Joyce Carol Oates: My Sister, my Love (2008)
Yet another novel about dysfunctional families and parent-child-relationships gone terribly wrong. The Wasp Factory is another recent example, but the novel My Sister, my Love reminded me the most of was the grim and haunting We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver.
This is the first novel by Oates I’ve read, allthough she’s been recommended to me several times (thanks, Ellen). And my only regret now is that I didn’t read her long ago.
My Sister, my Love is postmodernist in a modernist way. Is that possible? Post-postmodernism? Anyway, very ironic and meta, but within the frame of the narrative, and aptly written. And the story itself is gripping. It mimics the murder of Jon Benét-Ramsey, the American six year old beauty queen whose murder has never been solved, and tells a sad tale of suburbian bliss, where the children swap “meds” and beauty spells happiness. Highly recommendable.
11. januar 2010 kl. 21:37
[...] month there and, having had Joyce Carol Oates recommended to me a number of times, I bought My Sister, My Love on a whim and became an instant fan. I hope to read a few Oates’ in 2010. Other good novels [...]