You Must Remember This

Rating:
Summary: AN AMERICAN TREASURE
Review: I ate these words up. Joyce Carol Oate's mastery of language is at the height of it's power in "You Must Remember This". I had to stop and seep in some of her truly inspirational prose, told in such a purposeful, matter-of-fact style, just to remind myself what a gifted writer can accomplish. A sometimes grey-clouded and bountifully absorbing novel depicting the human sexual condition under the colorless factory-lined skies of her native Western New York. I can't recall another book bringing the characters to such full-fledged living form as Ms. Oates does here. From what magic does she compose the radiating brilliance, sensitivity and brutishness, innocence and shrewdness of the character Felix, an ex-boxer who spends his life gallantly seeking the happiness deprived of in childhood. It would seem only a Boxing expert could delve into the mind striking constant chords of revelation and truths and opening the reader's mind to the insights and points of view of boxing. Or the character of Enid, a troubled, too deeply sensitive high-schooler whose mysterious mind and advanced maturity may reflect Ms. Oate's own childhood genius. These pages turn as fast as a high charged suspense novel, it's low-key slowly climaxing appreciation of the human condition result in an intimate bond with the characters and human nature itself. I feared the last handful of pages, so concerned was I that something tragic would happen to these tender, fragile charaters. As a Wesstern New York native I was delighted to read the countless descriptions, some bold others suggestive of this part of New York State where factory-lined horizons, still-water lakes and gaseous colors in the sky can be beautiful. I must say I found the title and conclusion of the book a bit vague but I trust Ms. Oates discetion and understanding that I will be remembering this for quite some time.

Rating:
Summary: Big Canvas --- Flawed Result
Review: I concur with the other reviewers in general (I don't want to repeat the basic statements), but wanted to point out my defining moment of shock, not to say incomprehension, over Felix's crack-up. Why on earth did this occur? He is shown as being on top of things, when Enid has to have an abortion --- all described so well ---- and then, with no real explanation, JCO tells us "In early March it began..." Why?

Suddenly,he becomes (glibly?) like the old boxing bum he despised, and so disintegrates. The old bum is even able to spot him in a restroom and do him over(!). Sorry, but I just lost touch with the book at this point. I finished it, because so much of what had gone before was excellent. Lyle Stevick, especially. JCO certainly got inside male characters in a way most women who write do not. This was particularly so over the effect sports have on men who practise them (as opposed to sitting on their rear ends watching...). Perhaps JCO should have taken up boxing...

As you can see, I really liked the book up to the point where JCO (not Felix) loses it. I almost felt as if I was watching some other writer take over her character and proceed to write him out, sans perception. This is a vintage book, now, so I don't suppose many people will post this page, but I write FWIW and IMHO, as they say.

That said, dear potential reader, do buy it in paperback. It's worth it.

FGH

Rating:
Summary: You WILL Rember This
Review: I read this book a number of years ago and I can still remember, vividly, what the story is about--the characters--the setting. I took to watching boxing for a while after I read it, not the big title matches but the small town boys going at it dreaming of fame. Thanks to Ms. Oates' love for boxing I found a new way to see this "sport". But that is not what I remember most. I remember a character who is nothing short of a despicable, who does evil, unspeakable things and who I was made to care about. I don't think he will ever leave me...I couldn't forget him if I tried. Reading Oates can make you a more compassionate person--if you want her to our not. What a gift. Read the book, you won't be sorry you did--and, it is my guess that you too will remember this one.

Rating:
Summary: You WILL Rember This
Review: I read this book a number of years ago and I can still remember, vividly, what the story is about--the characters--the setting. I took to watching boxing for a while after I read it, not the big title matches but the small town boys going at it dreaming of fame. Thanks to Ms. Oates' love for boxing I found a new way to see this "sport". But that is not what I remember most. I remember a character who is nothing short of a despicable, who does evil, unspeakable things and who I was made to care about. I don't think he will ever leave me...I couldn't forget him if I tried. Reading Oates can make you a more compassionate person--if you want her to our not. What a gift. Read the book, you won't be sorry you did--and, it is my guess that you too will remember this one.

Rating:
Summary: Gifted writer
Review: Joyce Carol Oates is a gifted writer, and although I enjoyed this book because of its attention to detail, that detail was also one of the aspects I didn't like. I was impressed with Ms. Oates study and expertise of boxing, but I also found it detracting to the story, at times. Still, this is a good book and worth the read.

Rating:
Summary: Gifted writer
Review: Joyce Carol Oates is a gifted writer, and although I enjoyed this book because of its attention to detail, that detail was also one of the aspects I didn't like. I was impressed with Ms. Oates study and expertise of boxing, but I also found it detracting to the story, at times. Still, this is a good book and worth the read.