Sabbath's Theater

Rating:
Summary: There but for the grace of God...
Review: Wow. A tour de force. I had never read Philip Roth before, and was a little leery of starting with Sabbath's Theater. An acquaintance had mentioned it to me as something rather lurid. Up for anything, I gave it a go, and I am very glad I did.

Unlike Updike and Irving, Roth goes for the emotional jugular. No beating around the bush with him. He speaks for the lovable confused lecher in us all, the depraved, hungry, oh so human animal. Mickey Sabbath's love for his dead mistress was so truthful and poignant. He practically got aroused by anything in a skirt, and didn't care about the consequences. The bizarre sexual fetishes, his enormous love and preoccupation with the female form. God bless him. That's me and every honest guy I know. Thankfully Roth has no shame either. Sex and death. Sex and death. He tips his hat to Joyce a bit. I loved his play on Molly Bloom's soliloquy too, "and no I said no I will No." A great book. I'm not surprised at all that it won the National Book Award.