tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post5306133152114242521..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Portnoy's Complaint by Philip RothBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66824620252743215242013-09-20T12:16:53.364-04:002013-09-20T12:16:53.364-04:00Hi Caroline - I have not read Michel Houellebeq bu...Hi Caroline - I have not read Michel Houellebeq but he looks interesting!<br /><br />I also have not read Sabbath's Theater but all the other Roth works that I have read, while containing a certain amount of sexuality were no where near this explicit. <br /><br />I am sure that there is some of Roth in Portnoy. Like many things in life I am sure that this book represents a combination of influences.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76593597449886599472013-09-20T10:49:11.522-04:002013-09-20T10:49:11.522-04:00Have you read Michel Houellebeq? This made me thin...Have you read Michel Houellebeq? This made me think of his novel Elementary Particles. Houellebeq treats sexuality very openly and at times it's a bit disgusting. the biggest difference however is that his books are a bit depressing. <br />I've got Sabbath's Theater here and reading your commentary made me think of that. I haven't read it yet but some reviews made it sound similar. I guess that just proves that he has his favourite themes. <br />It's always tempting to assume an author professes his onw views. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55310614061744225092013-09-19T06:48:35.186-04:002013-09-19T06:48:35.186-04:00Hi VB - I should mention, that while I liked "...Hi VB - I should mention, that while I liked "I Married a Communist" many feel it is one of Roth's weakest novels. ROn the other hand while it is one of the Zuckerman books it can be read as a stand alone. I would also mention that American Pastoral, written around the same time, was, in my opinion a much stronger work.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7394970586454020942013-09-19T06:48:31.281-04:002013-09-19T06:48:31.281-04:00Hi VB - I should mention, that while I liked "...Hi VB - I should mention, that while I liked "I Married a Communist" many feel it is one of Roth's weakest novels. ROn the other hand while it is one of the Zuckerman books it can be read as a stand alone. I would also mention that American Pastoral, written around the same time, was, in my opinion a much stronger work.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-88349843142046698102013-09-19T01:54:48.050-04:002013-09-19T01:54:48.050-04:00amazing selection of book Brian, though I have nev...amazing selection of book Brian, though I have never read any work by him so far, I think after reading all commentary I think I would start with I married a communist..This book I find it interestingly sharp and annoying with its loud thoughts on sexuality..vbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815931257531886393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28057041318367210262013-09-18T19:15:33.007-04:002013-09-18T19:15:33.007-04:00Hi Violet - Thanks so much for your kind words.
I...Hi Violet - Thanks so much for your kind words.<br /><br />In a way this book is about a fairly offensive guy so it is not surprising that it is not for everyone. As I assume you have run into more varieties of this type of person over time, it is posable that you may get more out of it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-63035170445114471752013-09-18T07:56:22.606-04:002013-09-18T07:56:22.606-04:00As always, it's lovely to read about your enga...As always, it's lovely to read about your engagement with the text, and I very much enjoyed your analysis. I tried to read this years ago, but didn't get very far. Maybe I'd have better luck with it now that I know a bit more about life, but then again, maybe not. :)Violethttp://still-life-with-books.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32756458736337517152013-09-17T18:49:00.279-04:002013-09-17T18:49:00.279-04:00Hi Ryan - I too really love Roth's work. Here ...Hi Ryan - I too really love Roth's work. Here he really does gig deep into the human heart, at least a certain kind of human heart.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40402193623920574862013-09-17T11:21:11.232-04:002013-09-17T11:21:11.232-04:00There are so very few writers who are capable of d...There are so very few writers who are capable of dredging the depths of the human condition like Philip Roth. He writes what good writers are afraid to write. I haven't read this one but I've read quite a bit and I'm always astounded at his abilities.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07998996750944114185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-68960000003638648252013-09-15T12:53:40.672-04:002013-09-15T12:53:40.672-04:00Hi Naida - Thanks for the good word.
That's ...Hi Naida - Thanks for the good word.<br /><br /><br />That's one of the fantastic things about good literature, people who would be unbearable or dangerous in real life become marvelous subjects to explore.<br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55359338965026955912013-09-15T12:51:05.244-04:002013-09-15T12:51:05.244-04:00Hi Harvee - Though I think many author's apply...Hi Harvee - Though I think many author's apply Freud's thinking in the crafting of their characters, this one is more overt then any that I have encountered.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5851049586902418562013-09-15T10:11:37.892-04:002013-09-15T10:11:37.892-04:00Not my cup of tea, but Portnoy sounds like the typ...Not my cup of tea, but Portnoy sounds like the type of character that would annoy me. The bit about his father is almost comical.<br />Fantastic post as usual.The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50623011435750173022013-09-15T09:26:23.812-04:002013-09-15T09:26:23.812-04:00That it's an exploration of Freud's theori...That it's an exploration of Freud's theories applied to a character certainly makes this a very interesting novel!Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-57808411819864803412013-09-14T22:46:40.270-04:002013-09-14T22:46:40.270-04:00Thanks so much James.
