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emmafluff15's review against another edition
1.0
Why oh why did I read this book?!
So it was easy to read but I didn't find a connection with the main character, who is nameless. I was somewhat bored for the first half and then boom I was annoyed and bored. Around 100 pages in comes some seriously bad sex scenes that made me cringe and not because it's sex just how it was written.
I would not recommend it at all.
So it was easy to read but I didn't find a connection with the main character, who is nameless. I was somewhat bored for the first half and then boom I was annoyed and bored. Around 100 pages in comes some seriously bad sex scenes that made me cringe and not because it's sex just how it was written.
I would not recommend it at all.
saturatedcotton's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
elspethm's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is my second Philip Roth book and it was vastly better than the first one ("The Breast"). I enjoyed this story following the life and death of a man who could be considered an "everyman" (of men that came of age in the 60s or 70s). It is relatable even to those that haven't been married multiple times or had one job for their entire career. Some of these changes of life and reflections are universal.
tommyhousworth's review
4.0
I've had a hard time entering Philip Roth's world, having abandoned "[b:Sabbath's Theater|11654|Sabbath's Theater|Philip Roth|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511qnZBw25L._SL75_.jpg|588]" and "The Human Stain" in the past, though I still hope to revisit them.
"Everyman" may have been just the right passageway for me - a novella about a man (we never learn his name) and his realization that, in the twilight of his years, he has become everything he'd hoped he wouldn't. As he undergoes a series of medical procedures, the wreckage that is his body serves as a metaphor for the maladies of his human spirit, having failed at marriage three times, as a father twice (his sons hate him, only his daughter wants a relationship with him), and as an artist (he waited until retirement to pursue his dream of painting).
The narrative is splayed between present and past, beginning with a graveside service for the man, and then weaving through the phases of his life. Roth isn't one for verbal theatrics, and his style doesn't draw attention to itself, so what you have left is simply a story well told, which may be the hardest thing for a writer to do - no bells, no whistles, just the bone and marrow of a life, presented but never explained.
Roth's rather unapologetic approach to prose accentuates the regret this character feels, and while most would consider the book a downer, I find stories of regret like this one to be most inspiring - it reminds you of priorities, the gifts of health and happiness, and the devastating power of every choice we make without being didactic about it.
When I told Wendy that this book never shares the main character's name with the reader she said, "I can't connect with a character if I don't know what to call them." Then, I looked at the cover of the book - completely black except for the title glaring off the hardback: "Everyman". There was his name, and the metaphoric punch that Roth intended.
This is not an 'enjoyable' or light read, but it's a quick and rewarding one, and one I'm glad gave me a passageway into Mr. Roth's reading room.
"Everyman" may have been just the right passageway for me - a novella about a man (we never learn his name) and his realization that, in the twilight of his years, he has become everything he'd hoped he wouldn't. As he undergoes a series of medical procedures, the wreckage that is his body serves as a metaphor for the maladies of his human spirit, having failed at marriage three times, as a father twice (his sons hate him, only his daughter wants a relationship with him), and as an artist (he waited until retirement to pursue his dream of painting).
The narrative is splayed between present and past, beginning with a graveside service for the man, and then weaving through the phases of his life. Roth isn't one for verbal theatrics, and his style doesn't draw attention to itself, so what you have left is simply a story well told, which may be the hardest thing for a writer to do - no bells, no whistles, just the bone and marrow of a life, presented but never explained.
Roth's rather unapologetic approach to prose accentuates the regret this character feels, and while most would consider the book a downer, I find stories of regret like this one to be most inspiring - it reminds you of priorities, the gifts of health and happiness, and the devastating power of every choice we make without being didactic about it.
When I told Wendy that this book never shares the main character's name with the reader she said, "I can't connect with a character if I don't know what to call them." Then, I looked at the cover of the book - completely black except for the title glaring off the hardback: "Everyman". There was his name, and the metaphoric punch that Roth intended.
This is not an 'enjoyable' or light read, but it's a quick and rewarding one, and one I'm glad gave me a passageway into Mr. Roth's reading room.
soussou17's review against another edition
5.0
Un livre sur la vie, la mort et ce qu’il se passe entre les deux, sur nos rêves non réalisés et nos peurs envahissantes...
miszapp's review
4.0
Philip Roth holds top place among my favourite authors. There is no one like him to capture solitude of "everyman" in modern societies. We meet marketing agency director leaving great life on top of the world in Big Apple. He has everything, he does whatever he wants. What is he thinking over his grave? What does he regret? There is nothing related to career or even unfulfilled dreams. It's all about love. Are we making right decision? Why are we hurting people? Roth is great psychologist and captures so many from our worries. This is private story and he shows me what i don't want to see and feel over my grave. Roth is great!
latterman's review
4.0
“Old age isn’t a battle; old age is a massacre”.
A fascinating story about an aging man and the mistakes he made throughout his lifetime. As his body gives in and self inflicted loneliness reaches its peak, how do you cope with the fact that you can’t even call your children?
A fascinating story about an aging man and the mistakes he made throughout his lifetime. As his body gives in and self inflicted loneliness reaches its peak, how do you cope with the fact that you can’t even call your children?
juli_ernesto's review
4.0
quite good.
Midlife crises for men are always more fun. They all do the same thing lol
Midlife crises for men are always more fun. They all do the same thing lol
justin_zigenis's review
3.0
Three stars, because it was written so well. On the progression of the plot...eh, two stars, although the ending was good.
kmatthe2's review against another edition
3.0
Both a typical and atypical offering from Roth. On the one hand, the novel had his usual macho "I'm a man loved by all women" dimension to it. On the other hand, Roth seems to recognize the flaws in that posture and apparently reaches for more.