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Letting Go Paperback | Pages: 630 pages

Particularize Epithetical Books Letting Go

Title	:	Letting Go
Author	:	Philip Roth
Book Format	:	Paperback
Book Edition	:	First Edition
Pages	:	Pages: 630 pages
Published	:	March 1st 1991 by Simon & Schuster (first published 1961)
Categories	:	Fiction. Literature. American. Literary Fiction. Novels

Rendition In Favor Of Books Letting Go

This was the fifth of books published in 1962 I read in August. I had set out to read 10 but a couple were as long as two or three books put together including this one. I enjoyed every page and found it easy to read. Letting Go was Roth's first novel, preceded by Goodbye Columbus (a novella and story collection.)

I know there is a contingent of readers who balk at reading novels by "old white men" and I sort of get it. But the fact is these old white men are still read because they could write well.

In Letting Go we again get a picture of life in 1950s America. This novel is from the perspective of two non-practicing Jewish men in their 20s and 30s who are carrying the weight of their upbringings including the expectations of their parents, and are perhaps the first generation from Jewish immigrant families to be moving into social assimilation in what was a deeply antisemitic society.

Gabe Wallach is a comfortably well off young man, teaching English on the faculty of the University of Chicago, though he has enough money left to him by his mother that he would not really need to work. He feels guilty about his relative good fortune, guilty about not wanting to spend much time with his aging father back in New York City, guilty about being attracted to the wife of his colleague Paul Herz; guilt is his driving force. Because of that, he keeps getting himself into ill-advised situations.

Paul Herz, another tormented character, is a Jew who married a Christian woman, though neither of them are religious in the least. Both sets of their parents cut off all support and connection due to the interfaith marriage. The couple is struggling financially and emotionally so Gabe tries to help them with devastating results.

I was reminded of Stoner by John Williams, especially by Paul's wife Libby, who in her own way is as neurotic as Stoner's wife was. Letting Go however has quite a bit more humor in between the pathos.

My favorite character is Martha Reganhart, the woman Gabe considers as a prospective wife. She is by far the strongest person in the story. While Roth is often charged with misogyny, I would say that he presents believable female characters from the viewpoint of a man who is clearly trying to figure them out.

All in all, one of the best novels I have read from 1962.

List Books Toward Letting Go

Original Title:	Letting Go
ISBN:	0671736167 (ISBN13: 9780671736163)
Edition Language:	English
Characters:	Gabe Wallach, Paul Herz, Libby Herz, Mordecai Wallach, Levy, Korngold, Maury Horvitz, Doris Horvitz, Leonard Herz, Martha Reganhart, Sid Jaffe, Theresa Haug, Cynthia Reganhart, Mark Reganhart

Rating Epithetical Books Letting Go

Ratings: 3.7 From 1380 Users | 134 Reviews

Commentary Epithetical Books Letting Go

This is too long. It's less dense than say Tolstoy, but still mindlessly repetitive in sections, particularly when we are privy to the lengthy and intense inner dialogue of characters followed by lengthy and intense spoken dialogue followed by door-slamming and other dramatic effect. Having said that, I think Roth is immensely skilled at revealing the restlessness of a generation that has started to question the relevance of institutions like religion, marriage, etc...Both Libby and Paul are

So far as I can see I am the only one who thinks that this is the best book by Roth. I read it at least four times and I will read it ar least four times more.

What a strange thing this novel is. Not only is this the longest of Roth's novels, it's his second work (from 1962), unlike anything in his output, and is still quite a success.Though the trademark psychological examination is all there, what is not there is the provocative edge or moments of absurdities and extremes that break up what was a more traditional, yet brief, narrative. Here, the examination slowly unfolds with a series of, yes sometimes dire, but traditional moments of maturation,

I am on a quest to read Roth this year in chronological order. Gabe Wallach's descent troubled me since I like the character have not lived a traditional life. It is as though 'letting go" is part madness or a sickness. I thought his take on mores in 1950's America was spot on. I found fascinating his take on religion, marriage and abortion. "Portrait of a Lady" by Henry James figures strongly in novel. I read it back in the 1980's on the recommendation of a English professor from UCSD after I

Lovely and unforgettable characters. All the feelings are so well described that it is actually a really touching book.

Another book about philandering academics, but at least a well written one (3.5).

Philip Roth continues to be a literary author I don't hate though this book was long and in need of a plot. The characters were well-written and the whole thing seemed true to life though, and it was nice to see Iowa City in a novel.