In Rough Country: Essays and Reviews – A Sterling Collection of Literary Criticism on Great Literature and Writers

by Joyce Carol Oates

“A poignant, nostalgic collection of literary criticism by one of America’s premier authors.”
—Kirkus Reviews

 

In Rough Country is a sterling collection of literary essays, reviews, and criticism from Joyce Carol Oates that focuses on a wide array of books and writers—from Poe to Nabokov, from Flannery O’Connor to Phillip Roth. One of our foremost novelists, National Book Award and PEN/Malamud Award winner Oates demonstrates an unparalleled understanding and appreciation of great works of American literature with In Rough Country, and offers unique and breathtaking insights into the writer’s art.

In this landmark collection, Oates turns her own incomparable literary gaze upon the classic and contemporary writers who shaped a nation,

Classic Penetrating analysis of literary ancestors like Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, and Shirley Jackson, examining the treacherous terrains of their work.Contemporary Sharp and insightful reviews of modern titans including Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood, Philip Roth, and Alice Munro.The Writer’s A deep dive into the art of storytelling, from the structure of a literary essay to the Gothic excess that mirrors a beleaguered personal life.A Personal A moving preface on how writing about literature became a solace and a lifeline in the wake of profound personal loss.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Books About Books, Ebooks, Literature, Criticism

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2010

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

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a shame that Joyce Carol Oates has not won the Nobel Prize for literature. Every time I read one of her works, I become more convinced that she is deserving of far more than she has received from public acclaim. In Rough Country: Essays and Reviews is a recent book of essays concentrating especially on Miss Oates's views of women authors, from Flannery O'Connor, Annie Proulx, Emily Dickinson, and a number of Canadians. Particularly good is her essay on the works of Cormac McCarthy.

[Athena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book through First Reads and I enjoyed Oates' insights into authors and their works. Her reviews are both unique and well thought out.
I wasn't at all sure how I would like the book because I tried to read We Were the Mulvaneys years ago and gave up because it was so awful. In essay form, at least, Oates is a good writer and I now have hope that I might like some of her fiction.
She had me with her through most of In Rough Country. That is, up until she praised poet Sharon Olds to the skies and called her rather offensive letter to Laura Bush (rejecting an invitation to the National Book Festival) "a model of tact and integrity". It was around this point that Oates' unfortunate political and social views, America-bashing, and description of God as "imaginary" became too much for me. I had to push myself to finish the last section of the book. This was something I has not been able to make myself do with We Were the Mulvaneys, so that's progress, I suppose. But I suspect the progress is mine rather than hers. Years ago, I was probably unable to finish the novel in large part because I was only in high school and I hadn't yet learned to slog through a book I didn't like. The last section of In Rough Country--the only one I didn't enjoy reading--is mostly about Oates' personal experiences and lack of a literary mentor. It has nothing of the zest of the previous reviews and essays.

[Nadia King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended. Illuminating insights into writers such as Flannery O’Connor, Cormac McCarthy and Margaret Atwood.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I'm a big fan of literary criticism and of book reviews, in general, so it should come as no surprise that I tore through this book with unremitting fervor. Joyce Carol Oates has an amazingly eloquent style (although, she is a little too fond of the word amalgam...get a thesaurus, Joyce!) and I was practically giddy reading each page. Through her essays I learned much about Oates as a writer and person. Through her reviews I learned much more about books and authors that I'd already read and of course, I added several "unreads" to my colossal to-be-read pile. To those who never get tired of reading book reviews and essays for information and inspiration, I highly recommend.

(First Reads Win.)

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with most of the writing of Joyce Carol Oates, intelligent, measured, and thoughtful. From a standpoint of literary reviews, the looks at Emily Dickinson, Cormac McCarthy, and Sharon Olds are excellent. A stand out essay is on the writer James Salter, who must be one of the most underrated American writers of the last century (as Oates points out). And the tribute to her friend John Updike is nicely done, as well.

[Red Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always interesting to read essays and book reviews published a number of years ago, in particular if the assessment of the author or work has changed since the review was written. I did not know much about Joyce Carol Oates, so nice to be introduced to her writing and reviews/essays, especially about Cormac McCarthy, Rushdie and Roth (authors I had read a decent amount, or a great deal for McCarthy).

