First Love

I've found that folks don't fare well in Oates' novels. First Love doesn't disappoint.

Oates' visceral descriptions of evil hidden behind the veneer of religion and social hierarchy have created a horror of a novella.

Delia, divorced, brings her young daughter Josie to her cousins' unwelcoming home in upstate New York. She needs to find work and leaves Josie on her own, telling her she must 'be good.' That sets the stage for a lonely, curious child to wander around the grounds and the house.

Unfortunately she finds her cousin Jared.

Jarring and frightening.

Yet another dark Gothic novel by Oates. When I question why I keep coming back to her books, the answer is simple: Because she can tap into the underbelly and the dark side of motivation and the human condition as few other writers can.

During the 1950's, Josie is eleven years old. Her mother Delia is self absorbed and selfish. Delia leaves Josie's father at a time when few women simply did such a thing. They move to a Great Aunt's house in upstate New York where they are perceived as burdens. More concerned with self love and self obsession than the love of her daughter, Delia is blatantly neglectful of Josie.

This small, but mighty, novel packs a wicked punch with the theme of hypocrisy and betrayal.

Clean starched, intelligent 25 year show more old cousin Jared, Jr. is the darling of the family. Following in the family footsteps of a ministerial vocation, Jared is adored by all, including vulnerable young Josie.

Oates spares nothing in the raw degradation inflicted on Josie at the hands of the hypocritical seminary student.

The book is a statement about authority figures who, when perceived by society as omnipotent, take free liberty and license with those deemed less worthy. show less

First Love is a Gothic tale of one 11 year old girl's fascination with her cousin, a truly creepy mysterious 25 year old devout seminary student, and his pedophiliac relationship with her. This little edition is made creepier by the inclusion of the dark wood block illustrations by Barry Mosher.

For can you be a child, lacking a proximate adult to define you? (pg 12)

I keep thinking about this line that turned up early in a story which seems to be more about Josie's fascination (and the strange mixture of fear and fascination) with Jared, Jr. - the "adult" who makes himself most available to her - and her eventual defiance. The setting plays into the story, as it does in most Gothic tales, and there is some religious motifs at play show more also.

It's sometimes difficult to admit to liking a book with content like this, but I did like this book. There is a slow transformation in Josie that is hypnotic.

(posted March 3/2010 elsewhere on LT) show less

Joyce Carol Oates is one of my favourite authors -- even though I find some of her books difficult to read. This one tells the story of 11-year-old Josie and the abusive relationship she finds herself in with her 25-year-old distant cousin, Jared.

Josie's mother, Delia, has left her marriage and brought Josie to live with her aunt, who is Jared' grandmother. Delia is busy with a new job and finding a new man. The aunt isn't happy to have them in her home. Jared is home from seminary school because of a "nervous collapse". Jared's real issues are more serious -- he is a psychopath and pedophile.

Ms. Oats dives deep into Josie's mind with an understanding of how to portray a child. I wonder what lasting scars the events portrayed will show more leave with Josie. As always, she's created a story that will stay with me. show less

I would give this book 3.5 stars. With that said....

I fell in love with Delia, the mother, right away. Her views on life and the human mind were thought provoking and contained an ethereal beauty to it. I could only dream of ever expelling such a thought process as hers.

This then brings me to the main character of little Josie. Oates always gives her characters such life, she can delve into the human psyche and bring about some of the most intriguing characters I've ever read. Josie is another excellently told character, giving you visions through an intelligent and inquisitive 11 years old mind. It made me remember the magic the world held at such an age (and the uncertain troubles of growing up). I've read so many books depicting show more young characters such as her, but hardly any of them grasp the feeling Oates magically creates for us. She seems to get it right every time, no matter who she writes about/for. This short book is dark and disturbing and is a perfect example of the Authors ability to create realistic characters.

Although this is not one of my favorites it was still quite enjoyable. More of a short story but one that gives you chills and forces you to think about the many sides to a person. It creates the realization that one can never know someone else without seeing every side of them (and who actually shows every side of themselves?) show less

A short and very creepy tale that can be read in one sitting. It is very "gothic", bringing to mind an Ann Radcliffe, Horace Walpole, or Matthew Lewis. It is a bit disturbing as many of Oates' stories can be, so be prepared. I find the mother in the story as horrifying (if not more so) as some of the the other characters with her completely neglectful and self-centered behavior. And I loved the woodcuts by Barry Moser, they are perfect for the book.

Scary, revolting, riveting. Excellent writing! An 11-year-old girl falls under the sway of her disturbed 23-year-old cousin. He is a seminary student with bizarre tastes, and their grandmother's darling.