The Death of Philip Roth
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- A few short, rambly thoughts about the great, late Philip Roth (1933-2018) RIP! Who was Philip Roth to you?
Article Mentioned:
Philip Roth's Best Book NYTimes: www.nytimes.co...
Books Mentioned (All By Philip Roth):
Portnoy's Complaint
The Plot Against America
American Pastoral
Operation Shylock
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Straight white male AND masturbation? Let's see how many dislikes you get on this one 😂
He was the writer that made me fall in love with reading again. He was a GIANT.
Thanks for the balanced reaction - much better than so many of the extremes you mentioned. I have mostly the same feeling toward him that you do. American Pastoral, Everyman and The Plot Against America stand out as some of the best - and I hadn't even thought of those spooky current parallels. I read American Pastoral when I was quite young so maybe I'd feel differently about it now.
Also, I would - of course, like the broken record I am - argue that Roth's contemporary Joyce Carol Oates was just as big a name as Roth. 😄
LOL... Well we certainly can't argue that Oates is not as prolific as Roth and I have a feeling her works will live on in the canon much longer than his but I don't think she has every had a lightning rod moment like Philip Roth did with Portnoy's Complaint. Obviously she sort of did thanks to Oprah and the Book Club... but I don't know. You would know more about that! -- PS: I am reading my 3rd Oates (The Fall) very soon! :)
No, perhaps not. Reception of her novels has been up and down over the years of course, but I don't think there's been a time when everyone was reading a new book of hers.
So glad to hear you'll be starting in on The Falls. It's really interesting how she fictionalizes the Love Canal tragedy in it.
One aspect concerning the viability of an author to future generations that I picked up on in your video is how the current mindset of readers - a lot of readers from all corners of the world - believe that they are more expert in their opinions and judgments than is probably the case. You spoke as an observer to this phenomenon rather than as a member of the group. They feel that their opinions are the final judgment any work's life beyond their generation will have. As I've mentioned before, I am an old man. In my younger days I, too, felt my opinion was correct and valuable enough to take to the bank. But, it was what it was, a personal opinion. We all have them. We all think ours is the true and right opinion. What hubris!
Present day society is in a constricted state. The divisions of attitudes are such that growth is hampered because of too strict and programmatic attitudes and beliefs. BookTube is a haven for political correctness. And, these people who view the world through that filter believe strongly that their attitudes and their beliefs are the only ones worthy of saving the world from destruction. I prefer a more pragmatic approach to life. The world is not black and white. There are nuances of color that add flavor. Some are good, some not so much.
How does this tie in with Roth? In your video you approach his works without adoration and without contempt. You strove for a reasoned, middle-of-the-road assessment. You did not pass judgment beyond making comments on how Roth has aspects in his books that do not speak that strongly to the current times. I have only read one of his books. The reason I do not read any other books by him is because I, from a strictly personal standpoint, cannot relate to his subject matter. But, just because I do not relate to what he writes does not mean I brand his books as not being meaningful to others or to other generations. The Industrial Revolution written about by Charles DIckens has little resonance to my life in the twenty-first century. But, that doesn't mean his stories and the skill of his writing does not speak to me on a deep level. Political landscapes come and go. A good story that's well written never goes out of style.
Thank you, SB. I think we all ideally want to approach literature subjectively though I guess that is easier said than done. While I am usually good at seeing the downfalls of books/authors that I love, when it comes to negative views I can sometimes fall into that black or white area. Of course, that is a never a good way to come at anything. Happy by thoughts and opinions on Roth came through as balanced.
When I read the trilogy of American Pastoral, I Married a Communist, and The Human Stain in the late-90s early 2000s, I thought they were among the best books I've read. Ghost Writer was also one of my favorites. But I'm not sure that my regard for Roth's writing is as strong now, so much that I hesitate to re-read them and somehow diminish the experiences I had with his work. All that being said, I didn't grow up knowing anything about Jewish life other than in novels and film, and that doorway into another point of view was valuable to me as a person. I love this video. Thanks.
I just picked up a trove of Roth novels on Thriftbooks - following on from a journey through some Joyce Carol Oates - and I can’t believe how hilarious Roth is. I find myself doing the crying with laughter while reading that makes those around wonder if I’m alright …
This video post was a joy to watch! So thoughtful and balanced. Thanks.
thank you for watching!
