Marya: A Life: A Life: An American Gothic Coming-of-Age Novel – 20th Century Literary Trauma and Reinvention

by Joyce Carol Oates

A deeply intimate psychological portrait of a young woman's tragic childhood, her reinvention as a successful young artist in the literary circles of 1950s New York City, and her struggle to understand and overcome the trauma of her past.

Growing up in the confines of Innisfail, a bleak town in upstate New York, bright and curious Marya endures abandonment, betrayal, and loneliness. A college scholarship offers escape, taking her to New York City, where she makes a name for herself in academic and literary circles. But success cannot overcome the damage of her childhood, pain that haunts Marya’s personal, professional, and romantic relationships, and has left her unmoored.

Psychologically nuanced, rich in insight and emotional complexity, told with the unsettling power of Joyce Carol Oates’s gothic novels, Marya: A Life is an intense look into the psyche of a young woman and an illuminating exploration of how the past reverberates throughout our lives.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Literature, American, The United States Of America, Literary Fiction, Female Authors

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Her novels Black Water (1992), What I Lived For (1994), and Blonde (2000), and her short story collections The Wheel of Love (1970) and Lovely, Dark, Deep: Stories (2014) were each finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She has won many awards for her writing, including the National Book Award, for her novel Them (1969), two O. Henry Awards, the National Humanities Medal, and the Jerusalem Prize (2019).
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014, and is the Roger S. Berlind '52 Professor Emerita in the Humanities with the Program in Creative Writing. From 2016 to 2020, she was a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where she taught short fiction in the spring semesters. She now teaches at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.
Oates was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2016.
Pseudonyms: Rosamond Smith and Lauren Kelly.

Reviews

[Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no other literary personage living today like Joyce Carol Oates. She is a piece of work like Joan Rivers; she is classy like a British Lady; she's like some uber-conscientious (not to mention less literal) Stephen King. She is prolific; her work thrills & entrances... she cares for her sentences like adorable puppies, and like adorable puppies she beats them sporadically into discipline, too. She is ruthless. She is flawless-- a Reader's Writer, through & through (which, any reader must attest, is an essential & absolute MUST).

Marya has all the elements that made "Blonde" my favorite book this year... a woman's life is complex, despite fame, fortune, or brains bestowed upon her by higher forces. Marya comes from miserable beginnings and she suffers everlasting misogyny (and not just from men)--of course being meek, she evolves into the successful woman of letters we would imagine, yet still remains an intriguing introvert. And thank goodness we have Super(Writer)-Woman herself to give us access to such tortured & multidimensional souls.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marya: A Life is an intense psychological study by one of our most prolific contemporary writers, Joyce Carol Oates, thought by some to be one of her ten most important works. Growing up in the 1950s, Marya Knauer is haunted by the early and violent death of her father in a mining dispute and the sudden abandonment by her mother forcing Marya at a young age, along with her two little brothers, to move in with their aunt and uncle and their family. However, Marya was a bright child with fond memories of the times her father would spend with her reading books and instilling in her the importance of literature. The class valedictorian, Marya was awarded a full scholarship at a liberal arts college in New York City. Marya then goes on to graduate school.

"But she did want to leave Innisfail, at least for a year. She wanted to see what it was like, living away from home. At college. Where no one knew she was Marya Knauer, and no one could feel pity for her, or jealousy. Where she could begin again, give birth to herself (so Mayra's lyricism soared, at such times) at the age of eighteen."

Becoming a successful author and lecturer, Marya Knauer is still haunted by her memories of her childhood ranging from the romantic to the traumatic as she attempts to come to terms with her past. Because of the early death of her father and the subsequent abandonment by her mother, Marya suffers a sense of loss and dislocation. After decades apart, Marya is determined to find her estranged mother, which in a sense brings the story full circle as she begins to realize that she is her mother's daughter. This was such an intense and powerful book as Joyce Carol Oates does so well in her vast body of work.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked it up this at the library I was both intruiged and a bit weary for stupid reasons. It did sound intresting but the copy was old and battered and not as pretty as some other books, even though the woman on the cover was quite striking. But this ended up being a very intruiging and readable book. Loved the way Joyce Carol Oates wrote this and I learned that I can't always judge a book by the cover. Something that I thought I knew all to well already but to be honest I still did with this. The book was about Mary's life and it wasn't very easy and sweet story but very engaging.

