Everyman by Philip Roth
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Book Reviews of Everyman
Book Review: Not Every Man But a Very Particular Kind of Man
Summary: 3 Stars
Roth's latest very slim novel Everyman is certainly a bleak sort of a yarn, which begins at the unnamed protagonist's funeral and flashes us back to his final year or so, with some recollections of his younger days thrown in for good measure. This "everyman" is typically Rothian in several superficial ways--secular Jew in NY/NJ setting, oversexed, a little arrogant--but this version veers precipitously toward the morose.
Although now in his seventies, facing recurrent health problems, and feeling puposeless and impotent, the protagonist, for lack of a better name, finds some solace in remembering his past, but at the same time these wistful remembrances just serve to reinforce how acutely he senses his decline. From the reader's perspective, he doesn't come across as entirely likable, as he is equipped with the omnivorous male heterosexual libido so customary in Roth's canon. One scene describes the guy bonking his secretary (and "bonk" here is the all too appropriate word) in his ad agency office only to be gently prodded by his boss to take it outside. These are the types of "hijinks" that usually weaken Roth's novels: these social caricatures engaging in exaggeratedly archetypal situations.
Meanwhile, the protagonist has variously troubled, problematic, and estranged relationships with his sons, who resent him; his brother, of whom he's quietly jealous; and his ex-wives, who each have their own good reasons for letting him putter through old age alone. Only his apparently saintly daughter from his second marriage (another tired Roth trope), Phoebe, holds any value for him, but in the character's only evidence of altruism he doesn't want her to worry about his deteriorating condition. So he pretty much goes it alone during his final days: taking inventory of his life and finding himself pretty unhappy.
Needless to say, I don't think this is one of Roth's better efforts. It seems to have been written on a downer, which is fine, but it doesn't have much to offer. The protagantist isn't the kind of comprehensive, full-fledged character that we've come to expect from Roth; he seems to be too broadly drawn to inspire any real compassion from readers.
Book Review: Excellent Writing, Though Lacking in Breadth of Vision
Summary: 3 Stars
The New York Times trashed this book, as do a number of the reviewers. On the other hand, the reviews are generally positive, and the book won some awards -- and Roth is highly rated. Why the ambivalence?
Well, from a technical perspective, Roth is at the top of his game. He can tell a story. He tells this one with a minimum of dialogue. And when he does use dialogue, it is excellent. He should probably have used more dialogue in this because the book tends to come off as superficial.
All of which explains the controversy over Roth: is he a leading writer of the age or is there little substance here?
I tend to think there is substance here and found the book striking in dealing with the ultimate issue of coming to terms with mortality. Roth also is excellent in showing the special angst this issue has for men in an increasingly narcissistic age. Roth does not hate his main character, nor should the reader; indeed, there is considerable cause for empathy here. But Roth does not approve of the choices made by his un-named "everyman" protagonist, nor will the reader.
The protagonist's brother and second wife are both very sympathetic characters who offer a foil to "everyman". They are each distinguished by their positive attitude and energy and by their ability to have trust and faith. But each is sketched in only the broadest of broad brush strokes, which perhaps explains the lingering disappointment that a reader has after finishing the book.
Roth is no Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky in his ability to portray a positive way to deal with the ultimate questions of life. Nor does he offer some non-religious, secular kind of faith that other writers have offered -- like Faulkner, Hemingway, or Fitzgerald.
In the end, I'm on the fence when it comes to Roth. He's got great skills, but does not quite seem to have the breadth of vision necessary to write the great American novel.
Book Review: (unenthusiastically) recommended
Summary: 3 Stars
In this short novel, the protagonist trys to explain to himself how he ended up alone, to forgive himself, and to recapture and pay homage to his family life as a child. I had a little difficulty connecting the child to the man, and I wasn't as interested in the child and his family as I would have expected, for which I fault Roth: it makes sense for the character to be sentimental about his youth, but it does not make for good writing. Ditto for the character's preoccupation with medical details.
I was interested in Everyman's account of why he had 3 divorces, and even more in his life as a retired senior citizen who made a bad choice in leaving New York city. Among the events which led to his second divorce is that he hadn't been sleeping with his wife for several years, but given the picture of Phoebe painted, it would have been much easier to accept a much diminished sexual life than no sexual life, so one wonders if facts weren't twisted so Roth could make Everyman more sympathetic.
There is enough honesty and humor, and Roth writes well enough, for me to recommend this book, if not be enthusiastic.
Book Review: This book will make Roth fans happy.
Summary: 3 Stars
I know why people like Philip Roth. I understand why people of a certain age and income level really like "Everyman." He's a great writer. I can't really find fault with the way he put the book together. Same with "American Pastoral" (though I did think it a little longer than necessary). And I imagine that I could go on reading Roth and being impressed with his skills and observations. And I'll probably read a few more of his books this summer.
But ultimately, I believe his skill comes in making a fundamentally tedious experience--the experience of middle class America--interesting.
I know that's not fair. A good book is about more than it's subject. But I can't think about "Everyman" without getting mildly angry. I felt no sympathy for the protagonist, and little more for the characters that surround him. The ends of their lives were faced with all the comforts and privilege of middle America. The protagonist in "Everyman" recognizes his mistakes, he examines them, turns them over as though they were curious relics.
It is a good book on a somewhat well worn subject.
Book Review: Audience Specific
Summary: 3 Stars
I remember back when this book was first released, I simply could not fork over the hardcover price for something so thin. In retrospect, I'm glad I waited for the soft cover.
I can't say I disliked Everyman, but I also can't say I especially liked it. Roth is an expert wordsmith and his plot and characters are well conceived, and the actual structure of the timeline in this story is interestingly executed, but it's ultimately a story that I simply did not care about. Perhaps it is geared towards an older crowed due to its dealings with elderly mortality, and, as a younger man, I had trouble relating.
That said, Roth is certainly deserving of all the accolades he's collected over the years, but in the end, Everyman did not capture this reader's imagination.
~Scott William Foley, author of Souls Triumphant