Little Bird of Heaven

Today’s post is from Lynn and Parr Library:

Little Bird of Heaven by Joyce Carol Oates

This book is full of real people living authentic and tragic lives.  The place is Sparta, New York, a dark and dying town.  The time is contemporary, though being a classic story, it could be anytime and anywhere.  The fact is, Zoe Kruller was murdered.  The question is, “Who did it?”  

 The police think either her lover or her ex-husband did it, but neither suspect is ever charged.  But what matters is not the facts or the lack of evidence; what matters is who people think murdered Zoe. 

The suspect’s families, especially their children, pay a huge price for the poor choices of their fathers.  The murder marks a turning point beyond which nothing is ever the same.  Oates is one of the best American writers of our day and Little Bird of Heaven reflects her genius in creating unforgettable characters living real lives.