Indignation
10 journalers for this copy...
First published 2008. This paperback edition is published by Vintage 2009. 233 pages.
This is one of the most touching books that I have read this year. The protagonist is Marcus, a young Jew, who leaves his home and the near college for a distant one to get rid of his overprotective father. It is the year 1951. Marcus wants to study to be a lawyer some day. He also wants to be a good student in order to avoid an assignment to the Korean War. Indeed, he wants to find a girl too. He is not interested in other students’ activities, and as he is enviably successful in his studies and a bit naive and awkward in his social skills, and belongs to the Jewish minority, he is an easy target for tormenting.
Then he meets Olivia, a girl who is bold and experienced enough to astonish him. You would expect a love story, and indeed it happens, but disasters are to come, of which appendicitis is the least one.
This is a growth story and a love story, a psychological novel so to say, as well as a farce and a tragedy, written by the old master. We can see the students’ peculiar community and feel the conservative college atmosphere, against which Marcus will rise (Indignation is his magic word). We can see the serious youngster, his effort, his anger and his shame. The story, like others by Roth, has its hilarious moments; it also has its moving scenes and serious morality.
The end will shock you – if you were not attentive enough to read it long before.
- ruzena
Bookray.
Kuukku (Oulu, Finland)
Annimanni (Helsinki, Finland)
em64 (Tampere, Finland)
sintra (Bonn, Germany)
benschu (Lübeck, Germany - shipping int'l)
Starflash (Crawley, UK - shipping UK / EU)
helena100 (Athens, Greece - shipping int'l)
davemurray101 (Newcastle, Australia)
... then free to go where davemurray dictates :)
This is one of the most touching books that I have read this year. The protagonist is Marcus, a young Jew, who leaves his home and the near college for a distant one to get rid of his overprotective father. It is the year 1951. Marcus wants to study to be a lawyer some day. He also wants to be a good student in order to avoid an assignment to the Korean War. Indeed, he wants to find a girl too. He is not interested in other students’ activities, and as he is enviably successful in his studies and a bit naive and awkward in his social skills, and belongs to the Jewish minority, he is an easy target for tormenting.
Then he meets Olivia, a girl who is bold and experienced enough to astonish him. You would expect a love story, and indeed it happens, but disasters are to come, of which appendicitis is the least one.
This is a growth story and a love story, a psychological novel so to say, as well as a farce and a tragedy, written by the old master. We can see the students’ peculiar community and feel the conservative college atmosphere, against which Marcus will rise (Indignation is his magic word). We can see the serious youngster, his effort, his anger and his shame. The story, like others by Roth, has its hilarious moments; it also has its moving scenes and serious morality.
The end will shock you – if you were not attentive enough to read it long before.
- ruzena
Bookray.
Kuukku (Oulu, Finland)
Annimanni (Helsinki, Finland)
em64 (Tampere, Finland)
sintra (Bonn, Germany)
benschu (Lübeck, Germany - shipping int'l)
Starflash (Crawley, UK - shipping UK / EU)
helena100 (Athens, Greece - shipping int'l)
davemurray101 (Newcastle, Australia)
... then free to go where davemurray dictates :)
Journal Entry 2 by ruzena at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (12/28/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Journal Entry 3 by Kuukku from Oulu, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa / Norra Österbotten Finland on Tuesday, January 5, 2010
After all the Christmas holidays and new year-celebrating I'm finally home. And for my greatest pleasure I had two books waiting for me. Bookcrossing is great. :)
Thanks ruzena for all the stickers and stuff.
I'll get on this right away...
Thanks ruzena for all the stickers and stuff.
I'll get on this right away...
Journal Entry 4 by Kuukku from Oulu, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa / Norra Österbotten Finland on Thursday, January 21, 2010
The book was interesting but I found the main character Marcus to be irritating and naive, a real teenager. And I don't have patience for teenagers, only good thing in teenagers is that they (hopefully) some day grow up. I just have too many younger brothers and sisters :)
I haven't read Philip Roth before even if I've had a Finnish version of his I Married a Communist on my bookshelf for years now. Maybe it's time to read that too.
Indignation left from Oulu by mail and should soon arrive in Espoo. Enjoy Annimanni!
I haven't read Philip Roth before even if I've had a Finnish version of his I Married a Communist on my bookshelf for years now. Maybe it's time to read that too.
Indignation left from Oulu by mail and should soon arrive in Espoo. Enjoy Annimanni!
The book's in Espoo, thanks! I have two other ring books to finish first, but I'll be as quick as I can.
What an excellent little book! I don't know why I haven't read Roth before - I even have two of his books sitting on my very own shelf. His writing has an excellent flow.
Marcus's story ranged from hilarious to touching to confusing and sometimes irritating too. But I thought he was irritating in a way that teenagers are meant to be. He was both exceptionally mature and very naive for an 18-year-old (albeit the story was set in the 50s, which explains at least some of the naivity). I particularly loved his ponderings after his first date with Olivia as well as the scene at the dean's office.
