Because it is Bitter, and Because it is My HeartJoyce Carol Oates adds to her extraordinary body of work with this stunning novel of violence and love. At the heart of the story are two people, Iris Courtney, who is white, and handsome Jinx Fairchild, the black basketball player who, in protecting Iris, kills a white man. Iris is the only witness to the crime. The two of them are growing up in the early 1950s in a New York industrial town where racial boundaries keep people apart-or bring them together in explosive scenes of fear or desire. The secret link between Iris and Jinx is not only their attraction to each other, but a murder ... and a bond of passion and guilt is formed between them. How this one irrevocable, tragic act shapes their lives and alters their destinies becomes Joyce Carol Oates' finest, emotion-packed novel-a work the critics are calling a masterpiece, the best work of America's best writer of contemporary realism. |
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Alan Savage arms beautiful begins believe blood body calls close color comes course Courtney's damn doesn't don't door dress drinking Duke early eyes face fact father feels feet fingers floor friends Garlock girl give glass going hair Hammond hands happened happy hard he's head hear heart hurt inside Iris Courtney Iris says Iris's isn't it's Jinx Fairchild kind kitchen late laughs leave Leslie light Little Red living look mean mind Minnie Momma morning mother mouth Negro never night once past Persia photographs playing police remember river running Savage seems seen she's side sitting skin smile sometimes sound speak stands Street suddenly sure talk tell there's things thought turns voice waiting walking watching woman young