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of reviews of such authors as Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, Shirley Jackson, Nabokov, Bernard Malamud, Flannery O'Connor, John Updike, Margaret Atwood, and many others. Joyce Carol Oates seems to review short stories more than novels. She reviewed a long book on boxing by Kasia Boddy. I most enjoyed the essay "Why is Humanism Not the Preeminent Belief of Humankind?"

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the title indicates, this is a book of essays and reviews by this prolific author and former professor at Princeton. In light of my own interests, most of this work was not interesting to me. I did enjoy the review of the book by Kasia Boddy, Boxing, A Cultural History. Although the title sounds like an oxymoron, the book itself, though very long (480 pages), would be worth reading.

[Rgrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essay on Cormac McCarthy is brilliant.

[Joel Werley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyce Carol Oates writing essays and reviews on the likes of Shirley Jackson, Cormac McCarthy, Poe, Flannery O'Connor, Nabokov, Emily Dickinson, and a eulogy for John Updike. Sign me up.

[James Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joyce Carol Oates is a protean writer. That is her writing demonstrates a diversity and fecundity of style that is exceptional although not unique in my experience. Rather than devoting herself to one style or theme and honing that over many stories and novels, she has explored myriad ways to tell stories over a career that has produced more than three dozen novels (not counting those she has written under a pseudonym). I remember being mesmerized by the beauty of Wonderland; however not nearly as impressed with the tragic family saga We Were the Mulvaneys; and unable to finish tomes like Bellefleur. I even read and enjoyed one of her "entertainments" written under a pseudonym. It is not surprising that she is widely read, and a prescient critic of literature. There is a double meaning for this collection of previously published literary essays and reviews, “In Rough Country.” “It refers to both the treacherous geographic/psychological terrains of the writers who are my subjects. And also the emotional terrain of my life,” she writes in the preface. It’s an especially evocative parallel when you consider a pair of essays in the collection also titled “In Rough Country” (set apart from each other with Roman numerals). In the first, she examines the ecstatic violence of Cormac McCarthy’s work, in the second the brutal naturalism of Annie Proulx’s fiction. Rough country, indeed.
Thus it is her skill at criticism that is on display in this readable collection of essays. Just as she has with her own fiction and poetry, she displays a variety of interests and styles sometimes regaling the reader with biographical morsels, as in her essay on Edgar Allan Poe. I appreciated learning that some of my formative reading paralleled Oates' even as I admire her criticism and the immensity of her oeuvre.

[Jim Krotzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of the book of criticism is slow, especially that which describes books I haven't yet read. I do hope to read some that Oates discusses, but not all. She covers many books, novels and poetry.

She did raise some questions for me:
1) Is the “great American novel” supposed to “alter the consciousness” of the times?
2) Does place have the power to infiltrate the soul?
3) “If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can warm it I know that is poetry. If I feel physically that the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry. Is there any other way?” (Emily Dickinson)
4) Is it all right to exploit your personal life in your writing?
5) Would art be richer if the self were richer?
6)“If God meant to interfere in the degeneracy of mankind, would he not have done so by now?”
Some of the writers discussed in this book are the following: Edgar Allen Poe, Roald Dahl, Cormac McCarthy, Flannery O'Connor, Annei Proulx(her Wyoming stories), James Salter, Margaret Atwood, and Alice Munro. These are just a few of the writers she covers.

[Christine L. Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book a few months back and reviewed it but that review has somehow disappeared. As I no longer have the book but have given it away I will try to recall its merits. I was drawn to the book by its title and its mention of many authors who are favorites of mine.

However, in reading the book I found I had little in common with the author and her reviews of the other writer’s works. It seemed as if we had read totally different books by the same name. Oates likes to draw on the dark side of the authors which is quite easy to do when you are reviewing Edgar Allen Poe but not the children’s writer Roald Dahl. How can you review an author in Gothic attitude who writes “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men”?

I tried to get through the book but I could not complete the task. Perhaps I have too sunny an attitude. I will leave it for those who are a bit more erudite and dark in heart.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally. Finished. This. One. I've never read anything by Joyce Carol Oates before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but was excited when I found out I won this one on Goodreads. I like her writing style on the whole, but as this book is a collection of essays and reviews, the writing was dense. Almost interminably so. I also don't think it helped that I hadn't read many of the works that she was writing about.

