Emi B. (wantonvolunteer) - , reviewed on 10/4/2009 + 84 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 3

I've always loved Joyce Carol Oates, and chose this book of hers to read for its title, and its cover. What I expected and hoped for was a story about a mom, say a mom of twin toddlers, who runs away on a fabulous adventure, is missed by all, and returns triumphant. But this story is about a 31 year old single woman named Nikki Eaton who is too busy living her own life to be bothered with her mother's, and then her mother is dead and Nikki suffers debilitating guilt for a year. So that was jarring.

Oates does such a beautiful job on the character of the mother Gwen Eaton, I actually grieved for her. I also enjoyed the bitchy bossy older sister Clare, whose marriage and children and luxurious home made Nikki feel small in comparison; and the sisters' complicated relationship and constant sparring was so lifelike.

My only real problem with the book was the main character Nikki. I just didn't get how she was perceived... Oates seemed to be stressing Nikki's sexiness, but the way she described her fashion-sense, I just kept cringing for her (braless in t-shirts, platform translucent glitter shoes, skin tight white mini skirt!). I have to be honest and admit I kept picturing her in big round purple Joyce Carol Oates spectacles, eek.

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