A review by crafalsk264
Nemesis by Philip Roth

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Philip Roth was an American author and one of the clique of exceptional writers, artists and musicians who made the 20th century one of the most important periods in their lifetimes. Roth had a mechanism of writing his fiction as if he had lived it. He was known as an author who explored the American identity in a sensual and ingenious manner. This work of fiction, first published in 2010, was set in his home town of Newark NJ focused on a major American tragedy from the years after WWI through 1955 when Jonas Salk announced development of a successful vaccine for the polio virus which had terrified parents and the public by striking the most vulnerable members of society with a deadly disease leaving its victims maimed, disabled or permanently tied to machines to aid in breathing. It sapped the muscles of strength and ability and seemed to have a mania for the children of summer.

This book is written in first person through the POV of Bucky Cantor, a talented athlete who excelled as a diver, javelin thrower and weight lifter. Kept out of military service in the latter part of WWII by weak eyesight, he was a 23 year old coach and mentor to the kids in a working class immigrant Jewish community. Working as a camp counselor during the summer, Bucky is considered to be an exemplary young man of character, bravery, and integrity. Bucky contracts polio and we follow him through all the emotions evoked by the epidemic on the community. Roth takes us through the despair, suffering and pain wrecked on American childhood.  Nemesis is an exploration of a personal disaster that challenged the country on a personal, family and community basis.

I have never read any of Roth’s 254 books that accounts for his legacy as a major talent on the literary field but this one was an excellent introduction to a gifted man’s inner life. I intend to make an effort to include more of his work in my reading plan. Highly recommend to readers of 

Historical Fiction, American Literature, disease and community life.