them“If the phrase ‘woman of letters’ existed, [Joyce Carol Oates] would be, foremost in this country, entitled to it.”—John Updike, The New Yorker As powerful and relevant today as it was on its initial publication, them chronicles the tumultuous lives of a family living on the edge of ruin in the Detroit slums, from the 1930s to the 1967 race riots. Praised by The Nation for her “potent, life-gripping imagination,” Joyce Carol Oates traces the aspirations and struggles of Loretta Wendall, a dreamy young mother who is filled with regret by the age of sixteen, and the subsequent destinies of her children, Maureen and Jules, who must fight to survive in a world of violence and danger. Winner of the National Book Award, them is an enthralling novel about love, class, race, and the inhumanity of urban life. It is, raves The New York Times, “a superbly accomplished vision.” Them is the third novel in the Wonderland Quartet. The books that complete this acclaimed series, A Garden of Earthly Delights, Expensive People, and Wonderland, are also available from the Modern Library. [Oates is] a superb storyteller. For sheer readability, them is unsurpassed.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |
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afraid arms asked began Bernard better Betty body Brock building close coming crazy cried dark Detroit didn't door driving everything eyes face fall father feel felt fire front getting girl give going hair hands happened head hear hell Howard imagined inside Jules Jules's keep kids kill kind knew laughed leaned leave light live look Loretta married Maureen mean mind morning mother move Nadine never night once passed remember seemed sense side silent Sister sitting sleep smile someone sometimes standing stop strange street surprise talk tell things thought told took tried trouble trying turned voice waiting walked watching Wendall window woman women wondered