On what would have been Philip Roth’s 90th birthday, readers and writers descended on the late author’s hometown to honor and debate his legacy
NEWARK — Yes, there were countless liver jokes, in reference to the most creatively abused organ in American fiction, as in: “After reading Philip Roth’s ‘Portnoy’s Complaint,’ I could never eat liver again.” There was even a noble mound of chopped liver served at Hobby’s Delicatessen , a corner noshery where stand-up comedians ripped jokes, many off-color, in honor of this city’s acclaimed literary son.
For all our current division about identity, political correctness and cancel culture — subjects Roth presciently and without hesitation tackled in his fiction, particularly “The Human Stain” — here was a Great White Dead Male Author being honored as though he had published this month.Roth was a literary provocateur who dove head first into third-rail subjects.
“He wanted to be a good man — not a nice man,” said author Bernard Avishai, a friend of Roth’s, over the weekend. Roth courted controversy. He repelled legions of readers, including some. He rarely idled in neutral. After a lull in conversation at one Newark gathering, writer Philip Gourevitch recalled Roth saying, “The Bible is the worst book ever written! It has no literary merit! It’s a ridiculously bad book!” Added the New Yorker writer, “I think he was just bored.
“Some people say he’s misogynistic. I love the structure of his language,” said Terri Smith, 61, an attorney in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “I keep reading Roth even when I want to strangle him.”
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Der Gryphon’ Execs Talk Up “The Biggest German Fantasy Since ‘The NeverEnding Story'”EXCLUSIVE: The execs behind Prime Video Germany’s big-budget fantasy epic Der Gryphon have opened up about forging what originals boss Philip Pratt has dubbed “the biggest [German fanta…
Consulte Mais informação »
Pregnant Hilary Swank shows one of her twins ‘flexing’ in ultrasound photoThe “P.S. I Love You” actress, who is pregnant with twins with Philip Schneider, shared a new ultrasound image, which appeared to show one of the babies flexing.
Consulte Mais informação »
‘Say something’: Cleveland mother begs men who murdered her son in Cleveland for answersEvette Coleman pounded the jury box’s wooden railing and stared at Philip Hamilton and Jayvion Claxton -- who was friends with Preston and whom Coleman had known personally -- as she asked why they set up her son, Michael Preston Jr., for a robbery and then shot him.
Consulte Mais informação »
Kelly Osbourne shows off svelte post-baby figure four months after giving birthThe new mom, who has kept her son hidden from social media and the public eye, gave birth back in November.
Consulte Mais informação »
'The Bold Type's Katie Stevens Gives Birth to First ChildKatie Stevens and her husband, Paul DiGiovanni, have welcomed their first child together!
Consulte Mais informação »
Cancer survivor, 36, gives birth to identical twins after ovary removalDiagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at 34, Shelly Battista and her husband were overjoyed to learn they were having twins one year after her treatment.
Consulte Mais informação »