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We Were the Mulvaneys edition by Joyce Carol Oates Literature Fiction eBooks

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We Were the Mulvaneys edition by Joyce Carol Oates Literature Fiction eBooks

Ms. Oates writes an amazing story of a family's disintegration and later of its redemption.The Mulvaney family's story begins on a farm in upstate New York. They were a happy, successful and loving family until daughter Marianne was raped.

Her father could not accept what happened to her, and banished her to live away from the rest of the family. The story then relates how each family member was affected after Marianne leaves the family. Mr. Mulvaney spiralled from a successful business owner to a drunk who could no longer support his family.

Each member of the family was negatively affected by the aftermath of the rape. Their evolution back to emotional health was a long journey. Years later, after Mr. Mulvaney's death, the family reunites at a family gathering over the Fourth of July. Their individual journeys find them reuniting as people go have found their way back to emotional health and happiness.


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We Were the Mulvaneys edition by Joyce Carol Oates Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

This novel is a painful but sympathetic account of the tragedy-struck Mulvaney family who led idyllic lives for nearly two decades in the 1960s and 70s, while living in a well-maintained, century-old farmhouse on twenty acres, near the small town of Mt. Ephraim in upper state New York. The Mulvaney family, Mike Sr. and Corrine and their four children, from oldest to youngest, Mike Jr, Patrick, Marianne, and Judd, was suffused with a great deal of harmony, love, cheerfulness, dependability, energy, etc. They were well respected in the community, even among the movers and shakers, for their industriousness, Mike Sr. owning a roofing company and Corrine running the household and dabbling in antiques. Despite all of these positives there was a certain lack of depth in their lives. There were elements of naïveté, insularity, simplicity, and religiosity about them that left them utterly unprepared to cope with an ugly, painful event visited upon their family when most of the kids were teenagers.

The book is consumed almost entirely with the fallout from a sexual assault suffered by Marianne, as a junior in high school, after the Valentine's Day prom in 1976, hinted at constantly in the first third of the book where the smoothly functioning, happy family stands in stark contrast with what is coming. Unfortunately, the community's reaction is one of covert condemnation - blame the victim and, most of all, stop associating with the family. As for the Mulvaney's, as might be expected, Marianne is totally distraught by what has occurred. On the other hand, Mike Sr., instead of providing the stability that his family needed, embarks on a path of destruction he neglects his business; invests much time in seeking some sort of revenge; drinks excessively; and creates a constant level of hostility within the family, which is hardly helped when he drives away Marianne. Within a couple of years the entire family has broken up and the farm and business are lost.

What ensues over the next fifteen years and the last two-thirds of the book is sad but not unexpected. Patrick and Marianne are the biggest casualties; without the safe and supportive environment they had known their entire lives they flounder in their endeavors, be it school or menial jobs. Corrine regards their lives as "stitched like a rag quilt." Mike continues to deteriorate, isolating himself from everyone. Corrine, in her forgetfulness, remains the delusional optimist in the face of every setback. Marianne is the author's focus, whose mysteriousness intrigues many in her scattered life, but always moves on when anyone draws near. Some of the story is told from the perspective of Judd in 1993, who looks back on the Mulvaneys from his vantage point as a newspaperman.

The book can seem tedious at times, especially in the beginning, with a great deal of excessive descriptions, but eventually the characters take over the book. Overall the book is a heartfelt look at a family that is broken and seemingly cannot be fixed. Perhaps the reader is drawn in by the obvious need for appropriate counseling that is never gotten. An interesting aspect of the Mulvaneys is their love for animals; their dogs, cats, and horses help to sustain them at their lowest points. The last short segment of the book is the odd piece. A family reunion is held by Corrine in 1993 not far from the old family home, where the Mulvaneys arrive well-adjusted with their spouses and children in tow, as though the previous horrible years had not occurred. More likely is that the author is letting us know that there was an inner strength and resolve in the Mulvaneys, perhaps not expected, that eventually rose in each of them in the face of adversity. A note despite its imperfections, no way is this a one-star book.
A wonderful novel - superbly written and dealing with the most important issues. How do different individuals cope with grave violation, how important is revenge and justice? How abrupt can a catastrophy overturn a blessed life? And what does it take to make life to continue? The cat, Muffin, was one of the solutions, as well as giving us the very strong part about animal welfare.
There’s a hint in the title of the book, “We Were the Mulvaneys,” and it weighs on you as you read the story. The “Were,” was ever present while reading about this highly functional, amazing family. “Happy Days,” and “The Wonder Years,” couldn’t come close. I wanted to be adopted – but, then, of course, I didn’t.

The family implodes with such devastation to its core. Joyce Carol Oats tells this sad tale that just keeps spiraling out-of-control with no brakes. I kept waiting for someone to be an adult and take charge of the situation, but it doesn’t happen.

The children are so different from one another, and have such a hard time relating to each other when they leave their childhood home. The oldest and the “All-American,” Michael, the genius, Patrick, the too-good to be true, Marianne, and the baby, Judd, all leave their childhood home and are thrown into a world that they have to navigate alone and without parental assistance because of a tragedy that happens to Marianne, the only daughter and sister. Their stories vividly portray the anguish they faced trying to grow up in this new world with rules they don’t quite understand.

The father and mother bothered me, and they will bother you also. It’s hard to understand them now, but I try to remember that time and my parents and the world as it was. There are probably plenty of parents that can’t handle the curve balls life throws at them, but it troubles me when children are involved.

I really enjoyed the book – it made me angry, sad, and in the end hopeful – just what a good book should! Book clubs will have a lot of discussion generated by the parents and the children’s adaptation of their lives. Is Patrick justified in his actions? Is Marianne really so complacent and docile? Is Corinne a good mother, a good wife? How could Michael, Sr. blame everyone else?

Good book, good discussion! I gave it an 8.5 on my book club website.
Ms. Oates writes an amazing story of a family's disintegration and later of its redemption.The Mulvaney family's story begins on a farm in upstate New York. They were a happy, successful and loving family until daughter Marianne was raped.

Her father could not accept what happened to her, and banished her to live away from the rest of the family. The story then relates how each family member was affected after Marianne leaves the family. Mr. Mulvaney spiralled from a successful business owner to a drunk who could no longer support his family.

Each member of the family was negatively affected by the aftermath of the rape. Their evolution back to emotional health was a long journey. Years later, after Mr. Mulvaney's death, the family reunites at a family gathering over the Fourth of July. Their individual journeys find them reuniting as people go have found their way back to emotional health and happiness.