A Widow's Story: A Memoir Audiobook

" A deep and moving novel about Joyce Carol Oates loss of her husband. The book moves at a pace that feels right when dealing with the subject of loss and being left alone. It was almost like having Joyce Carol Oates right next to you telling you her story. I found it provacative. It brought up many questions that I have about loss and how it will effect me personally. I learned some valuable information with this book. I gave it 3 stars only because of its heavy subject and the fact that it might not appeal to everyone. "

" I was a bit disappointed, it was very repetitive and made her look like a victim, I thought. It did bring memories back in flashes of my father's death and how difficult it was for me to accept. "

" while not a JCO follower, i admire her private lonliness... intrigingly honest and at some points startling, a widow's story does what literary magic is supposed to do... it takes us to a place where we may have been or will be at some point in our lifetime and spills our thoughts, feelings, reactions, desires, and phobias onto wisped white pages making us feel less alone... "

" I love Joyce Carol Oates but this memoir about her husband's death and her widowhood should have been edited WAY down. Quite repetitive. I understand she was trying to capture the repetitious "What ifs?" that occur during grief but after a third or fourth go 'round of the same thought/action/memory I was OK to move on in her process. It reads like a long, unedited personal journal where every thought is captured and recaptured--cathartic for her but not engaging to the reader. Not as captivating or thought provoking as Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking. "

" For anyone who has been through the loss, Joyce Carol Oates poignantly captures those feelings and moments. Oates is a powerful storyteller, you read her stories and forget you are reading. "

" This was one of my favorite JCO books - it chronicles the first year following the death of her husband. Highly recommended "

" I have enjoyed the author's fiction, but this dragged a little. "

" Such a rich and authentic story. Filled with strength & vulnerability. Made me question so much in my own life & helped me to feel like I understand one of my favorite authors on such a personal level. "

" Beautiful, honest, and thoughtful memoir of becoming a widow and how her work and friends carry her through this extremely painful time. I especially love the literary references! "

" This book could have been about 2/3 shorter and would have been better if the author kept much of her feelings to herself in a diary. There is no support to be found here if you are looking to learn something about dealing with such a huge loss. "

" A truly tough book to read. Who would have thought such an icon was so real. "

" so honest, amazingly honest, to loose the one you have been with for decades, very good "

" Beautiful writing, but a difficult read. Brutal at times. A young widow friend of mine said it captures the craziness of the early months of widowhood perfectly. "

" While I appreciated her courage and honesty, I couldn't get past her style of writing. I only made it several chapters and had to give up. "

" A personal account of the terrible loneliness the surviving spouse is doomed to face eventually. "

" Painful, and at times slow... Much as I expect true grief to feel like. I read this book because someone I know was going through a similar experience. The book served as a reminder that life is short, relationships can end at a moments notice, and that everyone grieves differently. "

" An amazingly beautifully written memoir by Joyce Carol Oates. Incredibly sad but beautiful. The best book I've read in a while. "

" so well written - though a very sad subject! "

" Interesting how women react to becoming a widow. "

" Joyce Carol Oates is the best -- absolutely the best American writer alive today. This examination of the loss of her husband unexpectedly and the ensuing weeks and months of "learning" how to be a widow is exquisite. It's painful and sad but in the end uplifting. "

" This intense and moving portrait of grief was heartbreaking and riveting. But it was also very, very difficult to read, given its subject matter. It's worth the immersion, however. This book changed me, and maybe it will change you, too. "