Reviews

Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates

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in_my_dinosaur_phase_'s review

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dark slow-paced

2.5

litteraturisten's review against another edition

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4.0

Gulp! Plöjde denna på en dag, så spännande otäck och välskriven.

annieu's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

adequate_squatch's review against another edition

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I need some time to process this book before I give it a rating. Like dang. For such a short read, it throws a lot heavy themes at you. I think I liked it.

beefmaster's review against another edition

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4.0

A rare instance where I wish this was longer

clare_tan_wenhui's review against another edition

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4.0

"Do you believe in evil? There's such a thing as soul murder. Except you can't see it, the way you see the other. There are evil people. Cruel people. People who should be punished."

From some of the less than positive reviews of this novella, I gather that some readers view the protagonists and their trifles to be entitled and juvenile, undeserving of warranting attention. However it is precisely the maturity (or lack) within that conflict, that amplifies the urgency of the question, what is the potential and capacity within us to succumb to evil? Apparently, it really doesn't take much.

a3bowles's review against another edition

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5.0

Haunting. Captivating. Erotic. Nauseating. Exciting.

I was enthralled and repulsed all at once. I frequently had to put this book down to come up for air.

I don't want to say much and give it away, but this book needs a patient and strong reader. I love J.C.O. and this book was a perfect example of the sometimes brutal and self-serving nature of human beings.