Scan barcode
A review by jack_reid
Herzog by Saul Bellow
3.0
Bellow is undeniably brilliant. The main character, Herzog, is an intellectual fighting instability after the failure of his second marriage. He lives in the highest realm of thought but finds himself pulling back down to daily life by his overwhelming carnal desires. Hence, he alternates between philosophical musing, much of it beyond understanding without a philosophy background, and admiring the curvature of a neighbor’s body on the train. The writing is sharp and torrents off the page. But it’s exhausting. I loved the first 50 pages, liked the next 50, and dragged my way through the 50 following. It’s time to move on.
I would have enjoyed Herzog more if I understood the philosophy references. In books like Dante's Inferno and the Illiad, translators provide footnotes to give context to comments. Unfortunately, Bellow provides no footnotes so a high level of background knowledge is assumed. Any footnotes would double the book’s length. At first, I felt smart reading the book. Then, I felt confused. Then, I felt rushed. And once I started stumbling past some sentences, eyes glazed over after yet another reference I didn’t understand, it was only a matter of time until I put down Herzog. Maybe next time, Bellow.
I would have enjoyed Herzog more if I understood the philosophy references. In books like Dante's Inferno and the Illiad, translators provide footnotes to give context to comments. Unfortunately, Bellow provides no footnotes so a high level of background knowledge is assumed. Any footnotes would double the book’s length. At first, I felt smart reading the book. Then, I felt confused. Then, I felt rushed. And once I started stumbling past some sentences, eyes glazed over after yet another reference I didn’t understand, it was only a matter of time until I put down Herzog. Maybe next time, Bellow.