The Human Stain : A Novel
Registered by peat on 2/14/2004
1 journaler for this copy...
i am 100 pages in and although its a little bit hard work, its immensely rewarding.
p183"Is this where you've come, Coleman, to seek the deeper meaning of existence? A world of love, thats what you had, and instead you forsake it for this! This tragic, reckless thing that you've done! And not just to yourself-to us all"
I've finished "The Human Stain" now. Very powerful American literature. I recommend it to those who are looking for something real , for those who are prepared to put a little effort in.
Theres plenty of rich character analysis and human insight, using a strong quota of archetypal American experiences. In a sense a novel of manners with contemporary American issues examined using a Hawthornian perspective.
Roth is eloquent and perceptive. Its the first novel of his I've read and I am impressed. His understanding of the human condition is complex and illuminating.
Quote p242
"Thats what comes of being hand-raised" said Faunia. "Thats what comes of hanging around all his life with people like us. The human stain," she said, and without revulsion or contempt or condemnation. Not even with sadness. That's how it is-in her own dry way, that is all Faunia was telling the girl feeding the snake: we leave a stain, we leave a trail, we leave our imprint. Impurity, cruelty, abuse, error, excrement, semen-there's no other way to be here. Nothing to do with disobedience. Nothing to do with grace or salvation or redemtpion. It's in everyone. Indwelling. Inherent. Defining.
End of Quote
Theres plenty of rich character analysis and human insight, using a strong quota of archetypal American experiences. In a sense a novel of manners with contemporary American issues examined using a Hawthornian perspective.
Roth is eloquent and perceptive. Its the first novel of his I've read and I am impressed. His understanding of the human condition is complex and illuminating.
Quote p242
"Thats what comes of being hand-raised" said Faunia. "Thats what comes of hanging around all his life with people like us. The human stain," she said, and without revulsion or contempt or condemnation. Not even with sadness. That's how it is-in her own dry way, that is all Faunia was telling the girl feeding the snake: we leave a stain, we leave a trail, we leave our imprint. Impurity, cruelty, abuse, error, excrement, semen-there's no other way to be here. Nothing to do with disobedience. Nothing to do with grace or salvation or redemtpion. It's in everyone. Indwelling. Inherent. Defining.
End of Quote
