Books like Faithless: Tales of Transgression

An emotional and somewhat depraved read, I've had an exceptionally difficult time putting my feelings about this anthology into words. I've done my best to try and come back to this review all articulate and concise. But...I...just can't!! There are a lot of stories in this collection and they reach all the way into the deepest recesses of our minds to pull and tweak those dark thoughts that we all have. I felt angry, depressed, uncomfortable, sad, disgusted and completely wrecked throghout this anthology. which is why it took me sooo long to read it. It just wasn't something I could keep plowing through without feeling like I was giving up part of my soul in the process. Then again, Joyce Carol Oates has a knack for doing that. She very much reminds me of something that Clive Barker said in an interview I watched, I can't remember the EXACT wording, but it's essentially something along these lines:\ "People wonder what kind of sick depraved person I have to be to be able to come up with some of the ideas I've had. The thing is that we're all sick and depraved and we need to express that in some way. It's the people that never express it, that stay quiet, that you really need to worry about."\ That kept coming to mind over and over again as I read this anthology because, I realized, that this is exactly what Oates did. She accepted not only that part of her psyche, but also accepted the fact that it's in every person's psyche. Whether they acknowledge it or not. Unfortunately there is just no way for me to review the individual stories in here. I just wouldn't know where to begin. But I would definitely recommend this anthology, as well as anything by Oates, to those that can take a dive into the dark and deep side of their mind and still be able to come out the other side not completely messed up.Just....Wow...