JCO: Zombie (Spoil Alert)

Zombie -

I read Zombie this evening. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to how this story "fits in" with Oates' other works? I have not read Oates chronologically or in any particular order (it seems more like the books just come to me) and I was disturbed by this work more than any other I have read. While many of Oates' stories involving female protagonists end with the feeling that the female will go on with her life and find a way to keep living, the idea of Quentin allowed to live and plotting and planning is very upsetting. Is this male (killer) character revisited in any other other works that you have run across? Any ideas on this novel anyone wants to discuss?

Also, I noticed that Quentin counts time in this work by placing stones on the air-conditioner by the window. Rebecca does the same thing to count time in The Grave Digger's Daughter. A little detail - but I found it interesting that it appeared in two completely different characters - has anyone seen this in other works?

- Nicole (Texas)