I’ve been struggling for a week, trying to decide what to say about Philip Roth’s American Pastoral. Finally I decided that nothing I could say would do it justice. Fantastic book. Roth truly is one of our greatest American writers. Every novel I’ve picked up since (with one exception) has seemed over-the-top, hysterical, trying too hard. Too many quirks and jokes and angles. Roth tells his story straight, and by doing so, makes you accept the most outlandish premises. I may even have to give The Human Stain another try…
I’ve been struggling for a week, trying to decide what to say about Philip Roth’s The exception to my recent run of dissatisfaction is Achilles, by Elizabeth Cook. When I requested it through BookMooch I had forgotten that I had read it before, but I’m glad I read it again. It’s a beautiful retelling of, not the wrath of Achilles, but life of Achilles, structured around the women in his life. This is one recital of the events of the Iliad in which the suffering of the women takes equal place with the heroics of the men.