Many thanks for sharing this little gem, ruzena! The book is off to em64 as soon as I get her address.
Marcus's story ranged from hilarious to touching to confusing and sometimes irritating too. But I thought he was irritating in a way that teenagers are meant to be. He was both exceptionally mature and very naive for an 18-year-old (albeit the story was set in the 50s, which explains at least some of the naivity). I particularly loved his ponderings after his first date with Olivia as well as the scene at the dean's office.
Many thanks for sharing this little gem, ruzena! The book is off to em64 as soon as I get her address.
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Happy reading!
Happy reading!
The book is now here. I have one more ring book before this one but I should be able to start reading this one shortly.
I really liked this book! I hadn't read Philip Roth before so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was a charming, intriguiging and intense story. I have read too many books that would have been so much better had the author cared to shorten them a bit. But this story was so complete, every word was needed to tell Marcus' story. I'm really impressed with Roth's style, it was a pleasure to read.
Have pm'd sintra and now I'm waiting for a reply.
Have pm'd sintra and now I'm waiting for a reply.
Released 14 yrs ago (2/16/2010 UTC) at BOOKRAY, Bookray -- Controlled Releases
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Went for an evening stroll and popped into the post office - the book is now on the way to sintra. Happy Reading!
Went for an evening stroll and popped into the post office - the book is now on the way to sintra. Happy Reading!
The book is in Bonn now. Thanks a lot! :-)
I'm currently reading another bookring but I'll start reading this book once I'm finished.
I'm currently reading another bookring but I'll start reading this book once I'm finished.
Another excellent novel by Philip Roth! I particularly liked the atmosphere that Roth creates to depict the conflicts Marcus has to face: the oppressive conservativism of the 50s and the college, his father's declining mental stability, and the ever-present Korean War. A touching, amusing, and certainly a political book.
Thanks a lot for sharing this book! It's travelling on to benschu now.
Thanks a lot for sharing this book! It's travelling on to benschu now.
Thanks, got it.
30.6.
This book is a bit depressing. Some lifes turn out to be near perfect and other seem to be determined by wrong decicions. Some ways you can influence others not and it's good to know nothing about our futur. Otherwise some lifes seem sensless and no life is.
30.6.
This book is a bit depressing. Some lifes turn out to be near perfect and other seem to be determined by wrong decicions. Some ways you can influence others not and it's good to know nothing about our futur. Otherwise some lifes seem sensless and no life is.
Journal Entry 14 by ruzena at Hämeenlinna, Kanta-Häme / Egentliga Tavastland Finland on Saturday, June 26, 2010
Sorry, it took me bit longer. Now on the way to starflash
thanks beschu and ruenza- arrived earlier in the week. Roth, one of my favourites. One to read before this, then straight onto it.
7.8.10-starting this today
7.8.10-starting this today
Whipped through this in a day and a half. Much easier to read than others by ths author, but I was captured 1/3 of the way in when the whole perspecive of the narrative changed. Off to shovelmonkey1
10.8.10- short hold up, mailed shovelmonkey1 to clarify address, not clear how it reads on RABCK.com.
Shovelmonkey1 is working abroad and has declined this ring. Will contact helena100
31.Aug- have address now, back to work after illness so it will go off tomorrow to helena100
10.8.10- short hold up, mailed shovelmonkey1 to clarify address, not clear how it reads on RABCK.com.
Shovelmonkey1 is working abroad and has declined this ring. Will contact helena100
31.Aug- have address now, back to work after illness so it will go off tomorrow to helena100
arrived safely in Athens.
I have a couple of other books to read before this one, and then I will let you know.
thanks for sending it!
Read it and contacted davemurray101 for an address.
I am still trying to get to like Philip Roth since he gets so much good criticism but somehow I cannot get round to it!
I found this book a bit irritating and a bit frustrating. Not badly written, but it did not suit me.
It will be on its way in the next few days.
I have a couple of other books to read before this one, and then I will let you know.
thanks for sending it!
Read it and contacted davemurray101 for an address.
I am still trying to get to like Philip Roth since he gets so much good criticism but somehow I cannot get round to it!
I found this book a bit irritating and a bit frustrating. Not badly written, but it did not suit me.
It will be on its way in the next few days.
on its way to davemurray101! Posted.
Journal Entry 20 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 29, 2010
Received in the post today, thanks to ruzena for posting and helena100 for posting. Looks interesting.
Journal Entry 21 by davemurray101 at Valentine, New South Wales Australia on Friday, October 29, 2010
I devoured this one in one night. This one kind of returned to the territory of Portnoy's Complaint- teenage neurosis. I wouldn't say it is anything as good as American Pastoral or Portnoy's complaint, but still a good read. Thanks again to Ruzena. Might be passing this one on to a local book crosser.
Journal Entry 22 by davemurray101 at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, January 16, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (1/16/2011 UTC) at Bookmooch.com, A book trading site -- Controlled Releases
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Posted to a bookmooch member based in Sydney.