Books like Expensive people by Joyce Carol Oates
Set in the late 1960s, Joy‑Carol Oates’s *Expensive People* follows 11‑year‑old Richard Everett as he observes and critiques the secretive, privileged world of his suburban upbringing. Through a first‑person narrative, Richard dissects his relationship with a “successful‑executive” father, an elusive mother, and a private schooling environment that feels both alluring and alienating. The story culminates in Richard’s drastic act of defiance—a violent outburst that presages the increasing turbulence of the coming decades. The novel explores themes of class, family dynamics, and the destructive potential of youth, blending psychological insight with a grim undercurrent of horror.
First publish date: 1968
Genre: Horror/Psychological Horror
Authors: Joyce Carol Oates
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