- Hardcover: 326 pages
- Publisher: Ecco; First Edition edition (April 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0061704318
- ISBN-13: 978-0061704314
- Product Dimensions: 24.2 x 14.6 x 2.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,195,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Dear Husband: Stories
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Product Description
Review
"Admirers of Oates' literary fiction will find this collection a transcendent read. "Dear Husband" is likely to win Oates new fans as well. Oates' characters are masterfully rendered, but she is particularly gifted at creating a certain type: The appallingly egocentric, sometimes to the point of unwitting hostility."--Boston Herald
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
With the unflinching candour and sympathy for which Joyce Carol Oates is celebrated, the 14 stories of "Dear Husband", examine the intimate lives of contemporary: the tangled ties between generations, the desperation - and the covert, radiant happiness - of loving more than one is loved in return. A passionate bond between an adolescent son and mother has unexpected consequences. A woman is forced to realise, decades later, her childhood role in the destruction of a famous, beloved grandfather's life. A man tries to break free of the enthralling and dangerous erotic obsession of his life. In the gripping title story, Oates boldly reimagines the true-crime story of Andrea Yates, the Texas mother who drowned her children in 2001. Several stories take a less tragic turn, exploring with mordant humour the shadowy interstices between self-awareness and delusion. Dramatic, intensely rendered, and always provocative, "Dear Husband", provides an unsettling and fascinating look into the mysterious heart of America.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
My first introduction to Ms' Oates work; wasn't much struck on the first story but by number 4 realised this is absolutely brilliant writing and couldn't put it down.
These are very dark tales (the title story is an imagined letter from a true-life Texas woman who drowned her children). The two that particularly stand out for me are the atmospheric 'Magda Maria', narrated by a druggie male, about his life and his eponymous muse- later a heroin addict.
Also the traumatic 'Landfill' which will wrench the heart of any parent of a teenage kid.
These are very dark tales (the title story is an imagined letter from a true-life Texas woman who drowned her children). The two that particularly stand out for me are the atmospheric 'Magda Maria', narrated by a druggie male, about his life and his eponymous muse- later a heroin addict.
Also the traumatic 'Landfill' which will wrench the heart of any parent of a teenage kid.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
15 reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
focus on family relationships
31 Mar 2009
Format:Hardcover
These fourteen short stories focus on family relationships that appear initially normal, but turn grim when a crisis occurs. Each tale is well written and insightful; with some shocking. For example "Dear Husband" is a letter from infanticide mom Andrea Yates explaining to her spouse she did God's work when she drowned their children. "Vigilante" focuses on a drug abuser son trying to kick the habit while helping his mom avenge his father. Though some aspects of the theme has been used often by Ms. Oates, all the entries are "Special" whether it stars an autistic child devastating the lives of her caretaker parents and her ignored younger sister or a juror attracted to a charismatic defendant in "Mistrial". Women forced to make difficult decisions that fail to go as planned in "Cutty Sark," and "Landfill," or meeting the boyfriend's family in "The Glazers,", are part of "Dear Joyce Carol Oates" entreating look at the dark side of the American family.
Harriet Klausner
Harriet Klausner
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
An Extremely Satisfying Read
3 Jun 2009
Format:Hardcover
It is truly thrilling for a short story lover to be aware of Joyce Carol Oates and her ability to write the perfect short story. Contained in this amazing collection is 14 of them. Most importantly, she propels the reader into a blissful state, lost completely in the characters, dialogue and world of her storylines. Many of these tales possess themes of leaving a family or family member.
The first story, "Panic," is both frightening and heart-rending. It starts with the simplest of opening lines: "He knows this fact: It was a school bus." You will be hooked by the end of the first paragraph and will find yourself reading faster and faster, devouring each sentence quickly while not missing a single word.
