I haven't read any of Joyce Carol Oates. What would be a good book to start?

[terrya]

Admittedly, I haven't read any of her books.

What book of hers would you recommend as a starting point?

Thanks in advance.

[NV Whino]

1. She has such an incredible body of work

I would say just go to the library and jump in any old place. The only thing I would not recommend is her short shorts that she did in the early 90s (I think).

[Fovea]

2. I think maybe Expensive People might be a good starting point

http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780812976540

[abluelady]

3. Any Book You Pick Up of Hers is Worthwhile

I think my favorite was "American Appetites." I read it over ten years ago and I still think about it!

[flamingyouth]

4. So many great books, wow.

I'm kind of jealous of you. :D

Off the top of my head, some personal favorites are "Them," "Foxfire: Confessions of a Girl Gang," "My Heart Laid Bare," "Because It Is Bitter, And Because It Is My Heart," but honestly, you could just start anywhere, as noted upthread. Happy reading. :hi:

[terrya]

5. Have you read "Blonde"?

I was perusing the local Barnes and Noble this afternoon, and saw a copy of it. I ALMOST picked it up.

I've read Roth, Updike, Bellow...but have yet to read anything of Ms. Oates. This will be recitified. :-)

Thanks for the recommendations!

[pitohui]

7. i've read "blonde" and that's a good one too

it's the marilyn monroe story

i like her better than roth, updike, or bellow, personally

[flamingyouth]

8. "Blonde" is good.

I read that while I was vacationing in Santa Monica. :)

[pitohui]

6. "Because It is Bitter and Because it is my Heart"

wonderful wonderful wonderful book!

[SmokingJacket]

9. It's all pretty much exactly the same.

Except for a few crazy outliers, like the Zombie one.

[USA_1]

10. ''Boxing''

http://www.amazon.com/Boxing-Joyce-Carol-Oates/dp/0880013850


She is very perceptive when it comes to the sweet science.

[flamingyouth]

11. Huh - I didn't know she'd written about boxing.

I'll have to pick that up; I love books about boxing.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. Yes

that's one of my favorites. She's a huge boxing fan.

[RetroLounge]

12. I really enjoyed We Were The Mulvaneys

A bit depressing but great writing.

Because It Is Bitter and Because it is My Heart is on my To-Read shelf at home.

I have several of her books here in the store, if you are interested.


What I Lived For
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=9200575796&qauth=oates&quserid=XENITHBS&qsort=&page=1


Heat and other Stories
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=9247542160&qauth=oates&quserid=XENITHBS&qsort=&page=1

Marya
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=8902879086&qauth=oates&quserid=XENITHBS&qsort=&page=1


Man Crazy
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=9001758923&qauth=oates&quserid=XENITHBS&qsort=&page=1


Because it is Bitter and Because it is my Heart
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?invid=8986546131&qauth=joyce+carol+oates&quserid=XENITHBS&qsort=&page=1

:hi:

RL

[MonkeyFunk]

13. Hard to say

she's so varied.

She also writes enjoyable mystery/suspense novels under the names Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.

[bluetrain]

15. I'll second Foxfire and Blonde and add her short story collection The Wheel of Love. /nt

[RetroLounge]

16. Just got another Oates book in...

Haunted: Tales of the Grotesque
by Oates, Joyce Carol
Trade paperback. Plume Books (1995)
Good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 320 p. Audience: General/trade.



http://www.alibris.com/booksearch.detail?bid=9316277311

:hi:

RL

[Mist]

17. Three of her historical novels that I've enjoyed: A Bloodsmoor Romance,

The Mysteries of Winterthurn, and Bellefleur.

[Jade Fox]

18. "Them"

I read it a long time ago, but it blew my mind. Warning: very depressing.

[Killarney]

19. I enjoy her short stories as well.

She has a few compilations to choose from.

[Trigger Hippie]

20. I really loved Bellefleur and them.

Bellefleur is a magical realism type of book and them has some great characters. Enjoy! :)