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sl0w_reader 's review for:
American Pastoral
by Philip Roth
This one goes on the worthy but dull shelf for me. Like high-fibre cereal, or push-ups.
Lots of important themes and serious purpose, but Roth's writing lacks the word-magic to go with his scope or vision, the pace is slow in a plodding rather sensuous or elegant way, and I'm mystified by the abrupt transition from Zuckerman's perspective to the main story with no reference to Zuckerman thereafter (artistic license? laziness? significant postmodern literary device?).
The last chapters are a blaze of dramatic revelation, without illumination - as if Roth woke up suddenly and thought he'd better wake up the reader with some loud fireworks before nodding off at his keyboard again.
As gloves go, it's made of cowhide not peccary.
Lots of important themes and serious purpose, but Roth's writing lacks the word-magic to go with his scope or vision, the pace is slow in a plodding rather sensuous or elegant way, and I'm mystified by the abrupt transition from Zuckerman's perspective to the main story with no reference to Zuckerman thereafter (artistic license? laziness? significant postmodern literary device?).
The last chapters are a blaze of dramatic revelation, without illumination - as if Roth woke up suddenly and thought he'd better wake up the reader with some loud fireworks before nodding off at his keyboard again.
As gloves go, it's made of cowhide not peccary.