Anche in questo romanzo l'autrice riesce a catturare fin dall'inizio l'attenzione del lettore e a tenere alta la tensione nel raccontare i fatti.La vicenda si dipana e scopre i suoi lati oscuri,chiarendo a poco a poco la vicenda e rispondendo alle domande solo nelle ultime pagine, in un continuo ritorno al passato e raccontando, attraverso le voci dei vari personaggi, prospettive e sentimenti diversi.Personaggi con situazioni disagiate, con destini già segnati, padri e madri pieni di contraddizioni, che amano i figli ma non sempre sono in grado di proteggerli o esternare nel modo giusto il loro affetto.Figli costretti a difendersi dalla società impietosa e a volte, perfino dai loro stessi genitori.Un romanzo di formazione,a volte duro come un pugno nello stomaco, altre tenero e portatore quasi di una tenue speranza di riscatto per chi già fin dalle prime pagine ha il destino segnato. God, I love Joyce Carol Oates. I was wavering between a 4 or a 5 star but I have to give her my top rating. She's up there with Margaret Atwood for me. This is a very raw and brutal portrayal of a memorable cast of characters who want to escape the small town despair that hangs over their heads like a chemical haze of toxic gloom. It's almost Shakespearean as the saga unwinds in dark twists and turns. Krista is just a young teen when her dad is accused of murdering the one bright light of Sparta-the charismatic and attractive Zoe Kruller. The fact that he's having an affair with her makes him a prime suspect. This is partly Krista's story of what it's like to be a devoted daughter torn to pieces by her father's descent from family man and good guy to a suspect that's shunned no matter where he turns. The other suspect is Zoe's estranged husband, Delray, who is known for having a temper. Their son, Aaron, plummets into a very dark world as his story parallels Krista's. Their destinies are irrevocably intertwined. Gut wrenching stuff.
What do You think about Little Bird Of Heaven (2009)?
It's been awhile since I have read a book by the very prolific Joyce Carol Oates and her style of writing has not changed. In Little Bird of Heaven, she delves relentlessly into how the lives of two children are profoundly affected by the murder of the mother of one of them. They are drawn together like a moth to a flame. Her writing is gritty and at times a bit disturbing as she describes the disintegration of these two family units while also exploring racial tensions between Caucasian and Native American families in upstate New York. Mostly I enjoyed it but at times it was a bit much for me.
—Sheera
This was my first Joyce Carol Oates book so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. She uses what I'll call a very romanticized stream of consciousness style of writing that I enjoyed at first, but by the time I got to the second half of the book told from Krull's perspective I was completely over it. I detested the ending of the book, which I won't spoil for people, but is already spoiled on its own. I demoted the book rating to two stars instead of 3 because of it. I plan on reading through reviews to see what, if any, of her other books I should attempt.
—Shay
Dark & violent but also hopeful; very well written.
—boo
