One Book Down

I've reacquainted myself with the public library and our bank account is thankful. I checked out three books last week, one of which was from my book challenge list. Black Water, by Joyce Carol Oates is a character study of a young woman who, while with a senator, is killed in a car accident. The story is reminiscent of the infamous Chappaquiddick incident involving Senator Ted Kennedy.
Since I've long heard stories about that particular incident this book was of interest. Of course Oates is, arguably, one of the best writers in American literature so that helped as well. The book is a deceptively quick read, and although I knew exactly what would happen in the end I found myself holding my breath at times hoping that Kelly would escape. Of course, as we are told from the beginning, she does not.

This book really made me think about the choices that we make as women and why we are so drawn, as Kelly was, to those who command power and consequently make choices that ultimately result in our demise. For most of us that demise is not death, but rather a reduced sense of self-worth and esteem. Even for those of us that seem to have a great deal of power in our own right are not immune. And so it was for Kelly.