I actually think that Amer...Thanks so much James. <br /><br />I actually think that American Pastoral was one of his best. I highly recommend Zuckerman bound as it is a great set of books.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-45300397756120092922013-09-14T20:09:04.211-04:002013-09-14T20:09:04.211-04:00Your commentary on Roth's famous novel is wond...Your commentary on Roth's famous novel is wonderful. I am almost persuaded to add it to my reading list. While I enjoyed <i>American Pastoral</i>, mostly, I am not yet a true fan of Philip Roth. I thought I would imbibe <i>Zuckerman Bound</i> before I read any other of Roth's various novels.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49263985325432597392013-09-14T14:36:43.904-04:002013-09-14T14:36:43.904-04:00Hi Delia - I have not read those works but Junot D...Hi Delia - I have not read those works but Junot Díaz<br /> looks to be very good.<br /><br />This novel is not for all tastes. <br /><br />I think that in regards to vulgarity, the language is l would be less problematical then the description the description of bodily functions.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36124232391384123742013-09-14T13:11:43.823-04:002013-09-14T13:11:43.823-04:00Interesting review but not sure this would be my c...Interesting review but not sure this would be my cup of tea. I thought "The Slap" had quite vulgar language right up there with Junot Diaz's "The Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao" - have you read any of them? Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71046248978866713302013-09-14T11:50:13.375-04:002013-09-14T11:50:13.375-04:00Hi Emma - Roth often reminds me of Woody Allen or ...Hi Emma - Roth often reminds me of Woody Allen or vice a versa. <br /><br />Ha - I imagine the American slang in this work would be informative!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-5591610171956824442013-09-14T11:41:47.817-04:002013-09-14T11:41:47.817-04:00I really liked this book. (I'm a Roth fan anyw...I really liked this book. (I'm a Roth fan anyway)<br />I thought it was funny, witty even if Portnoy is annoying sometimes. He's sick but funny in a Woody Allen kind of way. <br />Sure it is crude. I read it in English, it was very educational.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52303120649500922742013-09-13T22:56:26.039-04:002013-09-13T22:56:26.039-04:00Hi Sharon - As always, thanks for your kind words....Hi Sharon - As always, thanks for your kind words.<br /><br />While I am sure that one of Roth's motivations here was to be provocative, I think that it would be unfair to class him with those whose main goal is garner negative and superficial attention as Miley Cyrus is currently doing.<br /><br />He really explores serious ideas. I believe that he is not advocating the outrages behavior that he portrays. He could have toned down this book. However, there really are some men out there a lot like Portnoy and I think that in order to accurately represent such a person, he really needed to go this far. <br /><br />With all those redeeming factors, I can forgive some outrageous attention getting.<br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-26798679856771018812013-09-13T22:26:41.807-04:002013-09-13T22:26:41.807-04:00As usual your analysis is well done and acute.
I ...As usual your analysis is well done and acute.<br /><br />I wonder about authors like Roth. Are they truly exploring certain ideas or they simply being provocative because that's what puts your work out there in the public face.<br /><br />Kind of like Miley Cyrus.Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-4214351771039049552013-09-13T18:18:24.733-04:002013-09-13T18:18:24.733-04:00PS Guy - I will go and take a look at Emma's p...PS Guy - I will go and take a look at Emma's post.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-24506424449079721562013-09-13T18:15:21.251-04:002013-09-13T18:15:21.251-04:00Hi Guy - i almost mentioned what seemed like some ...Hi Guy - i almost mentioned what seemed like some dated aspects to this work. However, I felt that some of the datedness here counter balanced by what seemed like universal themes.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-37352359485089564432013-09-13T18:13:16.559-04:002013-09-13T18:13:16.559-04:00Hi Suko - Thanks for your kind words!
This is a g...Hi Suko - Thanks for your kind words!<br /><br />This is a good place to start if you do not mind the vulgarity. <br /><br />Otherwise, I found all the Zuckerman books more then worthwhile. These are not as explicit. I would recommend taking those in order. The first four are The Ghost Writer, Zuckerman Unbound, The Anatomy Lesson and The Prague Orgy. These four are collected in one Volume which is called Zuckerman Bound: A Trilogy and Epilogue. There are additional books after these four.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-56699794433175627322013-09-13T18:05:30.972-04:002013-09-13T18:05:30.972-04:00Hi Petty - I do not mind at all! I look forward to...Hi Petty - I do not mind at all! I look forward to your post.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com