[Ida · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 stars based on Joyce Carol Oates' mastery of the English language and her ability to delve deeply into the complexities of human behavior. I found myself rooting for Marya throughout the first half of the story. However, Marya's academic life, particularly the period following her first couple of years in college, is pedantic, a real challenge to read. It took me 3 days to get through the final 100 pages! The sad part of this is that by the end of the book, I no longer empathized with this eccentric character. Oates successfully managed to turn off any positive feelings I still harbored. Too bad.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing my reading of Joyce Carol Oates’s novels in order of publication, filling in the ones I have missed over the years. A weird thing: I was certain that I had read this one before and that it was the first book by her I ever read. But this time, it felt completely unfamiliar to me. The scenes I remembered were not there. I can only conclude that the first book I read by her was a different book. My aging brain is losing it?

Marya Knauer was left with an aunt, along with her two brothers, at a young age. She never saw her mother again. This part of the story is set in a small mining and mill town, impoverished, violent. But Marya is tough and observant and smart. A typical JCO female character, you might say.

As indicated by the title, the story follows Marya’s life in stages as she grasps at any opportunity and holds on by working hard. She excels in school, she has boyfriends but does not desire to marry, she goes to college, then graduate school, becomes a teacher of literature and a famous critic. At every stage she has a love affair but leaves the man behind as she moves to the next stage. She gets religion but then loses her faith. She defies a mentor and begins to write political commentary as well.

I felt great admiration for Marya and great sympathy. She is trying to build a life out of the remnants of her desperate childhood, she keeps her own counsel, but though she always finds a lover she is deeply alone. The abandoned child inside her finally drives her to make a radical change at the end.

As always for me, JCO captured me in her spell.

I wonder if I will ever come across the book I thought I read in 1988.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars... I loved this book and I also hated it so I guess I liked it, sort of.

The beginning captured my attention and I was hooked. The ending was also good. However, there were times that I was completely bored and skimmed over the words, almost quitting. Then it would get good again.

I did love Marya though. I wanted her to escape her early life and was happy that she was so successful in the education and career. Her relationships with men drove me crazy, always married men. She was too smart for that and it bothered me but she was young I guess...

By the end of this book, I really just wanted it to be over.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marya's life is described in chapters dealing with a traumatic childhood, religious observations, college experiences, a career in academia, and relationships. Throughout it all, the overwhelming feeling is one of loneliness and a life lived searching for a sense of belonging. The chapter dealing with thoughts on religion reminded me of Flannery O'Connor. The abrupt ending, although disconcerting, is probably intentional. I think this book is brilliantly written, and perhaps gives us more of an insight into JCO as a person than most of her fiction.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marya: A Life as described by JCO in the preface to the Franklin Library edition of the book, is "very likely the most "personal" of my novels though it is not, in the strictest sense, autobiographical. It contains some autobiographical material, particularly in its opening sections, and it is set, for the most part, in places . . . closely resembling places I have lived . . . but I am not Marya Knauer and Marya is surely not I." (Note: the version I read did not include Oates' preface but it can be read in its entirety online at this link.)

The novel tells the story of Marya Knauer who grew up in the rural town of Innisfail (which resembles Lockport, NY where Oates grew up). The story opens with the brutal death of Marya's father who was a local mine worker. Marya's mother, an alcoholic, then abandons Marya and her two young brothers to the care of her aunt and uncle. Her cousin abuses her as a child, but she is able to excel in school and move out of her life of poverty. The novel's chapters are each written as a phase of Marya's life and show her progress moving away from her beginnings and being acknowledged for her intellect as a published author. The chapters tell of her exposure to religious beliefs by a local catholic priest, her introduction to writing by her high school English teacher, her college days and graduate work where she becomes the lover of her mentor, her teaching at a small college where she is harassed by the African-American janitor, her romance with the editor of a literary publication, and finally her desire to find her mother who she hasn't seen since she was abandoned decades previously.

This was an interesting telling of Marya's life and even though Oates states that it is not really autobiographical, it is still a very personal and fascinating story paralleling much of Oates life. I enjoyed this and felt that it was written much in the vein of Oates short stories (which I enjoy a lot). Each chapter can somewhat stand on its own with an ending that sometimes leaves the reader speculating on what happens next before moving on to another segment of Marya's story. JCO always amazes me and I will look forward to reading more of her.

[Graham Wilhauk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even for JCO's already HIGH standards, this was GOOOOOOOD. The rating might not fully reflect it, but I LOVED this book. The character of Marya was beautifully constructed, but I never really worried that it would be bad. I was more so surprised by how above and beyond JCO went with this character. I am unsure what else she wrote that year, but this one stood out among the other grand characters she's penned in her bibliography. However, it is usually the story that makes or breaks books like this. With JCO, she usually grips me. However, this one didn't grip me IMMEDIATELY. This one is more of a slow burner. It starts off in one spot and flourishes into a layered and lifelong narrative. For those who are also crazy for JCO like me, this is a MUST read.

