A bit too grotesque for me. ( )

19 bislang nicht übersetzte Geschichten von einer der ganz Großen der amerikanischen Literatur sind erstmals in (einer fabelhaften deutschen) Übersetzung erhältlich. Joyce Carol Oates erzählt in „Die Lästigen“ eine amerikanische Chronik, die eine Chronik der Abgründe zu sein scheint. Sprachmächtig erkennt die Autorin, dass Familie nicht unbedingt ein so argloser Ort sein muss, wie es uns vorgemacht wird. Sie ist eine Meisterin der Andeutung und schafft eine Bedrohlichkeit, die ihre Leserschaft vom ersten Satz an zu fesseln vermag. Unbedingt lesenswert!
Zu finden im Erdgeschoss: DR, OATE

mj (1.9.11)

Collector of Hearts is another short story collection that centers around grotesque characters and plots. Despite the similarity with themes in Haunted, Collector of the Hearts pales in comparison. In fact, it seems as if Oates has ripped herself off with this collection by using almost the exact same techniques as she did in her previous collection (such as numbering certain segments and arranging the stories in three parts).Similar to Haunted, the stories in Collector of Hearts are almost entirely about family relationships that become violent with physically or sexually. However, they are far more weird and border on being science fiction.

I finished the collection but it took a great deal of motivation! I found some of the tales to be terrifying, but not in a "spooky ghost story". Instead, it was terrifying in a "how could someone think of anything this sick and twisted" way. Perhaps the best word to describe this collection is disturbing.

www.iamliteraryaddicted.blogspot.com ( )

Joyce Carol Oates is a fine writer, but I like her dark literature best. This is a rich serving of wonderfully dark stories that don't inspire terror so much as disturb the mind. ( )

If you like things a little on the dark side, but you find the horror genre a little cheesy, you might like this. Its definitely dark, but more psychological than supernatural. ( )