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I've just started to get into his work. I've read American Pastoral, Goodbye Columbus, and Portnoy's Complaint, and I've absolutely loved all three.

Anybody else like him?
 
Posts: 85 | Location: CoMO | Registered: 01 February 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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At this point, Philip Roth is an American institution. It's probably been five years since I last read him, but it's definitely good stuff.


Il n'y a pas de hors-texte.
 
Posts: 3139 | Location: FoCo | Registered: 07 January 2005Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Just finished Our Gang. While I thought it was funny and occasionally pretty insightful, I wasn't quite as impressed as with his earlier work. The work was a little too spiteful for my taste, I suppose.

Starting The Breast now.
 
Posts: 85 | Location: CoMO | Registered: 01 February 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I've only read The Human Stain, but I thought it was great. He's a little verbose for my regular tastes, but I was quite impressed with his characterization. I have The Plot Against America on my bookshelf, and I'm curious about Operation Shylock.


The only second chance you get is to make the same mistake twice. - David Mamet
 
Posts: 6 | Registered: 08 December 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Okay, almost a whole year later, I am a full-fledged Roth fan. I've read Goodbye, Columbus; Portnoy's Complaint, The Ghost Writer, The Counterlife, The Facts, Operation Shylock, Sabbath's Theater, American Pastoral, The Human Stain, and The Plot Against America. I would recommend all of them wholehearted, especially The Counterlife, Operation Shylock, and The Human Stain.

Our Gang and The Breast... Meh.

And now I've got I Married a Communist waiting on my desk. Exciting.
 
Posts: 85 | Location: CoMO | Registered: 01 February 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I actually am reading Roth for the first time in my life. I've always put him on my list of authors to check out, and years later, I finally bought a copy of The Plot Against America. I really like the way that he writes, and I'd like to keep exploring his work. Since you guys seem to all love him, what would you recommend that I go for next? I was thinking Every Man, but none of you really mentioned that in your favorites lists.
 
Posts: 2 | Location: Charlotte, NC | Registered: 22 May 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Jedi
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I found Everyman a little dull overall.

I would run with his early crack-up, Portnoy's Complaint, and the latter day American Pastoral. Smiler


Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.
 
Posts: 2759 | Location: The ever silent spaces of the East | Registered: 12 February 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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My personal favorite is the Counterlife, but I think that reading his other works enhances the power of that one. In addition to coffin's suggestions, I would pick up Operation Shylock.
 
Posts: 85 | Location: CoMO | Registered: 01 February 2006Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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