After reading that you’re ‘done’ writing.
(Photo: Philip Roth in 2010. Credit: Nancy Crampton / Handou)
Dear Philip,
Like you, I grew up basting in the trauma, neuroses and antibiotic chicken soup of our unstoppable people, one of the chosen ones, always probing, pushing, head-scratching, shirt rending- chosen for what? What am I supposed to do? Why me, as opposed to, say, a non-Jew?
I found the answer pouring over the thousands of pages of the 31 books of your New (Jersey) Testament. For better and for worse, to be Jewish is to wander the desert of eternal questions in orthotic sandals, slathered in sunscreen, expecting the worst and striving to be the best. Through a complex but easy-to-read mind-blow of compassion and critique- you strip us down; proud-nosed, insatiable horn-dogs on an exhaustive but infinitely entertaining search for meaning in all this chaos, as we survive and often thrive, no matter what.
We Jews seek to overcome enduring insecurity and find a cure for the pain of life, the terror of death and the anxiety and depression that rushes through the bloody history in our veins, engulfing us with such crazy fear that we build walls to protect ourselves, when there is no protection.
Thank you, Philip Roth, with love and squalor. Your literature helps save and redeem us all. I think of Nemesis, your latest and last master-work. Set in a Newark Jewish community during the polio epidemic in 1944, it is filled with so much despair, tenderness and hope, it led me deeper into my life, deeper into love. I am grateful beyond words.
A classic never calls it a day, it stands the test of time. You may think you’re ‘done’, but there is no end.
Brenda Keesal
“Running with the javelin aloft, stretching his throwing arm back behind his body, bringing the throwing arm through to release the javelin high over his shoulder – and releasing it then like an explosion – he seemed to us invincible.” (Final sentence, ‘Nemesis’ by Philip Roth, 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
MORE ROTH LOVE
Mine:
The Truth and Everything But The Truth and Nothing But I am a Jewish (Wo)man
Others:
‘Philip Roth Finally Gets A Life’
‘I’m Done’ ‘Ten Lessons from the Professor of Desire’
‘Philip Roth Gave Me Life Advice’ ‘Eulogy for A Living Man’
At the mo, I’m trying to focus on quality over quantity, so I publish a new post every ten days or so. If you’re in, all you have to do to subscribe is click- FOLLOW BLOG BY EMAIL on the right-hand column of this page and make sure to send back the confirm-email you’ll receive (check your JUNK box, in case).
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I just received some powerful photographs today,which underscores the pain of loss and the triumph of the human spirit
Comment by Morton Spector — November 20, 2012 @ 3:20 pm |
What a BRILLIANT testimony, Brenda. Your BEST yet. xx
Comment by Jean Elliott Manning — November 20, 2012 @ 4:12 pm |
How exquisite. I so enjoyed hearing and seeing Phillip Roth read from his book, Nemesis!!!!!!!!
I certainly will read the book. Yes, being jewish is so often fraught with “wandering the desert of eternal questions in orthotic sandals” (I loved your metaphor)!!!!!!!! The conundrum of being jewish, which took me
half a century to figure out and to be ok with finally.
Comment by myrna specktor — November 20, 2012 @ 4:29 pm |
Everything I ever wanted to know about Philip Roth… Great post. I hope you are getting a % of his royalties. If I were to take one with me on my trip to UK and Canaries, which would you recommend. It will be an enervating journey.
Comment by Anne Lewis — November 21, 2012 @ 2:09 pm |
Roth recently read through most of his work and started with the last book- Nemesis- which I think is a good intro to his work. After that, I’d say, give the man his due; start at the beginning and barrel your way through.
Comment by Burns the Fire — November 21, 2012 @ 11:25 pm |
I’m not quite sure what the title means, does Jew mean you. I loved the article especially the stuff around Nemisis since i read the book.
love mom
Comment by Keesal Micki — November 22, 2012 @ 2:11 pm |
Try less hard, dear.
Comment by Jerry Cohen — January 14, 2013 @ 5:37 pm |
[...] I Love Jew, Philip Roth [...]
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