After Blonde , where she tackled the myth of Marilyn Monroe, Joyce Carol Oates offers a saga lectures inspired by the murder of a little girl, the United States in the 90s.
You remember, perhaps, like me, this incident has toured the world on Christmas Eve 1996, Jonbenet Rampsey little girl of 6 years, specialist assistance of Miss Mini, was murdered and found several hours later in the cellar of his house. We remember the images broadcast by the media showing a rampaging child and peroxidized brushinguée, strapped in low-necked dresses, makeup and carefully executing a few dance steps or singing a sexy sultry voice a "God Bless America" intended to charm the jury. He had the audacity and talent of Joyce Carol Oates for daring to tackle such a subject and especially to reach do not a thriller but a scabrous novel grandiose and intense breath from beginning to end.
The view chosen is Skyler Rampike, the little brother of victim, the little boy who grimaced at the edges of photos allegedly showing the happiness of the family Rampike, as if about to fall. The boy is now 19 years and is preparing to mark the sad anniversary of ten years of the death of his sister. Lost, lonely, drugged, he tries to tell a story abounding and unstructured greatness and decline of the family Rampike. His book is it an investigation, a catharsis, a confession? We will not know until the end. More
that the girl is probably his mother, Betsey, the protagonist of the book. A woman complexed, nervous and depressed and suffers from not being able to fit into the small American town in which the family moved Rampike. She dreams of making friends size 38 (although it sadly does not fit in a size 44), into the clubs for the region and get invited to Christmas its richer neighbors. But nobody cares about the poor Betsey Rampike until her daughter, Edna Louise small, whiny baby came too soon that Betsey has always strongly disinterested, shows a talent for ... skating. For Joyce Carol Oates has made his character a little skater. Mom Rampsey renames child Bliss ("like a horny pop star" says his brother) and will stop at nothing to advance his career: daily training, hair bleaching, stitching required, hiring a choreographer during modeling and mixes especially doctors, therapists and medications of all kinds. The father Bix Rampike, young manager very dynamic, charming, and authoritarian unfaithful follows far the career of his daughter. A macho bastard, who sometimes overcome with a sudden sense of guilt, the evidence multiplies ostentatious love for his family, before disappearing again (separation? Business trip? Skyler never know very well). And Skyler, the "small man of her mother" is relegated to witness the amazing performance of her sister and suffering of the little girl. Bliss because, when not in the spotlight is a little girl anxious that pees the bed and is unable to learn to read.
The view chosen is Skyler Rampike, the little brother of victim, the little boy who grimaced at the edges of photos allegedly showing the happiness of the family Rampike, as if about to fall. The boy is now 19 years and is preparing to mark the sad anniversary of ten years of the death of his sister. Lost, lonely, drugged, he tries to tell a story abounding and unstructured greatness and decline of the family Rampike. His book is it an investigation, a catharsis, a confession? We will not know until the end. More
that the girl is probably his mother, Betsey, the protagonist of the book. A woman complexed, nervous and depressed and suffers from not being able to fit into the small American town in which the family moved Rampike. She dreams of making friends size 38 (although it sadly does not fit in a size 44), into the clubs for the region and get invited to Christmas its richer neighbors. But nobody cares about the poor Betsey Rampike until her daughter, Edna Louise small, whiny baby came too soon that Betsey has always strongly disinterested, shows a talent for ... skating. For Joyce Carol Oates has made his character a little skater. Mom Rampsey renames child Bliss ("like a horny pop star" says his brother) and will stop at nothing to advance his career: daily training, hair bleaching, stitching required, hiring a choreographer during modeling and mixes especially doctors, therapists and medications of all kinds. The father Bix Rampike, young manager very dynamic, charming, and authoritarian unfaithful follows far the career of his daughter. A macho bastard, who sometimes overcome with a sudden sense of guilt, the evidence multiplies ostentatious love for his family, before disappearing again (separation? Business trip? Skyler never know very well). And Skyler, the "small man of her mother" is relegated to witness the amazing performance of her sister and suffering of the little girl. Bliss because, when not in the spotlight is a little girl anxious that pees the bed and is unable to learn to read.
The subjects of this book are stolen childhood of a girl bullied by a narcissistic mother and her older brother sacrificed (in many ways ...) but also the story of a puritanical America terribly hypocritical and perfectly guided by propriety and appearances, a company who calls Jesus all the time but stuns his children drug expected to pay for them.
And then there's the ending ... as Joyce Carol Oates imagines a terrible explanation for this unsolved case. A story about the cruelty ordinary extraordinary by an author.
Reference:
Joyce Carol Oates, Little sister, my love , translated from English by Claude Seban, Philippe Rey, 2010, 667p.
And then there's the ending ... as Joyce Carol Oates imagines a terrible explanation for this unsolved case. A story about the cruelty ordinary extraordinary by an author.
Reference:
Joyce Carol Oates, Little sister, my love , translated from English by Claude Seban, Philippe Rey, 2010, 667p.
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