Philip Roth... is awesome. discussion

I am looking for some advice. My goal this year was to read Roth in chronological order. I am working through Portnoy's Complaint now so I should finish the Roth through the 1960s in a week .

Previously I have read the American trilogy and the way back The Great American Novel.

I was wondering if now I should skip a decade and go straight to the Zuckerman novels while the American trilogy is still fresh in my mind rather than concentrate on the early 1970s novels?

Michael,

I am probably not an authority on the proper way to read Philip Roth. The first book by him I read was, "Nemesis," and the second was "Portnoy's Complaint." Still, I would recommend that you read the books in whatever order feels best. I see the value in reading books in the order in which they were written, but I do not have the wherewithal to do something like that. My advice would be to start reading the Philip Roth books which capture your interest most intently, in whatever order.

Alex wrote: "Michael,

I am probably not an authority on the proper way to read Philip Roth. The first book by him I read was, "Nemesis," and the second was "Portnoy's Complaint." Still, I would recommend that ..."

I decided to go straight to the Zuckerman series. I found the "The Ghost Writer" to be brilliant. I have about 50 pages left in "Zuckerman Unbound". I will follow with "The Anatomy Lesson', "The Prague Orgy", "The Counter Life" and "Exit Ghost." Probably follow that up with the Nemesis series. Have your ever read this quote by Barack Obama, "I always joke that my intellectual formation was through Jewish scholars and writers, even though I didn’t know it at the time. Whether it was theologians or Philip Roth who helped shape my sensibility, or some of the more popular writers like Leon Uris."? I loved "Exodus" and "Mila 18" in high school. Also read in high school "The Source" by Michener which was very influential. I was raised Roman Catholic.

I hadn't heard the Obama quote. Cool!!!