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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Read this book because my dad gave it to me! Really fast paced, fun read. A nice break from the doldrums of finals. Definitely not for everyone but interesting to read about themes of Judaism and going off to college
medium-paced
This is my first Roth book. Have any of my Good Read friends read any of his stuff?
I finished this book -- really it's a short novel -- last night. I wanted to love it, as clearly all the critics did, but it just didn't resonate with me. Don't get me wrong, I respect Roth's writing and storytelling but the story line wasn't one I could completely relate to.
I also found it jarring to discover the narrator was dead about halfway through the book. After that, I was even less engaged.
That said it does offer interesting perspectives about how simple decisions can affect you and those around you.
I finished this book -- really it's a short novel -- last night. I wanted to love it, as clearly all the critics did, but it just didn't resonate with me. Don't get me wrong, I respect Roth's writing and storytelling but the story line wasn't one I could completely relate to.
I also found it jarring to discover the narrator was dead about halfway through the book. After that, I was even less engaged.
That said it does offer interesting perspectives about how simple decisions can affect you and those around you.
" terribile, incomprensibile modo in cui le scelte più accidentali, più banali, addirittura più comiche, producono gli esiti più sproporzionati".
" Ero cresciuto in mezzo al sangue – in mezzo al sangue e al grasso e agli affilatoi e alle dita amputate o alle parti di dita mancanti sulle mani dei miei tre zii oltre che di mio padre – e non mi ci ero mai abituato e non mi era mai piaciuto".
Un finale inatteso quanto atteso,
una realtà così crudele, così sciocca e semplice da far paura.
" Ero cresciuto in mezzo al sangue – in mezzo al sangue e al grasso e agli affilatoi e alle dita amputate o alle parti di dita mancanti sulle mani dei miei tre zii oltre che di mio padre – e non mi ci ero mai abituato e non mi era mai piaciuto".
Un finale inatteso quanto atteso,
una realtà così crudele, così sciocca e semplice da far paura.
Heartbreaking...but a really good read! There's a little bit of Marcus Messner in all of us - stubborn and neurotic but striving to be the best version of himself. This was my introduction to Phillip Roth - I look forward to reading more by him.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
Facilmente a tornar-se um dos meus escritores favoritos
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I both loved and hated this.
Which kind of sums up my general feelings about Roth. I think he's one of the most gifted and seductive writers I've ever encountered. There's so much energy and momentum in his writing that I sometimes don't realize until I've read 100 pages that I actually hate what I'm reading.
This novel has some of that. Roth pulls you in so quickly and powerfully and then writes about someone so deeply unpleasant and unsympathetic and neurotic that, after finishing the novel, I'm not really sure I enjoyed any of it.
But, I mean, also I enjoyed a lot of it. This short novel works for me better than his Zuckerberg novels if only because it's not about fame. It's a simple novel about family, belonging, desire, hope, and fear. So much fear! A howling, crippling fear raging through this young man.
I'd recommend it, especially because it's so short. POssibly the brevity of this novel is what kept it from falling into some of the issues I have with Roth's other novels I've read.
But, yeah, maybe the best writer I've encountered in years. He just often writes about things I really don't want.
Which kind of sums up my general feelings about Roth. I think he's one of the most gifted and seductive writers I've ever encountered. There's so much energy and momentum in his writing that I sometimes don't realize until I've read 100 pages that I actually hate what I'm reading.
This novel has some of that. Roth pulls you in so quickly and powerfully and then writes about someone so deeply unpleasant and unsympathetic and neurotic that, after finishing the novel, I'm not really sure I enjoyed any of it.
But, I mean, also I enjoyed a lot of it. This short novel works for me better than his Zuckerberg novels if only because it's not about fame. It's a simple novel about family, belonging, desire, hope, and fear. So much fear! A howling, crippling fear raging through this young man.
I'd recommend it, especially because it's so short. POssibly the brevity of this novel is what kept it from falling into some of the issues I have with Roth's other novels I've read.
But, yeah, maybe the best writer I've encountered in years. He just often writes about things I really don't want.
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated