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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I feel like I changed my mind about this book every 20 pages or so -
I don’t know to what extent Roth sympathized with political beliefs like those of the Swede vs. those of Merry, and perhaps I wasn’t able to pick up on all the nuances of his commentary on this particular facet of the story. I do admire the way he illuminated the “American Berserk,” through both characters, a fundamental truth that seems to stand in the way of much progress in this country.
The sexual politics of this book were quite disturbing, and I’m unsure if they ultimately served any purpose in terms of further illustrating the uglier aspects of American (in particular, straight male American) life. Needless to say, the more graphic sexual imagery felt a little out of place and directionless within the larger context of the story.
All that to say - there are moments of true greatness in Roth’s prose that distill the essence of what it means to be American: the feigned innocence, the desire for a complete and unblemished identity, and the ugliness, primal violence, greed, and emptiness that patriotism tries to obscure.
These moments make American Pastoral feel like a necessary text in spite of its flaws; they chisel at the brittle veneer of an Americanness that Swede Levov’s generation were possibly the last to carry with them in its truest form. It is an elegy to what prior generations thought it meant to be American, and a warning to those who would try to hold onto this identity too tightly, too uncritically.
I don’t know to what extent Roth sympathized with political beliefs like those of the Swede vs. those of Merry, and perhaps I wasn’t able to pick up on all the nuances of his commentary on this particular facet of the story. I do admire the way he illuminated the “American Berserk,” through both characters, a fundamental truth that seems to stand in the way of much progress in this country.
The sexual politics of this book were quite disturbing, and I’m unsure if they ultimately served any purpose in terms of further illustrating the uglier aspects of American (in particular, straight male American) life. Needless to say, the more graphic sexual imagery felt a little out of place and directionless within the larger context of the story.
All that to say - there are moments of true greatness in Roth’s prose that distill the essence of what it means to be American: the feigned innocence, the desire for a complete and unblemished identity, and the ugliness, primal violence, greed, and emptiness that patriotism tries to obscure.
These moments make American Pastoral feel like a necessary text in spite of its flaws; they chisel at the brittle veneer of an Americanness that Swede Levov’s generation were possibly the last to carry with them in its truest form. It is an elegy to what prior generations thought it meant to be American, and a warning to those who would try to hold onto this identity too tightly, too uncritically.
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Omfg I cannot ….. adrienne from seed I’m so sorry
This amazing book was a lot of work but sooooooooooo interesting. I need to take a course on it to figure it out. Will I read another Philip Roth book? Wow I don't know...
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A compelling read about a family and a society. Merry Levov commits a terrorist act and the impact on her family is enormous. Her father, The Swede, wants to find her and protect her at all costs. The grief, confusion and entrenched sadness felt by his wife, his parents and others around him engulfs him. This was a difficult book at times, asking the reader to imagine what their life would be like if their loved one committed such a terrible act. Very powerful read.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Like a speaker who loves the sound of his own voice, Roth's prose prattles on an on and on...