I am giving this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Kristel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is said to be "my most personal" book by the author. It is her 17th book and was just released as an audible book in April this year. This is the story of Marya, a very resilient girl, who survived. She survived poverty, lost of her parents at an early age, sexual abuse, rape, bullying. You name it. It happened. This was one strong woman. Marya grew up in a rural area, got a scholarship to college because she was smart. She was also "striking" in appearance, probably beautiful but her manner was cold and she protected herself constantly from "feelings" hurting her. She did well in college, published early, fell in love finally, but never married. Not sure how autobiographical the story is cause it is a novel.

Themes: defenselessness of female a child; adolescent behavior; the place of the brilliant, sensitive person in an ordinary world; the struggle with religious faith; and the politics of the academic world

[Molly Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is incredibly well written, as all of Joyce Carol Oates' books are. Marya is a very unique character whose life you become absorbed in. However, the book was profoundly depressing, and I spend my life reading depressing books so that's saying a lot. From the first to the last page, Marya's life is horrendous and everyone she loves dies or abuses her in some way. I read somewhere that there were a lot of autobiographical elements to this book, but I sure hope not for Oates' sake. A good book, but not a beach read.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is why people want to give her all sorts of prizes.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting novel about Marya, born of poor white parents. Her father was beaten to death when she was eight years old and her mother disappeared. Marya grew up in the country, living with her uncle’s family, in a world of poverty and violence. Her aunt Wilma, a hard working woman with two children, provided Marya with good common sense. Marya becomes an independent young woman who has a good memory and studied hard. She became somewhat of an academic loner, having Imogene, a well off extrovert, as a friend during college.

An engaging story of a young, beautiful, intelligent, independent woman during the 1970s and early 1980s. Marya’s story of self definition is guided by a number of male mentors. Lee, her cousin, who abuses her as a child, Father Shearing who discusses religion with her and her intellectual lovers.

This novel was first published in 1986.

[Angela]

Oh, how I missed reading JCO. I don't think I've read anything by her for years. Years! She was one of my favorites when I was younger. I devoured her novels and short story collections.

Marya is an interesting novel. There are parts that feel surreal, disjointed, like a dream. (Sometimes, a nightmare.) I can't say I quite loved this one — not as much as I love some of her other novels — but like I told my friend the other day: The writing in this book is better than some of the contemporary fiction coming out today. And it reminded me how much I love her style, her way of capturing the darkness and imperfectness of people.

[Diego F. Cantero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A los dos días de conocerla le hablé a mi pareja sobre ella. Le conté de su fuerza y de la manera en que me había conquistado. Señalé rasgos que nos identificaban y conté anécdotas que a V, parecieron duras y terribles.
Durante el resto de la semana fue ella, V, quien cada día me preguntaba sobre la vida de Marya Knauer: una mujer maravillosa.
Real.

[Diane Zwang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read 3 books by the author and so far my favorite is Blonde and this book is my least favorite. It started out strong with the first 100 pages being my favorite part. Learning about Marya's heart breaking childhood was interesting. Her college years did not set well with me; some of the antics seemed high schoolish. The last 100 pages were my least favorite and I found myself not wanting to pick up the book to read it. Marya's relationships with men were perplexing at best.

[Dorina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this one! I constantly wanted to find out what would happen next. Marya had a difficult childhood. Her father died. Her Mother left Marya and her two siblings with their Aunt. Various things happened to her in this home. But she is smart and determined. She graduated high school, college and even grad school. I don’t want to be the one to tell too much of her plot. Read it and enjoy.. So happy to been able to read this one!

[Charlotte Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know how to feel. Is it pronounced Mariah or Maria?? Pretty good but some of the storylines were questionable.

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

she’s not like other girls

[Rachida ANEJJAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marya has succeeded in creating a promising future for herself although she has been a victim of sexual abusive several times throughout her childhood. She has always had hope for the future and the determination to make herself a better person by being absorbed in study and work, which makes her triumph over her bad luck in the end.

Vera Sanjek, Marya’s mother, is portrayed as a cruel, unkind, cold-hearted mother who does not care about her children and wishes that they were not born. They are a burden to her, and she barely has time to attend to their needs. She is almost always drunk, and because she is an irresponsible mother, she makes Marya, the oldest of her siblings, do what she is supposed to do as a mother.

Marya is obliged to look after her siblings to avoid the wrath of her mother. When Marya gets frightened of the loud voices of her father’s friends, she runs out of the house and hides in a truck in the field with her younger brother only to be punished by her mother when she finds her the next morning.

