Two by Joyce Carol Oates...

In the month of June I also read two books by Joyce Carol Oates: The Museum of Dr. Moses – Tales of Mystery and Suspense and Beasts.  Both of these were library books that have since been returned; hence, the reviews will be brief.

The Museum of Dr. Moses (2007) is not for readers who enjoy happy endings; however, if you enjoy Stephen King, you should add this book to your “to be read” list.  These stories had all been previously published in journals and magazines.  I am giving away nothing by including my quick notes on each story: “Hi! Howya Doin!” A friendly runner, “Suicide Watch” Father, son and missing grandson, “The Man Who Fought Roland La Starza” And his affair with the narrator’s mother & truth of his death, “Valentine, July Heat Wave” Unhappy divorce, “Bad Habits” Children of a serial killer, “Feral” Child gone bad, “The Hunter” Serial killer point of view, “The Twins: A Mystery” Mystery on two levels, “Stripping” Pedophile and former (?) victim, and “The Museum of Dr. Moses” Catharsis but is it a happy ending?

I love reading short story collections, and every story in this book was a page turner.

Beasts is a novella really – 138 pages – published in 2002.  Although I neglected to record the publisher, I do have some citations from this one and have decided to share exactly what I wrote in my journal after reading it.

“We are beasts and this is our consolation” (13).  “Trust not in appearances nor in what lies beneath” (14).

How does Oates do this?  She is such a prolific writer, and this novel hinted but did not clearly give away anything a moment too soon. 

It begins with Gillian jolted into a memory, not a confession:  “This is not a confession.  You will see, I have nothing to confess” (3).  And that one word, you, turns a simple first person memory into second person, if only briefly, and brings the reader into the novel as a witness to the memory.  Marvelous.

Two books I listened to...

I am definitely behind in my book blogging and will begin with the two I listened to most recently: The Red Garden by Alice Hoffman and A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life by Jon Katz.  Both books are excellent reads that deserve space on my library shelves.

Alice Hoffman’s novel tells the story of a small town in Massachusetts from its founding through the present day.  It is a series of interwoven short stories all of which involve the Red Garden.  Having listened to it, I cannot offer citations; however, as I was listening to the narrator read, memories resurfaced of what I loved about Here on Earth, Green Angel, and Turtle Moon.  Hoffman creates a world with characters you want to know, understand, or wish you had never met.  Her characters say or think things that do far more than advance the story.  Her writing forces you to savor a page, to read a passage more than once – not because it is difficult to understand but for the richness of the ideas and the language in which they are expressed.  I regret having given away two of her books and will be looking for this one.

Jon Katz’s memoir, A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life, is an extraordinary story of a border collie that changed the world of Jon Katz.  There are sad moments in the book; my sister Penny has vowed not to read any more books about animals because they always make you cry.  They may bring me to tears; however, I identify with the author and learned much from his experiences.  In his desire to understand Orson and help him be a happy dog, Katz took him for obedience training, sheep herding lessons, consulted multiple veterinarians, and animal communicators.  I agree with the steps he took and the decisions he made.  Another reader may disagree; that’s OK.  His explanations and meditations on aspects of life are what make this book a keeper – one I need to actually read.  The discussion of ecstatic places is important to an understanding of life.  I will never forget Orson, Rose, or Jon Katz.