A review by communicatrix
Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth

3.0

I waver between giving this three and four stars. I can't say that I *really* liked it, although I liked it enough to read it all the way through and to laugh out loud (and from the gut) several times. I suppose I admired it even more than I liked it: this is one honest writer. He doesn't shy away from the truth about anyone, himself (if we're assuming Alex = Phil) included.

I didn't really enjoy the book until he hooks up with his goyishe Alamo, The Monkey. I wanted the entire book to be about their relationship, and for his past to come alive in bits and pieces through the telling of this story. I wanted Alex & The Monkey, and then I wanted On My Own: Monkey, the Sequel.

But I'll take what I can get. And yes, while he's (yet) another Old White Dude, this deserves its spot in the Canon.