetic, and spiritual life of Norma Jeane Baker -- the child, the woman, the fated celebrity and idolized blonde the world came to know as Marilyn Monroe. In a voice startlingly intimate and rich, Norma Jeane..”
Catherine E wrote this review Monday, August 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Breathing Lessons begins with Maggie and Ira Moran leaving their home in Baltimore to go to a funeral a few hour’s drive away. Maggie’s childhood friend Serena has lost her husband to cancer. They drive to the funeral, and on their way back they visit their daughter-in-law, Fiona, whose marriage to their son fell apart. The whole story takes place in a day, but there are several flashbacks to the time when they first meet, to the early years of their marriage, and to the time of the dissolution of their son’s marriage.
Wendy B wrote this review Friday, May 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”“A harrowing fictional account that annoyed me by leaving out or changing key details.
Gullybogan wrote this review Wednesday, April 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The main thing that annoyed me was that Oates referred to Monroe consistently as "the Blond Actress", rather than as "the Blonde Actress".”
“One of her masterpieces!”
Julie R wrote this review Tuesday, April 7 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A Marilyn Monroe staple. Athough it's a ficitonal account, the themes of self-discorvery/redemption are universal, and consistently mesh with the factual works I've read about Monroe. A fantastic page-turner. I was unable to put it down.”
Steph F! wrote this review Saturday, February 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Another very well written book by JCO. I love her style of writing. Although it's fiction, we believe her descriptions of MM's childhood, her mother, the family she lived with as a teenager and her irresistable sex appeal even back then, the jarring take on her affair with JFK, and her loneliness despite the millions who adored her. JCO skillfully weaves drugs into the picture, and we even get a glimpse of MM's drug-induced state of mind. However, the book is much too long and gets slow at times. ”
Cheryl L wrote this review Thursday, February 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Before I decided to read this I had read a lot of mixed reviews. It seems people either loved this book or hated it, while many others found it hard to read and/or too long. I'm definitely in the loved-it group. Initially, the writing style was confusing, but after the first 50 pages or so, I sank into the writing, which had its own way of portraying mood, the confusion of Monroe, and her naive nature. From what I've seen here, I will definitely be reading more Oates.”
Angela H wrote this review Wednesday, September 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Made me more interested in a celeb that I hadn't been interested in before... I'm certainly curious about how much of this story is based on fact. I listened to an interview by Joyce Carole Oates about the book that made the read better.”
Beth G wrote this review Wednesday, July 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“j.c.o. suprises me with a dark portrait of Marilyn.”
Lacy Valentine wrote this review Saturday, May 24 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“One of the strangest books I've ever read. Oates has a mesmerizing gift for prose, but the depravity and squalor of Marilyn Monroe's life as presented in this novel were both disturbing and incredible. The woman who lent me this book -- thrust it upon me, more accurately -- told me earnestly, "I'm sure she wouldn't write it if it weren't true." Right. Because truth is the watchword of celebrity reporting.”
Anne-Marie R wrote this review Friday, May 2 2008. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
