Journal Entry 1 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, November 29, 2005

The seventh book in Roth's Nathan Zuckerman series, and the second book of the series' second trilogy (preceded by American Pastoral and followed by The Human Stain), I Married a Communist tells the story of Nathan's boyhood heroes English teacher Murray Ringold and his brother Ira (aka radio play actor "Iron Rinn"). The novel, told in flashback from the point of view of both Nathan (now 64) and Murray (well into his nineties) chronicles the deliberate sabotaging of Ira's radio career by the combined forces of McCarthyism and an embittered former spouse (allegedly modelled after Roth's own bitter ex, actor Claire Bloom).

Maybe I'm growing tired of Roth's generalized rant on the demise of the American Way, or maybe I just wan't in the mood (I read most of this book while nursing my old cat Sadie through her last days - a very sad time for our household). In any case, having finished all three volumes of the trilogy referenced above, it's now my intention to take a break from Roth and his alter-ego, Nathan Zuckerman.

You can read a review of I Married a Communist at bookreporter.com here, at culturevulture.net here and another from Salon magazine here. There's also an interview with Roth about the book at Houghton Mifflin's website here. 

Journal Entry 2 by goatgrrl from New Westminster, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Passed along to my boss, Chris.