The most fascinating story is "A Princeton Idyll," which ironically was published originally in The Yale Review. Through letters to her grandparents' maid, a now-43-year-old woman attempts to discover truths about her grandfather and his association with great minds of our time, such as Albert Einstein. You will not be able to help but reminisce about aspects of your life and memories of pleasant times spent with your grandparents. However, there is an underlying, ominous theme here that gets under your skin. Oates's incredible ability to tantalize readers with foreshadowing is legend. Hidden agendas, tidbits of juicy gossip and hurt feelings pervade these letters as well.
Although some of these entries are painful, deliberate and caustic, we are treated to the rare humorous story, like "Dear Joyce Carol." I won't give away the character description, but I will "leak" the scenario. Oates visits Boise, Idaho, on a book tour recently. A man who is unable to attend her talk writes to her through her publisher. All he wants is for her to autograph the picture that he cut out of the newspaper. He assumes that she will want to get to know him and his amazing life story, resulting in a novel --- and then a screenplay --- about his life. "We are Strangers across a thousand miles, and more, & how anxious I am, to hear from you."... "Hoping to hear from you very soon, your Special Friend." We learn more about him in each letter, as he becomes more anxious about receiving a response and that coveted autograph. This darkly humorous story is reminiscent of the writings of Stephen King.
The reader sees, somewhat quickly, that although someone might still be with another family member, they indeed have left them, or have been absent spiritually or emotionally. It can be a husband and wife, a mother and son, a father and daughter, or a sibling. The reader searches for a link and finds it, but not easily in some cases. In each and every case, though, it is certainly worth the hunt. DEAR HUSBAND is an extremely satisfying read.
--- Reviewed by Marge Fletcher
The first story, "Panic," is both frightening and heart-rending. It starts with the simplest of opening lines: "He knows this fact: It was a school bus." You will be hooked by the end of the first paragraph and will find yourself reading faster and faster, devouring each sentence quickly while not missing a single word.
The most fascinating story is "A Princeton Idyll," which ironically was published originally in The Yale Review. Through letters to her grandparents' maid, a now-43-year-old woman attempts to discover truths about her grandfather and his association with great minds of our time, such as Albert Einstein. You will not be able to help but reminisce about aspects of your life and memories of pleasant times spent with your grandparents. However, there is an underlying, ominous theme here that gets under your skin. Oates's incredible ability to tantalize readers with foreshadowing is legend. Hidden agendas, tidbits of juicy gossip and hurt feelings pervade these letters as well.
Although some of these entries are painful, deliberate and caustic, we are treated to the rare humorous story, like "Dear Joyce Carol." I won't give away the character description, but I will "leak" the scenario. Oates visits Boise, Idaho, on a book tour recently. A man who is unable to attend her talk writes to her through her publisher. All he wants is for her to autograph the picture that he cut out of the newspaper. He assumes that she will want to get to know him and his amazing life story, resulting in a novel --- and then a screenplay --- about his life. "We are Strangers across a thousand miles, and more, & how anxious I am, to hear from you."... "Hoping to hear from you very soon, your Special Friend." We learn more about him in each letter, as he becomes more anxious about receiving a response and that coveted autograph. This darkly humorous story is reminiscent of the writings of Stephen King.
The reader sees, somewhat quickly, that although someone might still be with another family member, they indeed have left them, or have been absent spiritually or emotionally. It can be a husband and wife, a mother and son, a father and daughter, or a sibling. The reader searches for a link and finds it, but not easily in some cases. In each and every case, though, it is certainly worth the hunt. DEAR HUSBAND is an extremely satisfying read.
--- Reviewed by Marge Fletcher
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Crises in Minature
3 May 2009
Format:Hardcover
Joyce Carol Oates is the rare author who is as successful with short stories as she is with lengthy novels. All of these beautifully crafted explorations of families in crisis could easily be expanded into the longer form, but there is a finality to each that isn't usually found in short stories. Since they address specific moments of distress, there is a natural climax and ending in each. Which leads to the fact that they are better read individually, the time broken up with lighter material, since Oates in her traditional manner gravites toward the dark side of human experience.
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