The Humbling
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Review
'...the book's prose is pure Roth, perfect and precise...' --The Times
`The Humbling is a stark triptych of breakdown, rehabilitation and outcome that reprises recent themes..'
--Financial Times
"... a grimly funny commentary of the universal drama of ageing."
--The Times
`The Humbling is a stark triptych of breakdown, rehabilitation and outcome that reprises recent themes..'
--Financial Times
"... a grimly funny commentary of the universal drama of ageing."
--The Times
Book Description
Another brilliant short novel by Philip Roth
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Now, don't get me wrong. I am a MASSIVE Roth fan, but I've now read this novella through twice and still feel the same way: It's a bit, well, disappointing.
Yes, the plot is typically Rothian - old man, young woman, sex, disappointment, death. Yes, there are some spectacular shots at erotica and yes, the pace of the narrative holds no prisoners, but it just feels like a first draft, kind of empty and rushed and therefore a little shallow. From a hundred other authors I daresay it would be an accomplishment, but not from Roth. To be totally fair, the speed of the narrative can easily trick you into thinking it's exciting, placing it in the "sizzling page-turner" genre, but Roth is much more than that.
Sorry Philip. When's the next one out?
Yes, the plot is typically Rothian - old man, young woman, sex, disappointment, death. Yes, there are some spectacular shots at erotica and yes, the pace of the narrative holds no prisoners, but it just feels like a first draft, kind of empty and rushed and therefore a little shallow. From a hundred other authors I daresay it would be an accomplishment, but not from Roth. To be totally fair, the speed of the narrative can easily trick you into thinking it's exciting, placing it in the "sizzling page-turner" genre, but Roth is much more than that.
Sorry Philip. When's the next one out?
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
For those of us who have read most, if not all, Philip Roth, the Humbling is not much more than a novella or three part short story about the humbling of 20th century men - first by self doubt and collapse of vitality, then by love, and finally by the tragic realisation that life and love are transitory. Roth chooses another reflection of himself - Simon Axler - an extrovert actor, not an introvert writer (who both live the lives of hermits!) - to be his protagonist. Women often skewer Roth as a sexist male, but he writes intimately from his own, male perspective as well as anyone.This book is guaranteed to offend the feminists, as Axler's nemesis is a younger lesbian who manipulates and uses him (and others) that he has known since birth.Much has been made of the sex scenes in the book, and they are particularly well written. Roth is obsessed by sex and death, and so is the story.
Though fluent and spare, the prose is involving. It's really a 70 page book and can be read in one sitting with ease. Roth has evolved a new style, part Hemingway and part old Roth, and there are few writers in English who can match him. Let the Nobel honour the unread Armenian and little known Cambodian poets - I'll take Roth, slim or fat, bare boned or brawny.
Though fluent and spare, the prose is involving. It's really a 70 page book and can be read in one sitting with ease. Roth has evolved a new style, part Hemingway and part old Roth, and there are few writers in English who can match him. Let the Nobel honour the unread Armenian and little known Cambodian poets - I'll take Roth, slim or fat, bare boned or brawny.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you're a newcomer to Roth's work, avoid this book altogether. It does a disservice to an impressive and productive two decades of work from the man I consider to be America's greatest living author.
Roth enthusiasts may want to read it, if only to remind themselves this septugenarian is human after all, and does have off days, but brace yourselves. I found a few moments in this book embarrassing to read, and I'm 33, and far from prudish. Roth has tackled sex in a frank, and often explicit way before, but never this desperately. For the first time when reading one of his novels, I found myself thinking, "Enough, already!" It's an unfortunate misstep, coming between the excellent 'Indignation' and 'Nemesis'.
Like Ian McEwan's 'Amsterdam', I've filed this away under "Great Writers Struggling To Meet Deadlines With No Enthusiasm", because that's the only excuse I can think of that makes sense.
Roth enthusiasts may want to read it, if only to remind themselves this septugenarian is human after all, and does have off days, but brace yourselves. I found a few moments in this book embarrassing to read, and I'm 33, and far from prudish. Roth has tackled sex in a frank, and often explicit way before, but never this desperately. For the first time when reading one of his novels, I found myself thinking, "Enough, already!" It's an unfortunate misstep, coming between the excellent 'Indignation' and 'Nemesis'.
Like Ian McEwan's 'Amsterdam', I've filed this away under "Great Writers Struggling To Meet Deadlines With No Enthusiasm", because that's the only excuse I can think of that makes sense.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Of Little Interest
I found that I didn't have much sympathy for, or interest in, either of the two major characters in this book. Fortunately it is a short book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by John G. Millar
One book too many in too short a space of time?
This short novel has everything you'd expect from Philip Roth, sharp and concise prose, self-examination, intelligent observation, but somehow it just doesn't hit the heights I... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Victor Ward
"Pegeen does what she wants to do, she's done that all her life."
I find it really difficult to say anything much positive about this book. Axler has lost his magic and cannot find it in order to continue his career as an actor. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Eileen Shaw
what no graphic sex...oh there it is...ha ha
Sometimes I like reading Roth and sometimes I don,t.....there is nothing really new in this book...it is the sort of thing I would imagine he can spew out in an afternoon ... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Blue Naters
Life as a Dramatic Act
Philip Roth's The Humbling is a novella, indeed a very short one, which tells the story of Simon Axler an actor who has lost confidence in his ability to perform as an actor and it... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Herman Norford
'This life's a fluke from start to finish'
'He'd lost his magic. The impulse was spent. He'd never failed in the theatre, everything he had done had been strong and successful, and then the terrible thing happened and he... Read more
Published 21 months ago by purpleheart
Not Bad, But Not Roth
Philip Roth's latest novel starts in a very promising and typical 'Roth-ian' style. It tells the story of 60-something stage actor Simon Axler coming to terms with his latest slump... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. H Chinaski
Starts well, but turns into a playboy reader's story. Not his best,...
Every Philip Roth release is a cause for celebration. For a while (until Indignation) I thought he was getting better and better with each novel. Read more
Published 23 months ago by I. Humphrey
Art imitating life imitating art
I'm an avid Roth fan and thought his last book, Indignation, was a real return to form. I'm not quite sure what to make of The Humbling. Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2010 by Barca 82
Very fine work....
Who says that a book must have more than 200 pages to qualify as a "good novel" when Philip Roth is able to tell a great story in less than 150 pages. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2010 by Marina C. Watteck
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