With Shuddering Fall audiobook

Genre: Literary GothicPublisher: Vanguard PressPub. Year: 1964It was such a joy to find Joyce Carol Oates’ debut novel, “With Shuddering Fall.” She is an all-time favorite author of mine. Written in 1964, when the author was in her mid-twenties, the novel does not disappoint. In a previous review of “Night-Gaunts,” 2018, I wrote that a recurring theme in her work is the abuse of women, as portrayed in “Do With Me What You Will,” 1973, “We Were the Mulvaneys,” 2002, “The Gravedigger's Daughter,” 2007, “Blonde: A Novel, 2009,” “The Sacrifice”, 2016. I have read them all. They are flawless. (I admit that when I read her memoir, “A Widow’s Story,” 2011, I was surprised to see how very ordinary her own marriage was). So I wasn’t overly surprised to read that she began her career on a theme that we have come to associate with this author— a dark tale of two lovers entwined in sexual chaosOn Oct. 25, 1964, the NY Times reviewed “Shuddering” and wrote of the female protagonist, “Karen Herz at 17 is fragilely beautiful, and, as she herself recognizes, a little “queer in the head.” Her impulses are ungovernable; her whims must be carried to the limit.” Her being queer in the head actually reads as if she may be autistic. I did wonder if Karen embraces a twisted love affair because those with childhood neurodevelopment disorders often struggle with processing social cues. I have no idea if that is how Oates meant for her character to present, but that is my take on Karen. Her born-angry 30-year-old racecar driving lover is Shar. He appears to have a death wish. There is little doubt that his violent occupation symbolizes their relationship. Karen marries Shar and things go from bad to worse. Remember the Billie Holiday song, “My Man?” “My life is just despair, but I don't care, He beats me, too, what can I do?” Well, that can be Karen singing about her man Shar. But then again, Shar’s feelings about Karen are just as bizarre. He literally cannot live with her (he never was a one-woman kind of guy) or without her (he stays since he is obsessed that he cannot bring her to sexual orgasm). There is a constant struggle of brutality and indifference between them. Although the story may revolve around sex, her prose is never porn-like. The Times reviewer also wrote, “This material is not as garish as it sounds because of the clarity, grace, and intelligence of the writing.” For Oates to pull this off at such a tender age is nothing short of amazing. However, this does not mean “Shuddering” is flawless. The story can wander off at certain times with unneeded subplots, which detract from the real tale. She was still in the process of learning her craft. So why does Oates’ unwavering theme on the abuse of women keep working for her? I believe it is her willingness to unabashedly dive into the darkest cavity of the human psyche. And let’s face it—such tales are fascinating to read. She always seems to ask the question ‘Just what is insanity?’ Aren’t we all just a little scared to find bits of ourselves in her unstable characters? You might cringe, but Oates has a unique voice and is one hell of a storyteller. Find all my book reviews at:Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...Leave Me Alone I am Reading & Reviewing: https://books6259.wordpress.com/Twitter: Martie’s Book Reviews: https://twitter.com/NeesRecord

This the first novel by Joyce Carol Oates. I read it once before in 1992 and judging from what I said about the book in my reading log, I had little idea what it was about except that the characters were like no one I had yet met in books or in life. Rereading it 27 years later I could hardly believe it was a debut novel. I do know from having read Invisible Writer, a biography of JCO by Greg Johnson, that she wrote several novels and then threw them away before even seeking publication. I also learned that she was raised in a small rural town similar to the one in this novel.She therefore did not just make up a dark story wherein an innocent 17 year old girl gets mixed up with the violent son of the crazy hermit who was a neighbor and old friend of her father. She saw lives like these around her as a child.I don't agree with the synopsis/summary on the Goodreads page but to tell you why would be to reveal too much about the plot. The girl Karen does enter into a compulsive affair with Shar, a race car driver, but her reason for doing so is buried in the first section of the story. Revenge is the main theme formed from a violent act against her father which was beyond Karen's experience of life so far. Her unwavering commitment, her lack of concern for herself, her icy control, are portrayed in scenes as chilling as anything I have read by Shirley Jackson or Carson McCullers or Flannery O'Connor.I am pleased that I took the time to reread With Shuddering Fall. I have been reading Joyce Carol Oates for many years, but sporadically and in no particular order. I hope to read all the novels in order, a large project because she is so prolific. She has devoted fans as well as readers who dislike her books with equal passion. I am one of the former. How about you?

A rather strong, solid debut novel—from my favorite writer no less!I didn’t expect to like With Shuddering Fall as much as I did—it’s no secret I’ve struggled with some of JCO’s older works—but it grabbed from the jump, never letting up. Many themes that Oates has come back to in her long career pop up here: namely, difficult relationships with parents/siblings, and the mental/sexual abuse of young girls. Oates manages to ratchet up a sense of impending doom throughout, and it mostly pays off. At times the narrative wanders around, especially in part two. I just couldn’t get into some of the boxcar racing stuff, and it doesn’t add much to the overall plot. But pacing and padding issues are to be expected from any author’s debut. I quite liked this read and I’m sure I’ll come back to it in the years ahead.

4.25/5 starsThis was a good debut novel. I’ve been meaning to read one of Joyce Carol Oates’s novels for a long time ever since I read her short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” in one of college courses. And I can say that after picking this up, I was throughly engrossed in the story. I really liked Oates’s writing style and the way she portrays her characters. I can definitely see her becoming one of my favorite authors of all time and I look forward to picking up her other novels in the future.

For Joyceans around the world, this is the novel that started it all, and I think she showed promise even then in her early 20s. Karen is 17 and obssessively in love/lust with Shar, a race car driver. His anger on the track soon tells in his relationship with Karen. Will he destroy her, or vice versa? The answer will surprise you!