alicerondinella's review against another edition
4.0
La storia di un uomo che mette in discussione tutte le scelte fatte nel corso della sua vita. Malinconico.
larry's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
pentalith5's review against another edition
5.0
Mind-blowing. I read the first 30 pages of this book a year ago or so, and then got distracted by one thing or another. I didn't know what the book was about then, otherwise I would have read it in one fevered sitting, as I did yesterday (I went back to page 1, because I wanted to remember all the details). Philip Roth understands death, and the universal fear of dying, and he does not mince words. "Old age is not a battle. It is a massacre", is just one of his zingers.
A man at the end of his life, considers all that he has lost, and is overwhelmed in the same way that a child is overwhelmed by his first realization of the injustice of the world. The message here, I think, is that death, and human mortality, is so utterly final and inescapable that our meager intelligence is not equipped to ponder it without short-circuiting. Death is that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.
It is no mystery why humans since the dawn of time have worked to create afterlife mythologies by the bushel. Pick one that suits you, and let it comfort and reassure. But in the end you may come to the conclusion, as Everyman does (the main character is never given a name), that this life is all we get. Only then can you feel the utter isolation of your small life, trivialized by the vastness of the cold universe with its "profusion of stars" (30). Only then can you understand that death cannot be nailed down, or cheated, or tamed. It is as dark, and as dangerous as the ocean. And it sucks people up indiscriminately, with no respect for your worldly accomplishments, how hard you tried, or how good your genes are.
As you can see, I agree 100% with the philosophy put forth in this book, and not all readers will resonate with the story as I did. Even so, I think there are enough jewels of wisdom here to appeal to anyone. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one. I particularly loved the line, "it seemed to him, at one point, as though this task would never end, as though they would be there burying his father forever" (59). The physical act of burying his father is clearly a metaphor for the act of grieving. As one who has lost her own father, I've certainly felt that the grieving will never end.
In conclusion, this book gets my highest accolades as one that is brimming with truth and wisdom. It's the first Philip Roth book I've read, and I will surely read more.
A man at the end of his life, considers all that he has lost, and is overwhelmed in the same way that a child is overwhelmed by his first realization of the injustice of the world. The message here, I think, is that death, and human mortality, is so utterly final and inescapable that our meager intelligence is not equipped to ponder it without short-circuiting. Death is that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns.
It is no mystery why humans since the dawn of time have worked to create afterlife mythologies by the bushel. Pick one that suits you, and let it comfort and reassure. But in the end you may come to the conclusion, as Everyman does (the main character is never given a name), that this life is all we get. Only then can you feel the utter isolation of your small life, trivialized by the vastness of the cold universe with its "profusion of stars" (30). Only then can you understand that death cannot be nailed down, or cheated, or tamed. It is as dark, and as dangerous as the ocean. And it sucks people up indiscriminately, with no respect for your worldly accomplishments, how hard you tried, or how good your genes are.
As you can see, I agree 100% with the philosophy put forth in this book, and not all readers will resonate with the story as I did. Even so, I think there are enough jewels of wisdom here to appeal to anyone. I would especially recommend this book to anyone who has lost a loved one. I particularly loved the line, "it seemed to him, at one point, as though this task would never end, as though they would be there burying his father forever" (59). The physical act of burying his father is clearly a metaphor for the act of grieving. As one who has lost her own father, I've certainly felt that the grieving will never end.
In conclusion, this book gets my highest accolades as one that is brimming with truth and wisdom. It's the first Philip Roth book I've read, and I will surely read more.
ileniazodiaco's review against another edition
4.0
"-Sai cosa mi farebbe bene? - disse lei. - Il suono della voce che è scomparsa".
Sai cosa mi lascia attonita di Philip Roth? La sua assoluta semplicità. Sembra sempre di leggere la stessa storia, quando leggi un romanzo di Roth. Ma non è mai la stessa, anche se in fondo è sempre la stessa storia di solitudine, rimpianto, orgasmi poderosi ecc...
Sai cosa mi lascia attonita di Philip Roth? La sua assoluta semplicità. Sembra sempre di leggere la stessa storia, quando leggi un romanzo di Roth. Ma non è mai la stessa, anche se in fondo è sempre la stessa storia di solitudine, rimpianto, orgasmi poderosi ecc...
csimmers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
annebennett1957's review against another edition
3.0
My first Philip Roth book. My husband and I listened to the book together which was good so I would have someone to discuss it with. The topic was very distressing to me. I hated it that "everyman" could so easily cheat on his wife. Not for me.
kris7's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
evadis's review against another edition
3.0
I did not enjoy reading this, I guess it's just not my type of story.
tlm1964's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
danchrist's review against another edition
5.0
I don't care if all the reviews I read here hate Roth or the self-aggrandizement in which he excels because I loved the book, the dialogue, the characters, and the story. They may get over themselves whenever they choose.
Quick read, and over too soon.
From the description of Millicent Kramer and her swift demise to the way each person is swiftly sketched in bas relief, there are delights around every page. Enjoy.
Quick read, and over too soon.
From the description of Millicent Kramer and her swift demise to the way each person is swiftly sketched in bas relief, there are delights around every page. Enjoy.