American Pastoral | 
I enjoyed ‘The Bee Sting‘ and ‘American Pastoral‘ in November. They were both epic family sagas, well written but with depressing/dark humor and endings open to interpretation. Even though one took place in Ireland and the other in the U.S., I felt like they could be in a bookstore on a shelf called “if you like this, you‘ll like that”. #topread2024 #readingbracket
pickGenerations of an American family with hopes and dreams for the future are embodied in ‘Swede‘, our athletic and handsome protagonist. Then in the 1960‘s political unrest comes home, tearing at fabric that perhaps wasn‘t so strong after all. The realistic writing and story are extraordinary and thought provoking but depressing. In the end we are left with many questions. It‘s hard not to see similarities in our current political landscape.
so-soRoth is a great writer, but I did find some parts a bit tedious. He loves his tangents. Still, it was an interesting book. It made for a great discussion with my book club.
pickI finished this a few days ago, but it was only when Barbara posted the teaser for #booked2022 and I checked my last 2 prompts for #booked2021 that I realised I could use it for #jewishauthorormc.
I struggled with the first half, then it got better, then I hated the (non) ending. Couldn‘t decide whether to give it a pick or a so-so. 🤔 I‘m giving at a light pick as I think (hope) it will get better when we study it in a few weeks time.
so-soNot the best read on the commute, and it is heavy to read, not always the clearest, climbing up it‘s own fundament from time to time, but, I do enjoy his writing.
so-soThe audio quality of this audiobook was incredibly inconsistent. All in all, this book was ok. I really like the way Roth writes, and I appreciate that it's not a story of "oh this man was so upset because his life was perfect" like so many other books I've read that were written by men of the same Era.
so-soI think Roth is a very skilled writer, and some of the sentences in this novel are just genius. He also manages to get across frustration, anger, confusion and hurt, all stemming from a profound betrayal from a loved one. However, the ending was a bit too open for my liking🤔. Would love to hear your thoughts if you have read this !😁
Happy Sunday!😀🎉
Anyone recently read American Pastoral by Philip Roth? Can we compare notes?
pickWow—this book really got me thinking! Could it possibly be the opposite of the American Dream for a Jewish all-star athlete? What should have been a 5-star read was diluted by some meandering storylines that didn‘t add to the overall storyline. Still, this is a compelling book that is a commitment but it reached my core and broke my heart.
Today, I decided to nip into a favourite café for lunch - fortunately my favourite spot to sit was free. Deadlines loom, but I‘m spending a few extra moments to catch up on my book club read (American Pastoral) and finishing the last few sips of my Lavender and Mountain Berry iced tea.
#americanpastoral #philiproth #bookclub
What are you? Do you know? What you are is you‘re always trying to smooth everything over. What you are is always trying to be moderate. What you are is never telling the truth if you think it‘s going to hurt somebody‘s feelings. What you are is you‘re always compromising. What you are is complacent. What you are is always trying to find the bright side of things. The one with the manners.
He saw that everything you say says either more than you wanted it to say or less than you wanted it to say; and everything you do does either more than you wanted it to do or less than you wanted it to do. What you said and did made a difference, all right, but not the difference you intended.
pickPrior to Roth's death, I had only read his novels Portnoy's Complaint and The Counterlife. American Pastoral is a tad meandering with roundabout streams of consciousness, but there are passages of such stark beauty meditating on ethics, responsibility, and duty. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the actor Ron Silver and it was easily the best audio I have listened to since The Nix (and that is saying a lot). Highly recommended.
This is what I‘m reading, well except I finished the YA book, The Wanderings of Odysseus today. What are you reading?
pick“Life is just a short period of time in which we‘re alive.” - Meredith Levov, 1964
This book is nonlinear and stylistically ambiguous and slow-moving, but there‘s something I just really loved about it. I think it‘s partially the time period. I‘m drawn to books set in the 60s. It was such a tumultuous time in America yet so fascinating. Then there‘s the beautiful writing. I was completely invested.
I switched between print and audio. 👇🏻
Improvised workout at my folks‘ house. I kicked my own butt pretty good this morning, but truly I just needed a break from my kids. 😬 They‘re driving me freaking banana pants.
PS. I‘ve switched to audio and I‘m loving Ron Silver‘s narration. This book is hard to describe, but I‘m completely immersed. Wish I had more time to listen today.
#currentlylistening #currentlyreading #multitasking #mindandbody #audio #audiobook #audible #pulitzer
Hanging out outside with my 3 guys. ☀️🍺📖🌳🎶
Does anyone listen to Yacht Rock on Sirius? It‘s the best damned background music.
#booksandbrews #readharder #wildfridaynight #thisisthelife
Ok SO Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman is my steampunk pick for #booked2018. Funny story—I bought a copy of the Chris Riddell version months ago but ended up gifting it because I didn‘t think we would ever read it. I picked it for the prompt and bought another copy (🙄🙄) and now I can‘t find it anywhere!! I decided to do one last search. Nada. But what DID I find!!?? TWO COPIES of American Pastoral. Go figure. I know I can‘t be the only one. 😂
I figure the best way to honor an author‘s passing is to read the author‘s work. Philip Roth‘s funeral was yesterday. He was 85.
