BOOKBROODER

“But all catharsis were in vain for that man.”

I read Philip Roth for the first time. Last year I read some pages of his books in a shop and this book was one of those, which I flicked. The other title that made a lukewarm attempt to curry favor with my literary ignorance that day in the book cupboard was ‘The Breast’. These writers make such titles very cleverly to seduce an ignorant reader like me, I thought;
what a wily tactic!

An initial search on content was obvious to me after a few pages. Philip Roth is a famous American novelist and story composer, known for his sensual ingenious style and his provocative prose. Sometimes back I also read accidentally, Charles Bukowski. While beginning this book, my doubt was, would this be as filthy as that in content? The Author proved my conjecture wrong at once when the narrator began telling his story of his mother, father, and sister in a distorted humorous way. From the outset, the prose was very candid and voguish. Perhaps it would be a bold family tale. I assumed.

Now wait!

These two paragraphs that you just read above, were written by me immediately after completing this book in July last year, but I could not finish adding up all my thoughts, as an unavoidable reading-writing slump was impending, it eventually came and I got lost in worldly affairs, so I am writing it today, It is almost an anniversary of my reading this book. I also read the first chapter of “The Ghost Writer” this afternoon and it also impelled me to complete my thoughts on the first book I read last year of Philip Roth.

Portnoy’s complaint is a long monologue of a man called Alexander Portnoy, who is in a therapeutic session with his therapist. The content of this book is outright bold, controversial, and has a high probability of creating conflict outside. There is a constant tussle in the narration, the narrator talks about his sexual obsessions and his carnal frustrations, and at times he confesses his relationships that come in the purview of moral abasement. The dark humor he presents in this narration sometimes makes it lighter, sometimes even graver from an ethical standpoint.

If a reader is uncomfortable with the subject matter, he should avoid the book.

But I am giving high points, as a reader, to the book for its writing; the reason is- obsessive and engaging storytelling. Even from the first few pages I was arrested by the prose of Roth. His way of telling about his obsessions and confessions was quite unique for me and it reminded me of some of the Russian masters, whose prose was likewise highly psychological. The way he presents the domineering nature of his parents and his own identity struggles and those guilt-ridden alliances was also amazing.

His prose is intrepid and provocative, yet I must say he is such a writer, I am going to explore more. I am hopeful to finish ‘American Pastoral’ and ‘The Ghost Writer’ this year.

‘Take the next exit,’ Billy says.’

‘Reading Billy Summers, this summer,
If not a beezer, not at all a bummer !’

Yes, I was reading Stephen King after a long time, and I did not take the next exit. I journeyed from beginning to end, and pulled up only after the curtain falls! This is not my genre, but I am stretching my canvass these days. I had read King for the first time in The Stand and I was in love with his scenery drawing and description. I have a hard copy of that bulky book, I guess that one is the bulkiest on my shelf. After that, I read some parts of his other books, like Carrie and The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, but not completely, so after a long time I was experiencing him as a whole.

Billy Summers is a professional assassin, a sniper of the highest order. He is hired to kill an official.
He acquires a new identity, takes the guise of a photographer in a small town, and also writes (he also thinks about Emile Zola), he tries to create his ‘dumb self’ to confuse and baffle people, he prepares and while preparing he comes in contact with a single mother Alice and her son, and at a point, grapples in holding his emotions to chose between his dangerous living and normal life.

I saw that King has taken too much time in preparation for the sniper’s deal. I did not find any novelty in that part and also believe that it was not an extraordinary story, Story within a story can always make the comprehension of a reader tough. Yet King is a master at creating an entire world of his fancy and he usually does not allow the reader to come out of it, of his volition. He kept the reader engaged in that chaotic jumble, that erupted after Billy successfully executed what he was planning, through various twists and circumstances.

Apart from the suspense and thrill that is a badge’ the author carries, I think the story also deals with the absolution and moral complexities of its characters. Though the protagonist is a professional killer, I like the way his human touch was presented in the dialogues and actions. Concluding, I liked the book and I guess a King fan would not be disappointed with this story.

Do you know what was Portnoy’s complaint?

What did you read this summer? Was it Billy Summers?