Suburban Darkness

Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates is set in the late 1970s in the affluent suburbs of Detroit, amidst the backdrop of unsolved child killings. The story revolves around Hannah Jarrett, an attractive white housewife in her late 30s who seems to have it all—a wealthy husband, two children, and a comfortable home. However, her life takes a dark turn when she becomes involved in an abusive affair with a mysterious man, known only as "Y.K."

Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates is a disturbing yet compelling exploration of the darkness that can pervade suburban life. Through its intricate plot and complex characters, the novel sheds light on societal issues that remain relevant today. While its themes and pacing may not appeal to all readers, those who appreciate a deep psychological thriller will find it a rewarding read.

This one ended up being kind of a bummer for me. I haven't read this author before but have heard excellent things... And I'm thinking it's just this book? Because I was bored to tears.
I didn't enjoy the plot or characters. At times, I would read and understand why people liked her writing. But all-in-all, this just didn't work for me. I stuck it out to about 50% hoping it would get better. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
Not to say I won't try Oates again... Just not sure this book was written for me.

Babysitter by Joyce Carol Oates is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that is a perfect fit for readers who enjoy complex, suspenseful storytelling and are drawn to themes of social commentary, exploring the darker aspects of human nature, and the intricate web of relationships and motivations that drive individuals to make choices that have far-reaching consequences.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Well. I wanted to like this. I know so many people who love how Oates writes. However, I just could not get into it. I kept waiting for book to grab me in some way but it never did. Unfortunately, three stars.

Unfortunately this story just was not my cup of tea. Found the storyline slow and I just could not get into it

No one writes darkness like Joyce Carol Oates. This was stunningly crafted and entirely engrossing. A masterpiece by a master.

I’m a big fan of all things true crime, especially books. This one was very intriguing and I found myself having a hard time putting it down.

This style of prose was not my favorite, I’m not sure what the authors intent was for the protagonist to repeat their inner thoughts repeatedly, over and over. I found it tedious and cumbersome. I did find the sense of place to be almost like its own character with accurate depictions of Detroit.

Joyce Carol Oates is often a hit or a miss for me, and this was definitely a miss. It was incredibly slow and impossible to get invested into the characters or the story.

This beautifully written novel reads like a propulsive thriller. Oates's mastery here is peeling back every layer of the real life serial killings of the Babysitter murderer in southeast Michigan in the 1970s. JCO makes the era come ALIVE in both the settings and the attitudes of the characters. The character of Hannah was most intriguing to me, but how Oates orchestrated the interactions between her, Mikey, and the Babysitter killer is a masterclass in complex plotting and narrative suspense. I absolutely LOVED this novel and it is a masterful addition to JCO's brilliant body of work.

Up there with Stephen King sits Joyce Carol Oates, in my opinion. Always a winner when she has a story and it's always (or usually) bonkers. Such a great writer.

Joyce Carol Oates is phenomenal at exploring the dark sides of humanity and her writing is always excellent.
I’ve read a handful of her books, some of which I’ve absolutely loved and some I found just ok. This fell in the latter category. It felt longer than necessary and at times difficult to get through. I admire her talent, but this one wasn’t a favorite.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me. I DNF’d at about 60%. I like the writing, but the characters just irked me. This is the first JCO I’ve ever picked up, but I wouldn’t hesitate to try another one. The writing was atmospheric which I loved so I’d be willing to try again.

Oh my beloved Joyce this is way too long and way too messy with your gorgeous fragmented stream-of-consciousness sentences I did not know what was going on nor did I really care. Love JCO though. Gonna go read Zombie.

This was a DNF for me - I am so sorry!

It was a really slow plod in the plot and I couldn't get past the first 50 pages..

My first book by this author, although I know she is very popular. It has hard to get into, and a bit confusing, but boy when I got past that...amazing and creepy! So glad I stuck with it.

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely terrifying and thrilling at the same time. One of my favorite books!!

I thought I would like his one from the description but that was not the case. I wanted more from this and it did not deliver.

This book was a pretty challenging read - lots of back and forth between timelines and narrators, a variety of confusing moments that I struggled to understand. I'm not normally one for non modern settings, although trying to be, so maybe the 70s setting was part of what didn't fully work for me. Not a bad book by any means - and I'll read anything Joyce Carol Oates writes - but not one for me, sadly.

Identity crisis? Midlife crisis? Hannah Jarrett has found herself adrift without gravity to pull her in any direction. She is 39 years old, married to a successful business man who no longer seems to feel one way or the other about her, with two young children who seem more dependent on the housekeeper than on her. Hannah tumbles from depression to paranoia to ecstasy without the pretense she is in control.