We Were the Mulvaneys

By: Joyce Carol Oates

Narrated by: Scott Shina

Author of 27 novels, Joyce Carol Oates has won a National Book Award and the PEN/Malamud Award. She has been nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Readers around the world marvel at her ability to trace the subtle dynamics at work in the modern American family.

Judd is the youngest of the four Mulvaney children - three boys and a girl - on their parents’ lush farm in upstate New York. In his childhood, Judd is swept along by the sheer energy of the Mulvaneys and their wealth of beloved family stories. But now, 30 years old, Judd looks back through his memories to tell the secrets that eventually ripped apart the fabric of his storybook family.

Reminiscent of the works of Jane Smiley and Anne Tyler, Oates’ novel tells a tale that could be tragic, but is, instead, a ringing affirmation. Narrator Scott Shina’s performance perfectly captures the complex relationships within the Mulvaney clan.

©1996 The Ontario Review, Inc. (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Characters

Such a rich, multi leveled story of the human condition, family bonds and our relationships with and to our faith and our moral compasses.

Tedious

I had already seen the movie and was looking for more information about why Mary Anne was sent away. I figured it got edited out of the movie. WRONG. Instead I found this a tedious account of a superficial family that disintegrated and blamed it all on a horrible rape. the actions of the family were still unfathomable in the book as in the movie. thankfully my iphone has the ability to speed up the book so I listened to the last half at 1.5 and 2 times normal. It was the only way through it. I'm glad Oprah liked this book but I sure didn't.

Slow decay of family; dad creating own catch 22s

Would you listen to We Were the Mulvaneys again? Why?

Yes, instills the value of solid values, consistency, clear pragmatic thinking.

What did you like best about this story?

Redundant answer to redundant question. Instills the value of solid values, consistency, clear pragmatic thinking.

Any additional comments?

Its a bit hard watching (listening for the pedantic) the family decay due to typical but silly values and aspects of personality.

We Were the Mulvaneys

Well written and extremely well read. This story follows the spiraling descent of the Mulvaney family. The Mulvaney's move from a normal prosperous life, to their fall from community graces and the eventual moving on with their lives.

Average

This isn't Oates best book, but not her worst either. I've read other reviews complaining about the narration and, while I didn't find it so jarring that I couldn't continue listening, it did annoy me that the narrator felt the need to give the Mulvaneys southern accents. Why is "country" and/or "rural" thought of to be exclusive to the American south? It's so cliche! The book actually mentions that the parents are originally from the Pittsburgh and Central NY area and, as a resident of Central NY myself, I can certainly attest that no one born here (or in Pittsburgh for that matter) has a southern accent.