Joyce Carol Oates’ latest book is a collection of 14 stories, all of which are guaranteed to unsettle readers with their chilling and melancholy subject matter. From mothers who commit infanticide to a drug addict’s frightening desires, the characters in “Dear Husband” illuminate the strange and oftentimes unusual bonds which bring family members together. Publishers Weekly says, “Throughout the collection, Oates seamlessly enters the minds of disparate characters to find both the exalted and depraved aspects of real American families.” And Booklist says,
The collection is wintry and dark, best read by the emotionally stable, as Oates spirals into the realities of death and the sadness of life. Although the stories are unsettling, Oates maintains intimacy and empathy with her characters.
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