I was in the mood for a good mystery this
month. I promised myself that I would read more books by Joyce Carol Oates
after writing about We Were the Mulvaneys. Making a choice was not easy.
Joyce Carol Oates is a prolific writer, so her list of books is endless... I ended up picking Fox. To my surprise, it happened to be her latest release.
Joyce
Carol Oates’s writing is engaging; her stories are always immersive. This specific
book is about a serial pedophile. It was distressing to read how he had gotten
away with the act of abusing several twelve-year-old girls. This sexual
predator had a preference for abusing pre-pubescent girls. Ironically, the
students admired him, and the narrative hints at the idea that because he
was a man he galvanized the students’ and parents’ respect and trust.
Somebody murdered Francis Fox, the pedophile. Who did it? Joyce Carol Oates ignites intrigue on every single page. The suspense is coupled with vivid settings. Yet she does not bog it down with senseless descriptions. In other words, she never bores the reader. I always appreciate the ways in which she reveals the nature of the characters and their social situations. She does so in a way that heightens emotions and shocks you. When you least expect it, she will throw a dagger to expose the perverse cruelty of society.
Characters, setting, pace, plot and ending
are all carefully crafted, blending into a thought-provoking novel with
elements of “black humor.” Joyce Carol Oates subtly mocks the nature of many of
the characters. Her writing is brilliant. Her themes illuminate the darkest
aspects of society. Strangely enough, I knew what the ending would be like… but
I did not know about the details, and there are “surprises” along the way.
The story was eerie, disturbing, sad and
extremely unpleasant. The actions of the pedophile were horrific, but the
people surrounding him did a good job of denying, ignoring and pretending that
there was nothing wrong with the pedophile. Those who were responsible for
holding him accountable were effective at looking the other way and letting him
off the hook.
It was equally outrageous to see that when one
of the “deniers” had access to the photos of what he had done to these girls,
she tried to deny it or to make excuses.
As you can imagine, Fox is a novel that triggers
strong emotions. It was repulsive to read how people described this monster as
charismatic, kind and intelligent, even though he was abusive and manipulative. The pedophile preyed on the most vulnerable girls, and he had a way of twisting and distorting events and situations to make
himself look good and to pretend that he had been treated unfairly.
The constant adulation of Francis Fox was infuriating.
Unfortunately, Joyce Carol Oates showed it too many times on the pages of the
novel. I was almost ready to close the book, but reaching the end was a must. Sadly,
the students and other adult characters kept fawning over Mr. Pedophile ad
nauseum. To make matters worse, this irrationality transcends the boundaries of
the story if you consider that an Amazon reviewer mentioned that Francis Fox
was a “fascinating man.” Not only did the pedophile abuse the girls, but he also made a profit out of doing so.
How did he manage to do what he did and be praised like that? It is hard to believe, isn’t it? Or perhaps it isn't.
Take a look at the following paradox: Francis Fox talks to the librarian about the need to ban the book Lolita. He likes to control others. Francis Fox gave the girls treats coated with sleep medications such
as Ativan or Ambien to sexually abuse them. Where did he get these medications from?
Joyce Carol Oates did not fully address it, but she gave a hint that may
explain it. I am not going to reveal it.
Joyce Carol Oates is also adept at exposing
the misogyny and gender prejudices that pollute society, but I will let you find those moments when you dive into this unsettling story. There is a lot to
discuss and analyze. Moreover, I would like to have the opportunity to discuss
some points about the novel- loose ends- that triggered questions, but I do not
belong to any book club and I have no interest in joining one at the moment. I do think this book would be a suitable
choice for a book club, so make sure you add it to your list.
I wish
I could say that once you finish this sinister novel, you can relax and forget
about it, but the truth is that you can’t. Not when you know that a convicted child sex trafficker enjoys special privileges. Not when you know that seventy-seven
million people in the United States of America voted for a convicted sexual
abuser who happened to be the best friend of a sex-trafficker for fifteen years;
not when ninety million people did not even bother to vote and enabled a
convicted sexual abuser to become president.
I do have a few quibbles about the novel. I
did not like that Oates picked the name “Fox” for the pedophile. I do not like
it when people compound human cruelty with non-human animals. On the other hand, there may be another reason for the use of that name; it may have something to do with the kind of “media” using it… Also, the word “pig” applied as an insult is
a habit that should become outdated. Pigs are intelligent, compassionate
beings. They do have individual personalities--just like human beings--so we
are not supposed to make generalizations about them.
In conclusion, Fox is a thought-provoking
novel, but it is also disturbing. There is, however, a spark of hope in it. Yet that
spark of hope is not enough to quell the outrage it provokes. I recommend it.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you check my writing on the following book:
The Last interview and Other Conversations with Octavia Butler
Make sure you also check this relevant video by David Pakman, an independent journalist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrtP0O9Zd4Y
