tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post8766254134889210433..comments2023-11-05T10:11:31.578+00:00Comments on Just William's Luck: 'the tyranny of contingency'William Rycrofthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-4739443025929212572013-09-16T16:50:09.197+01:002013-09-16T16:50:09.197+01:00You could definitely read this on its own Max, the...You could definitely read this on its own Max, the other novels are only connected to it in the vaguest sense and on reflection this feels like the strongest of the lot anyway.<br /><br />Hope that helps.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-6266809502844890702013-09-16T14:10:26.244+01:002013-09-16T14:10:26.244+01:00Hey Will,
Quick question on an old review. Do you...Hey Will,<br /><br />Quick question on an old review. Do you think you need to read the other Nemesis novels to get the most from this one, or would it work as a pure stand-alone? I ask as this tempts me more than some of the others do.Max Cairnduffhttp://www.pechorinsjournal.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-42751894135016055152012-09-12T09:14:58.213+01:002012-09-12T09:14:58.213+01:00In that case I would definitely recommend American...In that case I would definitely recommend American Pastoral, one of my favourite books.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-17001830487892951412012-09-12T09:10:41.616+01:002012-09-12T09:10:41.616+01:00Thanks Will. I'm relieved to hear that! I do w...Thanks Will. I'm relieved to hear that! I do want to read a couple of his other novels at some point...I think I'll try American Pastoral or The Human Stain.Jacqui (@jacquiwine)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-78810319310848706772012-09-10T19:08:41.591+01:002012-09-10T19:08:41.591+01:00Jacqui, I'm a big Roth fan so naturally I'...Jacqui, I'm a big Roth fan so naturally I'd be horrified if your reading of him started and ended with this novel. There's so much better out there! An early example of his skill would be The Ghost Writer in which we first meet his alter ego Nathan Zuckerman, you'll find his rage in American Pastoral (and the other two books in that 'trilogy' I Married A Communist and The Human Stain), and his exuberant filthiness in Sabbath's Theatre. Let me know if you have any specific 'wants' I could go on about him all day!William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-46957528210423405342012-09-10T17:35:42.998+01:002012-09-10T17:35:42.998+01:00Hi Will, Great review, very interesting. I've ...Hi Will, Great review, very interesting. I've just finished this one. It's my first Roth (recommended by a couple of friends). I too felt a bit underwhelmed by it, despite the harrowing subject matter. Having read your review, I think you put your finger on it in the sense of detachment and the character of Bucky himself. I couldn't quite visualise Bucky in my mind (despite the description near the beginning). Reading the book, I felt as though I was skimming the surface, that there was a deeper, more powerful, (more emotional?) story to be told...Perhaps I should try another Roth at some point? jacqui (@jacquiwine)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-87433154327858039012010-10-04T23:17:55.308+01:002010-10-04T23:17:55.308+01:00Oh, hello Kevin, you must have left your comment w...Oh, hello Kevin, you must have left your comment when I was typing my reply above. Thanks for your view, very interested in your perspective. I have a sneaking suspicion that when I come to read Roth's books again in the future, as I surely will, I will be impressed more and more by the artistry of these books after the disappointment that they aren't furious, fun or sexy has abated. It's important to remember that when looking at Roth you're often saying that a book of his isn't bad as such, just less brilliant than some others.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-28327097621202060612010-10-04T23:11:33.734+01:002010-10-04T23:11:33.734+01:00Thank you for the comments, Tom and Stu. I certain...Thank you for the comments, Tom and Stu. I certainly think this book is better than The Humbling and well worth reading. I'm a confirmed fan of Roth and so would happily read anything by him eventually (a rather hilarious puffed up review at the weekend said that they would read Roth's fridge magnets if he bound them) but we all know that some books are better than others. As someone who read some of his biggest and best first I have enjoyed his recent short novels without being blown away by them. That detachment I mentioned might have been echoed slightly by Bonnie Greer on the Review Show when she said that reading this book was like listening to a voice in a closed room. My worry when I see Roth in his rural hideaway is that that isolation might just be having an effect on the writing itself. Writers have always written in isolation but not necessarily lived so. I hope he's got at least one more 'big' book in him but with nothing written since this apparently and this completed over a year ago I don't know. Perhaps he's waiting for the biggie to come.William Rycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15056188088340973039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-37949326260885984282010-10-04T23:00:52.705+01:002010-10-04T23:00:52.705+01:00Interesting -- unlike you, I much prefer Roth'...Interesting -- unlike you, I much prefer Roth's novels when he is at a distance from his subject and represses his "rage". I haven't seen this one yet, but I look forward to it very much. I appreciate your description of what you found lacking -- I suspect I will find that the best part of the novel. I admit to liking the first three in this series for exactly that reason -- I won't claim it is Roth's best work, but I might.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-5524724021812000552010-10-04T21:30:44.157+01:002010-10-04T21:30:44.157+01:00I to like Roth ,was bit let down bym the Humbling ...I to like Roth ,was bit let down bym the Humbling last year when I read it this seems a return to form and seems to be dealing with a time and area has dealt with before great review william ,all the best stuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7534509012046591314.post-50164542720829985332010-10-04T08:08:32.264+01:002010-10-04T08:08:32.264+01:00A very informative review - thanks. Like you I am...A very informative review - thanks. Like you I am a Roth fan, and rate The Human Stain as perhaps his best novel to date. Its interesting to see that you felt he was a little detached from this story as this does tend to be a feature of his writing sometimes. I am not sure that I will read this one as I tend to find books about the suffering of children just too harrowing. However, the fact that its written by PR may eventually tempt me in order to satisfy my completist tendency.Tom Chttp://www.acommonreader.orgnoreply@blogger.com