Some of her insights were incredibly insightful and beautifully written - I found myself nodding my head or feeling a lightbulb go on in my brain - she has a way of putting a name and description on feelings I've had when reading but had trouble attaching words, too. However, though, this one was just too dense and inaccessible for me.

Overall, a dense book of literary criticisms. If you're a fan of such, especially those from an esteemed author, you'll probably like this one more than I did.

[Lauren~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just won this from first reads my first book by Joyce Carol Oates can't wait to read it!! Being my first book I read by Joyce Carol Oates I was so sad to hear of the sudden death of her husband in 2008 after 48 yrs of marriage. It was through her bereivement she took to her writing.
Essays and Reviews, there where far to many for me to mention and keep this review short but here are a few I liked. Emily Dickinson & friends,a brief part about Martin Johnson Heade got my attention (being a lover of his paintings) Never knew most things about Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach was my favorite book in 2nd grade) I see him in a new light now. Many more and a few I didn't care to much about but all in all a interesting book it was.

[Paul Jellinek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though, based on her commentary in this book, I don't think I have the same taste in literature as Joyce Carol Oates (I am definitely not a fan of Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood, much of Phillip Roth, etc.), I enjoyed reading many of the reviews and essays in this book, especially the last few that have to do with her early literary influences (Lewis Carrol among them) and her early years growing up in Lockport, New York.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been slowly reading this bit by bit for the past few months. Joyce Carol Oates is on my to-read list but I ended up reading these essays before any of her fiction (by a fluke, when I got carried away in the essays section of the library). I really enjoyed reading In Rough Country, especially because reading it helped me generate new thoughts/ideas of my own. I'd read many of the authors she critiques but can only hope to be as well-read and smartly literary one day as Oates.

[Bj · Rating 1 out of 5]

I recieved this book for free from first reads. I'm not too interested by classic literature and this book simply talks about classic literature and authors. I had a hard time getting through this book and would only recommend reading it if you're interested in knowing more about what this author thinks of an author or piece of literature

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like classical books, and had read most of the authors she talks about. Her thoughts are almost too deep for me! I get the feeling she learned to discuss things in a manner that would put off most normal people, a little superior tone. I am not sure she's as smart as she would like you to think.
I did enjoy her writing, except I don't concede that she knows whether there is a God or not.

[Joan Colby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of reviews and essays by the renowned Oates. Outstanding among these are the two assessments of the western writers Cormac McCarthy and Annie Proulx. Another hit is the overview of Margaret Drabble’s work as well as Alice Munro’s. In all a rewarding read for anyone interested in contemporary writers (though Oates also covers Poe and others).

[Alison Bergblom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I love Joyce Carol Oates' fictions, there is nothing like her prose. These pieces are a reader's dream, reminding me why I always wanted to read Jean Stafford, or more of Shirley Jackson than just "The Lottery." Also wonderful were appraisals of writers I've read such as Margaret Atwood. This is an important volume for anyone interested in literature about difficult subject matter.

[Samantha Grabelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble with this one and skipped most of the book reviews. Her writing and vocabulary make me feel less than intelligent and I haven't read any of the books so I had nothing to base her reviews on. I did like the Preface and "In the Absence of Mentors/Monsters" and "Revisiting Lockport, New York" very much.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In case you were curious... it's not particularly interesting to read literary criticism about authors and books you haven't read. Three stars because I won this in GoodReads' giveaway contest, and because I generally like Joyce Carol Oates.

[Edwin Arnaudin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only read the Cormac McCarthy essay, but it was well written and had some good discussion points. Based on the other topics in the collection (Flannery O'Connor! Philip Roth!) and the quality of the McCarthy entry, it seems like a solid book.

[Tony Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abslutely stunning! This collection was so visceral that I was repelled by some writers mentioned and entranced by others. Oates' writing shimmers throughout; I wanted it to go on forever. She is so prolific that I will be reading her for years!

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously a very well written book, though I found myself enjoying the essays much more than the reviews. However, the reviews led me to more books and authors that I might enjoy, so not bad at all really.

[Sandi]

I just won this in First Reads. It sounds sooooo good.

[patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discourse on a handful of fave writers...think I'm gonna like it !