A review by eliane37
The Fixer by Bernard Malamud

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

"The French have a saying, "The more it changes, the more it remains the same.’

You must admit there may be a certain truth to that, especially with reference to what we call 'society.' In effect it has not changed in its essentials from what it was in the dim past, even though we tend loosely to think of civilization as progress. I

frankly no longer believe in that concept. I respect man for what he has to go through in life, and sometimes for how he does it, but he has changed little since he began to pretend he was civilized, and the same

thing may be said about our society. That is how I feel, but having made that confession Iet me say, as you may have guessed, that I am somewhat of a meliorist. That is to say, I act as an optimist because I find I cannot act at all as a persimist. One often feels helpless in the face of the confusion  of these times, such a mass of apparently uncontrollable events and experiences to live through, attempt ti understand, and if at all possible, give order to; but one must not withdraw from the task if he has some small thing to offer- he does so at the risk of diminishing his humanity. “ 154