‘The Humbling’, By Author Philip Roth Intrigues Readers
January 27th, 2010 - 7:53 pm ICT by GDBy Ranjan Bhaduri
Jan 27, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Books seem to have been arousing the general curiosity of the public more than usual this morning, with netizens searching the net, for books like ‘I, Alex Cross’ and ‘The humbling’ , over and over again. For all you book-lovers searching for a book to spend the weekend with, we bring you the dope on ‘The Humbling’. The book written by Philip Roth involves all of his routine sex, violence and drama.
The book’s plot revolves around an actor Simon Axler. The 65-year-old man has remained a great stage artist but now his life is a huge mess with the critics calling it the “Chechovian tragedy”. The actor separates from his wife and becomes suicidal. Following this, he himself goes to a psych ward to get admitted there. Soon, Simon Axler returns to his New York upstate farm and the readers are shown that he is waiting for something or someone to arrive. What does arrive, is a 40-year-old women Pegeen, who is the daughter of one of Simon Axler’s theater friend. What ensues is an affair in the provocative and regular Philip Roth way. The age difference is a negligent fact and is no bar for some sexual spanking and role playing (Philip Roth fans will not find this unusual). What does bring an element of surprise for the readers is when the main protagonists head for a three-some after getting drunk and the big self recognition that follows.
The book has been highly praised by Los Angeles Times, Washington Post etc due to the author’s immaculate wit and narrative efforts. However, some reviewers have criticized the book to be ’soulless and without any sense of humor’.
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Tags: 40 year old women, alex cross, book lovers, curiosity, dope, element of surprise, intrigues, los angeles times, narrative, netizens, news books, philip roth, psych ward, reviewers, self recognition, sense of humor, sex violence, stage artist, washington post, wit
