Everyman by Philip Roth

This is the one of the 'books about books" I mentioned, the one where the writer decides to read a book a week, then write about it. To be honest, the book isn't very organized, though I'm sure it is quite prosaic.

At any rate, at several points throughout this book, Sara Nelsen says "anything by Philip Roth" or how much she loves Philip Roth, with a seeming assumption that the reader must indeed be familiar with this Mr. Roth. Well, I was not.

A few weeks ago, my aunt, Peggy, came over with a few "extra" books that had arrived from her bookclub, the unsolicited type, and lo and behold, one of these was Philip Roth's latest Everyman. (2006)

So, that's what I read for this week. It was actually a story of illness and decline, then death of an "everyman" kind of guy, a man who lived his life, made mistakes, did not resolve issues with his loved ones and eventually ended his days lonely and scared, and mad about his declining health. So, of course, there are parts in here that resonated for me, even though I could not relate in the slightest to the protagonist, whom I found irritating.

If you read it, I'd say borrow it from the library (or from Peggy). And I'm not sure I'll seek out another Philip Roth book, even though I guess he is a famous guy.... http://orgs.tamu-commerce.edu/rothsoc/bio.htm.

At any rate, I did take one memorable passage from this book, which is wisdom from this man's father: "There's no remaking reality. Just take it as it comes. Hold your ground and take it as it comes. There's no other way" I think I will remember that one.

Cheers all....