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Granted privileged access to Joyce Carol Oates's letters and journals, as well as extensive interviews with family, friends, colleagues, and Oates herself, Greg Johnson examines the relationship between Oates's life and work in this fascinating exploration of a complex and gifted artist.Johnson reveals little known facts about Oates's personal and family history and debunks many of the myths that have arisen about this brilliant, enigmatic woman.From her impoverished childhood in rural upstate New York and the birth of her autistic sister, through Oates's studies at Syracuse University, where her talent was immediately recognized, and the full-breadth of her astonishingly productive career; despite bouts with depression and ill-health, Johnson's astute examination of Oates's novels, short stories, and plays demonstrates how her art has been informed by-and transformed-her life.
•The first complete and only authorized biography of Joyce Carol Oates.
•Includes discussion of We Were the Mulvaneys, Joyce Carol Oates's highly acclaimed 1996 bestseller.
•Joyce Carol Oates's reputation has never been greater, and the time is right for an in-depth look at her astonishing career and fascinating personal story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

A must read for JCO fans!
This book was invaluable in writing a term paper on my favorite author; passed the book around class and they loved it!

I Wish I Could Go Back And Tell Myself, "Do Not Read This Book."
A few years ago I broke my own rule in reading this book, and that is I try to concentrate on the works of a writer (or musician or artist) and not the figure who created them. Even so, this was not an impressive work of biography, and served more as an outlet for the fawning Mr. Johnson's furtive desire to churn out a volume of literary criticism than it fulfilled his ambition to detail the life story of a great writer. There is background information on Joyce Carol Oates here, particularly her childhood in upstate New York, but it's far better to leave this woman as the beautifully described "invisible writer" than to deal with Greg Johnson's tiring prose and attempts to delve into why Oates is as she is. Why is comprehension of motivation in the case of Joyce Carol Oates either desirable or possible? Does any theory that could be presented alter one word she had ever penned? I reject the trite of twentieth-century psychological arguments that would have us believe Oates' frequent forays into violent and sexual topics reflect some trauma within her psyche. Human beings are innately complex, and one with a mind like Oates' is imminently so. Joyce Carol Oates is and ought to remain the invisible writer, and Mr. Johnson should stick to compiling and editing her interviews. That's a more valid form of investigation into this living treasure, as well as a more polite one.

Excellent personal biography

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of Joyce Carol Oates's work (there was a time in my life when I thought her early short stories were fantastic, but her later work never impressed me), but I found this biography extremely satisfying. Johnson writes about Oates as an admiring friend (almost like Boswell to his Johnson), relating all the stages of her life and career: her childhood in Niagara County, NY; her college days; her marriage; teaching in Detroit; her move to Princeton. He writes about Oates's work, of course, but never in an analytical way - it's not a literary biography, but a biography about a writer. He is a most appealing writer in this regard, and he makes us interested in his subject as a person/teacher/writer in a most compelling fashion. Johnson is a very impelling writer; I found the book a real joy to read - and informative, too.

Very Readable Biography, Yet JCO Still Mysterious to Me
Invisible Writer is throughly researched and well written. I found it very readable, even though I was not a fan of JCO's. I'm still not a fan of hers. Greg Johnson manages to create a fair portrait of JCO as a human who is sometimes prickly and vain. I understand other reviewers' comments that he's too soft on her, but I see it as him being careful to be fair in writing about someone who is still producing some of her best work. Oddly I didn't find that his treatment made her more likeable, only that it made JCO someone with whom I can empathize.

The greatest question remaining about JCO is the violence, especially sexual, in her work. A childhood sexual incident is mentioned, but it seems rather mundane. Johnson refers to some of the hardships suffered by JCO's family, but those hardships doesn't seem to explain well enough how this quiet, intellectual woman lives in such another world in her writer's imagination. Perhaps that's the intrigue of JCO.

Disappointing
I looked forward to reading a biography of this important writer. Instead, I felt as if I was reading literary criticsm. Mr. Johnson had incredible access to Oates, via journals and interviews. Instead of using this access to bring us vibrant insight into the process of creation as Oates brings a book from idea to the page, we get pages of dense literary analysis jumping back in forth in time within one page. Perhaps I need to read the Reader's Digest version... ... Read more

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This story is intended to reach the readers by sharing my experience as a stepchild and being brought up with people who really embraced and loved me for who I was. In experiencing these writings, one would understand how to overcome his or her ups and downs and enjoy the beauty of life and its surroundings, even for short periods of times, through the roller coaster of life. As you hold on to the Master's hand, believe that you can change things through the mercy of the living God and Lord Jesus Christ. One must know that the sun doesn't shine all the time; that darkness must come.

Sometimes life seems to be fiery dots from Satan to pierce you deeply in the heart. Then you must tell yourself to hold on to the plow and don't let go of your faith when the mule jerks the plow away. You will succeed in whatever you strive to do, even if sometimes the pain seems to be unbearable.

Most of all I reach out to those who suffer with cancer because I have battled cancer twice in my life. It's very hard, but stay busy and don't focus on your sickness. Strive to test your strength to help others. ... Read more

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ENDTIME POWERFULREVELATION OF WATER BAPTISMThis is a book for those who have knowledge of God's word yet are hungry to receive new revelations. It is for those who have wondered about Christ's return for His Bride, just when and where we marry Him, and how this spiritual marriage is consummated. It is for those who have questioned: Who are kings and who are priests in the Kingdom of God? What is a spiritual twin of ourself? I've never heard of it! Why do we have infirmity of the flesh when Jesus bore our sickness and took 39 stripes for our healing?The teachings you have heard about water baptism have only touched the tip of the iceberg so to speak! The greatest part until now has been hidden below the surface of understanding. It will thrill your heart to receive knowledge of that hidden part in an ENDTIME POWERFUL REVELATION OF WATER BAPTISM!Joyce E. Johnson, age 66, has had a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ for the last 63 years, is a minister, prophetess, inventor, and author. She lives in central Illinois with Larry, her husband of 46 years. They have four married daughters and nine grandchildren. Joyce owns a three-acre farm named Liberty, which she uses to win souls for Jesus. ... Read more

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Gizmo, a curious little dog, wanders away from home and his mom, Laura, one day to explore the outside world and find adventure. He is amazed at all the wonderful things he finds! On his journey, Gizmo sees children waiting for their school bus, a nice lady who helps him cross the street, an old man who shares his food with him, and even a big, bad, mean dog who bullies Gizmo.

But after the long journey, Gizmo realizes he's hungry, tired, and completely out of energy. Can he find his way back home to see his mom again? ... Read more

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teacher's edition (edicion del maestro, tomo uno). ... Read more