[Jane Hammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Years ago I used an excerpt from this novel (it was excerpted in a St. Martin's textbook) in a comp course I was teaching and was amazed by the layers of the story (when Marya is a student at Port Orskenay college). Students responded in complex ways to it as well. I heard Oates speak recently and was motivated to finally read the whole novel. For me the novel sags a bit in the "academic" section when Marya is a prof and the ending is abrupt in an unsettling way that I suspect is intentional. But overall I enjoyed it, and I think what it has to say about working class girls going to college is not only historically important but relevant, and perhaps, sadly, becoming even more relevant today.

[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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An unnerving portrayl of womanhood told in a prose that perfectly expressess the unease that permeates Marya's story. Oates at times seems almost fascinated by the morbid and or the grotesque. Her rendition of Marya's childhood as well as her academic life reminded me in some ways of stories by Shirley Jackson. Her protagonist is a deeply flawed somewhat alienated woman, who I found both compelling and unappealing. Oates has created an intruguing - borderlining on the horrifing - tale.

[Esther Bos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novel in memoir style. I felt that I knew Marya, but couldn't quite like her or feel comfortable with her. Which is the kind of person she was! A dysfunctional early home life left it's mark on Marya's personality, but determination and her intellectual interests helped her make accomplishments in life that would not be predicted by those who knew her and her background. A good read.

[Gwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a long time ago apparently, but only remembered the middle chapter. That might sound like a negative comment, but there's something about this book that makes it shadowy in a nicely haunting way.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mayra is a complicated character. Oates painted a protagonist in which her evolution is a slow burn. You feel pity towards her while sharing indifference as well.

Mayra carries herself in a quiet manner in which you continually ask yourself - why? -she has full control of the situation but she flirts with the outcome. Constantly sabotaging but yet knowing she’s walking a slippery edge. She’s a woman that’s aware of a lot more than what she leads others to believe. Her air arouses others, not in a good way, leaving you to ponder why Mayra likes to stir trouble - part victim - part survivor. A woman failing to claim herself simultaneously barring others to claim her.

Given her background I found Mayra an extremely well sketched character - evoking a myriad of feelings tangled with frustration.

[Mina Widding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marya, ett liv. En uppväxtskildring om en ung kvinna från tilltufsade förhållanden, som söker sig själv och sin plats i världen, genom akademin och studier, genom eget uttryck. Enligt omslaget med stora liknelser med Oates eget liv, nära det självbiografiska. Hur det är med den saken vet jag nog mer om då jag läst Det förlorade landskapet, som är mer av en memoar. Teman som känns igen, de är väl helt enkelt rätt vanliga: övergrepp, utanförskap, religiöst sökande, äldre man som hon ser upp till, äldre man hon har relation med, knepiga vänskapsförhållanden, funderingar kring hennes ursprung (en mamma som kanske fortfarande finns i livet). Och förstås, att ta sig fram i akademin som kvinna under den här tiden.

Läsprojekt: #1001booksyoumustreadbeforeyoudie

[Megan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although flawlessly written like I feel about all JCO works, this one didn't grab me like most of her darker and edgier reads. This did have moments of heartfelt emotion, and glimpses of dark, troubled circumstances and complicated relationships, but due to the autobiographical nature of this unique book, I often got lost in some of the heavier academic/collegiate topics. I wouldn't recommend this to non-JCO fans, but I'm glad I read it and was able to vaguely understand more about my favorite author.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The power of education and desperate hard work to get you away from the struggle of life from a place like the Canal Road and towards independence. Marya’s life quickly becomes rarefied in the strange world of academia and not without its own struggles. Not sure about the significance of the Sylvester episode - one of the many threatening males with the potential to derail the life Marya has constructed around herself.

[Mari Spallone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new (old, decades old) JCO favorite of mine. So much to unpack, rich, layered. The novel veers towards catastrophe but somehow skirts it. And there are deeply disturbing passages, but in the end childhood trauma is overcome, or sorted somewhat, and there is redemption. No one puts together these human failings and shortcomings in a soup and leaves you feeling uplifted and hopeful like JCO. I think she invented the genre.

[selin a. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu kitabı çok uzun zaman önce okumuştum. Romanı, esas karakteri, olayları, kurgusu ve duygusuyla Adalet Ağaoğlu'nun Ölmeye Yatmak romanına çok fazla benzettiğimi hatırlıyorum. Şimdi, yıllar sonra, çok sevdiğim bu iki roman, kafamın içinde kardeş gibi yan yana yaşıyorlar. Birini seven, ötekini de sevecektir.