""We Were the Mulvaneys" , is the story of the destruction and regeneration of a family caused by the rape of the teenage, cheerleader daughter. Unwilling to testify against the rapist because she was drinking at the time, the daughter , Marianne, refuses to prosecute. Her father,Michael, a head of a small roofing business, takes the law into his own hands and attacks the father of the rapist. He is fined and given probation. From there, the family's life goes downhill, from a happy existence on a farm, filled with animals and freedom, to a constricted life in the suburbs with only the youngest of three sons mother, Corinne, present. Oates fills the story with colorful characters and a wealth of details, making the restoration of the family fascinating reading."
Betty-Jeanne Korson, Resident Scholar
"The Mulvaneys have what appear to be a perfect life--four happy and out-going children, all successful in their own ways, growing up together on their idyllic New England farm. Then something happens to their daughter that changes not only her life, but shows how fragile their entire family relationship really is. "
Carole Waterhouse, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of We Were The Mulvaneys
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- upbeat
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Romance/Romance Problems
Yes
Family, loving relations
Yes
Kind of sex:
- rape
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Taboo sex story?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a teen
- 40's-50's
Eccentric/Mental
Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
- Irish/McCourt
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- bulging muscles
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- almost none
- an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 10 (a tremendous amount)
Farm/Ranch?
Yes
Farm/Ranch:
- farm
- lot of descript of animal care
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
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
- descript. of female anat. (the big B's)
- rape/molest (yeech!)
Unusual Style:
- No single main character?
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- little dialog