Seemed like a good time to start this one (finally). #InFlightReading #Pulitzer #RIP
This will be the second Philip Roth I'm re aging. Thank who'd it's a buddy read. I'm not sure if I would have continued alone. 🤔 Have You read any Philip Roth? If so what and what did you think of it?
Just started reading this American classic. It is the second book I am reading by Philip Roth. Hope I like it as much as I liked The Plot Against. It's a buddy read so that's always fun. #americanpastoral #buddyread #booktube
My next read
Just watched this movie. Fairly depressing. ☹
I think I will skip the book.
It takes some work. But what Roth says about the 20th century American experience is worth it.
(PS - I feel like this quote a lot.)
Bamberger's?!?!?! Wowwww... I haven't heard this name in ... 30 years.
pickIt's #Recommendsday! This is a book best enjoyed on audio. The narrator is phenomenal. The book came to life and I couldn't put it down! Disturbing yet hilarious. Definitely worth the read!
panThis spring, I created my own syllabus exploring one of my favorite topics: Marital and Familial Disfunction. This was Book 1/5. It would be 😎 to say I understood the intellectual and philosophical scope of this brilliant novel, but if I am honest I found great stretches of it (any part with Zuckerman and definitely pp301-325) boring. ☹️ Something I ❤️: How a fond memory becomes poisoned when the present reality bursts in to spoil the fantasy.
bailedThe great conversation at book club made me want to try this again at some point, maybe on audio, but now's not the time. I'm having a hard time both with the style of writing and the story itself. DNFing - for now, anyway
Time for the #2030SomethingBookClub 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 (yes, back-to-back here 😆). Another full house for discussing this American classic! Oh yeah! 😎👍🏻
#BookNDinner! To demonstrate my gratitude for the wonderful @MrBook making dinner for me the past 2 nights so I could spend more time painting, I've cooked up one of his favorite meals: angel hair pasta in a white clam garlic butter sauce with steamed mussels, fresh warm buttered peasant bread, and Vanilla Coke! Yum! 😋This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats!
bailedCan somebody who loves Roth please help advise if all of his books are like this one? He just does Not. Stop. Talking. The rambling, discordant jumble of thoughts is so hard for me to read. I think I'm just too busy with work right now to focus on this. 🙇🏻♀️ Going to have to try another time...
Started reading this today for a book club. So far I'm finding it slow going, with some beautiful sentences or insights sprinkled here and there. How do other Littens like it?
Some of the books I would really like to get to this summer... Plus the next few boxes from #botm, plus the 2 towering stacks behind this one, and so on 😂
#summerreads
#riotgrams
This is the Roth I would recommend to those who've never read him or didn't like other ones- it's the first one I read and still my favorite. Considering the great many books with #America in the title, this one doesn't use it lightly- it captures both the light and dark sides of the American dream and the American family. Lots that is relevant today on the nature of where ideology, extremism, and terror intersect. #rockinmay @Cinfhen
You know how there are people who just don't read women writers or don't read writers in translation or don't read whatever?
Well I don't read big American male writers of the 60s, 70s & 80s. Roth, Updike, Wolfe, Pynchon, Delillo, Thompson. Zero interest. Am I missing out on great literature? Maybe. #AmIWrong? Perhaps. Do I care. Nope!
#lyricalapril @Cinfhen
Reading this one with @GameAndRead as the March book in our Year of Pulitzers 😎
pickA very good and challenging novel, it is highly critical of everything. It's a hard read and I found myself not liking Swede. This is a story about unlikeable people and the destruction of their idealistic view of America. I highly recommend it! There is a film adaptation and it definitely didn't do the novel justice
"....But for her it had only to do with the extremes to which gentle people have to resort in a world where the great majority are without an ounce of conscience."
A little over halfway through this one for a (rapidly approaching!) book club, and I'm struggling to connect with it. Roth has a hell of a way with words, he just uses so very many of them... Anyone else read this? Does it shift at all in the second half?
Did anyone try this movie? The reviews were terrible but I'm still intrigued. . .
pickThe content is a challenge, but when you read this for language it is a treat. Like this poetry underlined right here: alliteration, repetition, rhythm. Can't wait to discuss this at #readersworkshop on Thursday!
Oh, yeah. Now I remember. This is a ridiculously challenging book to read. (It's the book I picked for my February #readersworkshop book club) (puppy snores help calm things down) #dogsoflitsy
so-soI had mixed feelings about this book. Great characters, fascinating situation and some excellent quote worthy sentences. But a few descriptions of women made me cringe. And some of the pieces on tangential subjects felt over long. I think I might have liked it more if I'd read it in school or college with some teaching alongside. (Pic: beachside fair in coromandel = poss NZ Pastoral)
The fact remains that getting people right is not what living is all about anyway. it's getting them wrong that is living...
