The Grave-Digger's Daughter by Joyce Carol Oates *****

The Schwartz family arrives in a small New York State town from Germany, where they had been persecuted by the Nazi's. Jacob, a university professor and soccer coach back in Germany, is only able to find work as a grave-digger, and the family of five live in a tiny, mouldy stone cottage on the edge of the graveyard. Anna, the mother, suffers from depression, can hardly leave her home, and is largely absent for her children. Jacob is demonized by events back home, so much so that a few years later, he has alienated his two sons,  finally kills his wife, and tries to kill Rebecca, although she is spared because "you were born here", then turns the gun on himself.

Rebecca is alone in the world, but manages to scrape out a living for herself. She marries Niles Trignor, who abuses her and their child, Niley, and after a catastrophic beating, Rebecca flees with her child. She re-names herself Hazel Jones, a name which refers to a chance encounter very early in the book, which is explained some twenty years later.

The second half of the book - and it is a long book, some 575 pages- mainly focuses on her son, whom she has re-named Zack,and he is a child prodigy at the piano. I enjoyed this part of the book the most. Hazel also meets and has a relationship with Chet Gallagher, a jazz pianist who also had a broken relationship with his wealthy father.

However, the ending left me with many questions, although the epilogue was well- done. This is the fourth Oates novel I've read - We Were The Mulvaneys, Blonde, The Falls - she's an excellent writer, and I found I wanted to read every word. Her novels are certainly dystopian, but not morbidly so. I read some reviews, and most we're not all that taken with the book, but it will definitely be on this year's favourites list for me!

Vienna Nocturne by Vivian Shotwell **

Historical fiction, this novel tells the story of a young woman named Anna who was Mozart's favourite soprano and perhaps someone he loved very much. it was mildly interesting. I skimmed most of the last 100 pages, but at least I can say I finished it!