Starred review from July 15, 2013
These four exquisitely suspenseful novellas from Oates (The Accursed) offer sharp characterizations, whether it be the naïve and romantic 16-year-old Lizbeth Marsh; the deeply spoiled, deeply disturbed Bart Hansen; or Mariana Mohr, the fourth wife of an accomplished intellectual. The last named is in the title story, which is by far the volume’s strongest. The eye in question is both a beautiful glass nazar—a valuable talisman that’s in Austin Mohr’s art collection—and the missing eye of his diminutive, mesmerizing first wife who comes to visit. In “The Execution,” Bart Hansen’s plan to murder his parents is as inadequate as his father believed all his plans were. “So Near Anytime Always” has a surprise ending to the relationship of Lizbeth Marsh and the unfathomable Desmond Parrish. The relationships between the damaged, sometimes monstrous individuals who people these pages will keep the reader riveted. Agent: Warren Frazier, John Hawkins & Associates.
Starred review from October 28, 2013
The new collection of novellas from Oates presents an excellent vehicle to showcase the talents of four talented narrators. Each performer does a first-rate job of matching the unique atmosphere that Oates creates in these four works. Donna Postel’s ethereal and exotic quality perfectly fits the macabre elements of the title work, which explores the unraveling of marital secrets and the journey toward madness. For “So Near Anytime Always,” Luci Christian effectively captures both the angst and confusion of a teenage female protagonist and the creepy manipulations of her mysterious boyfriend turned stalker. Chris Patton, in “The Execution,” convincingly brings to life the dark rage of a privileged fraternity boy toward his perfectionist father and co-dependent mother. In “The Flatbed,” Tamara Marston methodically weaves together the range of emotions faced by an adult victim of child sexual abuse, from shame and repression to outrage and vengeance. The performances are gripping across-the-board making for a standout listening experience. A Mysterious Press hardcover.