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Summary: Brilliant--One of the greatest 20th Century literary works
Review: I discovered Henry Roth serendipidiously--by purchasing a used copy of "Call It Sleep" from a street merchant on West 4th Street in New York while I was a student at NYU. His writing completely and utterly captivated me--the beautiful (yet simple) lyricism of his prose, and his ability to capture and preserve an era gone by..."Call It Sleep" is truly one of the great American novels of all time--brilliant in every respect, it deserves its rightful place in the Western Canon as one of the greatest 20th century literary works. I continually re-read "Call it Sleep"--as well as his recent "Mercy of A Rude Stream" cycle of works. Roth's passing in 1995 was a truly sad time for me and for contemporary American literature.
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Summary: This is one of my favaoite books!
Review: I first read this book in the sixties. I have held on to the original paperback I bought back then because I thought it was out of print. I'm thrilled to get a new copy and will take great pleasure in re-reading it. I have reccommended this book to many people including academics. I recently read Angela's Ashes and in some respects it reminded me of Call It Sleep. The graphic depictions of poverty are reported to the reader through the eyes and voice of a young child. It's the kind of book that stays with you.
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Summary: Good story but didn't keep my interest
Review: I found this book alternately interesting and boring. The stream of conscious narrative was an interesting perspective on the mind of a young boy. Overall, though, I wasn't engaged by the story, which didn't seem to go anywhere, nor by the inner life of the boy, which was too undeveloped to draw me in.Probably best for people deeply interested in New York or Jewish immigrant life at the turn of the century.
Rating:
Summary: Good story but didn't keep my interest
Review: I found this book alternately interesting and boring. The stream of conscious narrative was an interesting perspective on the mind of a young boy. Overall, though, I wasn't engaged by the story, which didn't seem to go anywhere, nor by the inner life of the boy, which was too undeveloped to draw me in. Probably best for people deeply interested in New York or Jewish immigrant life at the turn of the century.
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Summary: A fully satisfying reading experience...
Review: I read this book many years ago, in college, and remember enjoying it thoroughy. I have recently heard it read (Recorded Books, Inc.) by the incomparable George Guidall, who seems to read books requiring Yiddish phrases/accents particularly well (try Stanley Elkin's "Mrs. Ted Bliss" for a hilarious and compassionate thrill). I was not disappointed this second time around, having matured myself, both as a reader and a writer. One of the most striking aspects of the novel is Roth's obvious love of women; few novels by men present women in such a truly beloved light. David's aunt - something of a shrew, a harridan, and a slob - is nevertheless incredibly good-hearted - and alive! Now I want to know more about Henry Roth. Does anyone know if there is a biography of this great writer available? Also, I noticed that there is a book of essays about "Call It Sleep." I plan to get it.
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Summary: Great study of America, and of immigrant life in early NYC
Review: I read this book several years ago as an American Studies major at Penn State University. At first I began to read it only because it was a requirement of my major, but this quickly became one of my favorite books I've read in my studies. The story is of a young jewish boy, being brought up in a ethnically diverse New York City. It is about his grappling with his spirituality, and his perceptions of the world. One thing I learned about the Jewish culture is of its strong patriarchy, and this book shows conflicts that arise between father and son, and how a son can almost never live up to his father's expectations. The story is haunting, and the landscapes are vivid and picturesque. I also recommend a similar book, "Bread Givers", by Anzia Yezierska.
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Summary: A brilliant evocation of childhood
Review: I read this novel some 8 years ago, but the memory of it still lingers. I remember it being a brilliant evocation of childhood. I remember the very real terror I felt when the child-protagonist was beaten by his father. I remember coming to the conclusion then that this is one great novels ever written. Eight years on and many great novels later, I still stand by that conclusion. I'm only sorry I haven't read it a second time, a situation which I shall soon rectify.
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Summary: A sleeper
Review: I've never understood why more people haven't read, or heard of this book; it's truly a classic, beautifully written. It's fascinating on both a historical level and a psychological one, as we view the world through the eyes of a neurotic young boy growing up on New York's Lower East Side.
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Summary: American modernist masterpiece
Review: Mandatory reading for anyone who can read. Roth belongs alongside Faulkner, Dos Passos, and Joyce. Call it Sleep is the most beautifully written book I have ever read. Tight, turbulent, and heartbreakingly gorgeous. The author squeezes poetry from the tiniest, grittiest of experiences; the reader is allowed so far inside the head of David Shearl it is almost as if he or she travels the same intimate, painful path to awakening-an awakening at once political, sexual, and religious.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent tale of early 20th century Jewish immigrant life
Review: My hope was to read a novel that gave an accurate and detailed account of the world my grandparents lived in and I was not disappointed. As with the best historical fiction, I was able to gain a sense of not just the environment and setting, but its effect on the main characters, especially David, the main protagonist.
While the prose is often challenging and innovative, the book is a surprisingly easy and quick read that I could not put down. While I was often frustrated by David's inner dialogue, the author must be commended for attempting to convey the inner workings of a child's mind, how his thought process often chaotically bounced around from one thought to another. The author also uses language in a very unique and interesting fashion, namely the contrast between early 20th century New York slang, composed of so many different ethnic groups, to the authors "translation" of Eastern European Yiddish.
For anyone currently reading the novel, who might feel frustrated at a seeming lack of direction in the plot, my advice is to keep reading, as its themes of alienation, growing self-awareness, family, sexual awakening and assimilation become more apparent as the story progresses. And for those who have yet to read the book, I strongly recommend not reading the introduction until after you've finished the book, as it pretty much gives away almost everything that happens in the story and really should have been the Afterword. Regardless, it happens to be a well-written analysis of the novel and can even help the reader in his or her own thoughts and opinions of what is most definitely a classic of 20th century literature.
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