Wild Nights is JC Oates' collection of stories on the final days of five American authors (Poe, Dickinson, Samuel Clemens, Henry James & Hemingway). Oates frequently explores the disparity between the public perception & the real life of the author (esp in the case of Clemens & Hemingway where they are performing the parts of Twain & Papa in public). There is also a great deal of ambiguity in each story. The first one, Poe Posthumous could (CONT)
vivastory be interpreted as a science experiment gone horribly wrong. One could also make a compelling argument that the entire story is imagined by Poe as he died from rabies. Then there is the very uncomfortable story about Twain. The collection has a fantastic preface by Oates, which is a sort of essay on the art of the short story. I loved this imaginative collection & agree with the NPR quote on the back, “The triumphant paradox here is that (CONT) (edited) 4w
vivastory in their dying Oates brings these writers ferociously back to life.“ 4w
Tkimsal Oates is sometimes challenging but, for me, always worth the effort! 4w
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vivastory @Tkimsal I haven't read her novels, but I love her short stories. 4w
LeahBergen Well, this sounds interesting! 4w
Hooked_on_books What @LeahBergen said! 4w
Branwen Okay, Joyce Carol Oates is usually such a hit or miss with me - but your review really makes me want to check this one out! 3w
vivastory @Branwen I've only read her stories which I've had a lot of luck with. Her story The Doll-Master has stuck with me years after reading it. It's one of the creepiest I've read. I also really liked the anthology she edited American Gothic 3w
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