Unlike anything Joyce Carol Oates has written before, A Widow’s Story is the universally acclaimed author’s poignant, intimate memoir about the unexpected death of Raymond Smith, her husband of forty-six years, and its wrenching, surprising aftermath. A recent recipient of National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, Oates, whose novels (Blonde, The Gravedigger’s Daughter… The Gravedigger’s Daughter, Little Bird of Heaven, etc.) rank among the very finest in contemporary American fiction, offers an achingly personal story of love and loss. A Widow’s Story is a literary memoir on a par with The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion and Calvin Trillin’s About Alice.
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I did not finish the book. It did feel realistic as she processed her feelings but she seemed so stuck in wallowing that I did not enjoy it. Of course it was autobiographical and I don’t expect widowhood to be adjusted to in a few months or even years, but it was not a book for reading for pleasure.
Joyce Carol Oates never disappoints me.
Ms. Oates is an exceptional writer and with this book brings the reader into her real life world of widowhood after she loses her husband unexpectedly. A book for anyone who could face widowhood (or widower-hood) someday.
As everyone knows, Joyce Carol Oates is a wonderful writer. I admire her realistic and candid writing. Noe of the words above really describe her story because it is a sad story of the worse kind of loss. I have to admit that the story was so intense that I had to take breaks from it. It may be because I am also a widow whose husband died in a …
Well-written. Honest
Autobiographical…excellent writing as always from Oates.
This is a brilliant book about when Oates’ husband of 47 years died suddenly, and about the 6 months after that. It is a page turner and helpful to me, as a widow.
A look into other minds. Our chance to see why others think the way they do.
Parts of it were enlightening and helpful, but other parts seemed too repetitive- {we “got it” -she often felt crazy, the things that were “haunting her” continued to do so for a very long time} and there was WAY too much (in my opinion) about her career works…. I was looking for her experiences as a sudden widow, not a whole-life Bio. She …
Honest memoir of the loss of her husband written with great eloquence. Beautifully written as usual with JCO.
I can’t remember ever yellow highlighting passages as many times as I did while reading this book. I found myself nodding in agreement so often, along with crying. Although my widow journey has differed in many respects, the commonality of the emotions were spot on. No matter how long you’ve been a widow, this book needs to be read. You won’t …
As a recent widow myself, of approximately the same age, I could totally relate. Hard to go on after a long term marriage ends with the death of one partner. Well written, totally believable, & heart rending. I am grateful to the author for so candidly sharing her experience. It validated my own.
How difficult it must have been to bare her personal life after the death of her husband. Very well done.
What an amazing writer. Joyce revealed aspects of grief that I have experienced but never heard anyone reveal before. Her candor is amazing and so very helpful.
A very realistic view of a widow’s grief and the stages of that grief. Joyce Carol Oates is a great writer and she doesn’t disappoint in this book. A person’s view of who God is will color how that person will face the death of a loved one and that definitely comes through in this book. It was helpful to see one widow’s perspective on the …