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Them
Joyce Carol Oates Book Review

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Plot Summary of Them
"This novel is the story of a working class detroit family. More specifically, it is the story of Maureen Wendell and her borther, Jules. As the book begins Maureen is young, beautiful, and determined to get out of the slums. Jules is also determined, but he sees crime as his way out. Their mother, Loretta was once young and beautiful, but by the age of sixteen she had gotten pregnant and lived the rest of her life fulll of regret. As the novel progresses we follow the lives of the Wendells, through failed schemes, and sucessful ones, marriages, births, and deaths. Like is never easy for the Wendells, but through everthything they remain proud romantics. "
fran laniado, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of Them
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - depressed
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Poverty, surviving Yes
Kind of living: - general poverty story
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 (an average amount)
United States Yes
The US: - Midwest

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - impregnation/reproduction
Unusual Style: - No single main character?
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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Joyce Carol Oates Resident Scholar Profiles

 TOP SCHOLAR:
  fran laniado  

SCHOLARS: Sandra Calhoune  Susan Coffey  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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