A look at the desperate search for love, meaning, and a way out of poverty for a family: mother, son, and daughter. Each has their own approach, each marginally successful and ever hopeful. ( )

Bit of a depressing read. Murder, prostitution, child abuse and continuing decline of an American family. Detroit doesn't fare to well either. Writing is excellent at times though. ( )

Totally depressing. If I wasn't reading it for my book club I would given it up at page 50 or so. Instead I slogged through the whole depressing mess. ( )

I started reading this book on a couple of prior occasions. Now, I've read it through; and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oates really creates in-depth characters. The reader begins to really care about what happens. Very good book! ( )

Joyce Carol Oates' "them" is a really engrossing novel, with so many layers that I think I would get even more out of it if I read it a second time.

The novel is set mainly in the slums of Detroit, following three members of the Wendall family -- Loretta and two of her children, Jules and Maureen from the 1930's to the 1960's. They live a rather downtrodden and poverty stricken life, and it's interesting to see where the years take them.

Oates' look the family was all the more interesting given her author's note indicating this story was based on people she knew.... (which she later says was just a literary device.) I liked the "us" vs. "them" set up, and how the title applies in so many ways -- to women, to the poor, to the Wendall family. Overall, this is a great book. ( )