A brilliant and thought-provoking novel about family, loyalty and betrayal
Once I'd been Daddy's favourite. Before something terrible happened.
Violet Rue is the baby of the seven Kerrigan children and adores her big brothers. What's more, she knows that a family protects its own. To go outside the family to betray the family is unforgiveable. So when she overhears a conversation not meant for her ears and discovers that her brothers have committed a heinous crime, she is torn between her loyalty to her family and her sense of justice. The decision she takes will change her life for ever.
Exploring racism, misogyny, community, family, loyalty, sexuality and identity, this is a dark story with a tense and propulsive atmosphere Joyce Carol Oates at her very best.
Joyce Carol Oates My Life as a Rat is a top-tier literary fiction that masterfully explores the journey of coming of age. Set against a backdrop of family loyalty and betrayal, the narrative is a compelling exploration of societal issues, leaving readers to question their own understanding of right and wrong.
For fans of Ian Mcewan (Lessons), Hernan Diaz (Trust), Maggie O'Farrell (Hamnet), Elizabeth Strout (Lucy by the Sea), and Barbara Kingsolver (Demon Copperhead).