Reviews

Exit Ghost by Philip Roth

gillesdelatoet's review

adventurous funny reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

smbla's review against another edition

4.0

Even though Philip Roth is one of America's most lauded novelists and certainly prolific in recent years, I never enjoyed his work. I am not sure if the Clare Bloom affect is in play (for those that read her autobiography-you would throw an entire library at Mr. Roth) or because I felt that I was joining him on his analysts couch? Both are plausible.

Needless to say I wanted to complete the Nathan Zuckerman cycle and read Exit Ghost and was prepared to walk away from another Roth. I did not walk-I actually wanted to complete the novel in one sitting.

My favorite piece is the heartfelt homage to George Plimpton the man you would always want to have seated next to you at a dinner party.

Perhaps because of George, who knows maybe I will read another Roth?

boleary30's review against another edition

3.0

Good premise, decent parts, but got weird with the incest parts.

james20xx's review

funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

natalieut03's review against another edition

2.0

I powered through this for my book club, but it wasn't my cup of tea. I've learned that I dislike books from an aging male perspective, specifically if that aging male's sole focus is on his aging. This was just depressing and a bit creepy.

With that said, I did sort of enjoy the writing style. And I sort of enjoyed that the young female was from Houston and had a lot to say about George Bush. That was amusing, but otherwise this book was boring.

lavina_l's review against another edition

4.0

The other reviews here say it better than I do, so I'll leave it at that. But I will say that the 2004 election scenes were brilliant and poignant and heartbreaking these nearly four very long years later. Also: every word in its place. The book was near perfect.

mcintoshheidi's review

4.0

Very clever, slightly weird, funny and satirical, a bit intellectual, obsessive reading...i'm not entirely sure what i thought of this book, to be honest. Did i enjoy it? I'm not sure "enjoy" is the right word. It was a good read, although slow to start with it soon picked up, but i'm left feeling slightly frustrated as i don't think the story has been resolved...at least not to my satisfaction. But what do i know? This is my first Philip Roth book, so maybe thats typical.

darby3's review against another edition

Jesus, I‰ЫЄve read all the Zuckerman books there‰ЫЄll ever be

mikekelly4815's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I thought many parts of the book were great. I loved when the book was focusing on aging or writing. The protagonist's musings on the state of literary criticism, and criticism's fixation the author and his/her morality, was genuinely insightful. That being said, I was not as interested int the parts of the book where the protagonist explores the potential, or lack thereof, of a sexual relationship with a younger woman. That made up a significant portion of the book and was only periodically interesting

wemedge's review

emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.25