1. Plot

2. Reception

3. References

Plot

While walking her employers' two children, sixteen year-old nanny Katya Spivak is approached by an old man, Marcus Kidder, who seems to take an interest in her. Mr. Kidder invites Katya to his house, and though the initial visits seem harmless, their relationship gradually develops into something of a darker nature.

Reception

Reviewing the book for The Washington Post, Jane Smiley analogized Oates' prolific production to a large museum, and described this book as "a work that is not going to get a room of its own, or even a wall of its own, but it will fit neatly into the portrait gallery, and it deserves contemplation."^[3] Some other reviews were less positive. Publishers Weekly called the book "derivative and unpolished".^[4] Elizabeth Day in The Guardian said the book was a "disappointment" and that Oates had not succeeded in her effort to rework the themes of Lolita.^[2] Wendy Brandmark of The Independent noted some "fine moments" in the book but thought it was "too controlled".^[5]

References

• South High School (Salt Lake City)
• South High School (Springfield, Ohio)
• South High School (Torrance, California)
• South High School (Willoughby, Ohio)
• South Hills High School
• South Hills Junction station
• South Hills Mall
• South Hills (Pennsylvania)
• South Hills Village
• South Hills Village station
• South Hill (VA)
• South Himsworth, Ontario
• South Hinksey
• South Hobart
• South Hobart FC
• South Hobart/Sandy Bay Cricket Club
• South holderness technology collage
• South Holderness Technology college
• Southhold (LIRR station)
• South-Holland
• South Holland and The Deepings
• South Holland and the Deepings
• South Holland (disambiguation)
• South Holston Lake
• South Homer