Thanks for doing this video! I love Roth’s later, highly acclaimed works, as well as the shorter novels of the final phase before he retired. I’ve yet to read a Zuckerman novel. Operation Shylock is one of my favourites because, as you say, you get double the Roth. I am sad to see that he is not being read very much by younger readers in their 20s, 30s, and even 40s. I thought his great writing would stand the test of time, even if his biggest subject was his own preoccupations. (But why shouldn’t it have been so?? Was he supposed to write about other people’s preoccupations???).
Re-Reading “Operation Shylock” and leading a book club discussion next week. Laugh-out-loud funny in parts. Wonderful read throughout.
I'm a 36 year old woman who is ashamed to admit I had never heard of Philip Roth before, until his death. Having said this, hearing you speak about him and seeing you tweet about him has definitely peaked my interest and now I can't wait to search my library for some of his books! Better late than never, eh?
Absolutely not! Goodness knows there is plenty of those mid-20th Century Titans who I have yet to dig into (Have read very little Bellow or Updike) - Hope you give him a go sometime!
I am not American and have only recently started reading English literature. I love your recommendations. :)
Good luck into diving into American lit!
Enjoyed this, Adam. I have planned to pick up a Roth one of these days. It sounds like The Plot Against America would be the one for me. I really appreciate picking up older reads to get a feel for the thought processes going on in the times in which the books were written. It just seems important to me to remember that we’re constantly evolving in our thinking ...
For sure... Roth really excelled at capturing America at a certain time period from the late sixties through the latter years of the 20th Century. So much so that it might be why his work is slowly fading away as we focus more on the NOW. Happy reading, Doris.
I love this video and agree! I've enjoyed the Roth I've read and will read more. I liked how Mary Karr was a close friend of his - made me think he wasn't a total mysogynist!
Yeah... He seemed pretty well loved by a lot of his contemporaries but obviously that doesn't lead into a modern readership. Either way, I think he still has a long shelf life ahead (but maybe not as long as one would suspect)
mementomori ha! Yeah, you're right.x
I think he was a literary God..great tribute..thnx Adam
Thank you for watching, James!
I've read almost everything he's written, essays and all. Sabbath's Theater, My Life as a Man, Operation Shylock, The Counterlife, Patrimony, and The Ghost Writer are masterpieces. Deception, The Dying Animal, The Professor of Desire, and Exit Ghost are tremendously underrated. The American Trilogy does less for me, as do some of the later novels, such as Everyman. Martin Amis described his prose once as "sonorous" and "dapper" and "eventful", and I couldn't agree more. One of my favorite, if not my very favorite, novelist.
He feels more like a relic to me (though being 26 and European, maybe that’s not that surprising?) but you absolutely sold me on The Plot Against America so I think I’ll try ☺️
Very true. Maybe he can bring out your inner mid-20th century American male thats always been inside you :D -- The Plot Against America is great though. Not a lot of dude-bro sort of talk and I think there is only ONE masturbation scene which is very low for a Roth novel.
I've not yet read any Roth, but a comment you made got me to thinking: Money & Fame today by writing popular stories, or many years on a top 100 list because of the quality and timelessness of the story? I don't think these are mutually exclusive, it just sent me on a left turn.
And I should add that I’m 18 I’ve read 4 of his short novels (Nemesis I’ve read for school because it’s a rewrite of King Oedipus) and he has always been praised to me as the best contemporary American author
Thanks for the view of Roth from Italy! Interesting to know that such an 'American" American author is heralded over there.
I've added him to my TBR for this year. I don't know how well I will like him, but I'll give any book/author a chance. I tend to love modern classics.
I have to admit I haven't read too much from him. I read Portnoy's Complaint and Zuckerman Bound. I do think he was misogynistic but you can say that too about John Updike too. That doesn't mean we shouldn't read his books. If we stop reading books that don't offend, all we have left are Nicholas Spark novels, lol.
Oh the dread of a Nicholas Spark resurgence! Thanks Don for the comment.
I’ll have to try The Plot Against America sometime. American Pastoral wasn’t a big success for me during our buddy read but if I enjoy Plot Against I might have to try rereading it.
TPAA is more up your alley for sure. I bit more playful and creative in its storytelling. You would probably like Portnoy's Complaint as well.
The only Roth I have read was The Plot Against America. I don't have any strong memories of it but after your video I'm thinking I may re-read it. With Wolfe and Roth both passing on so close to each other I can't escape the feeling that something big is ending.
I don't know if something big is ending but now that all of those TITANS are slowly passing away, it will be of great interest to see which of those mid to late twentieth century BIG names will carry on and have a life on the shelves of modern readers.
I just went out and looked for some Roth, I was interested in the American Trilogy, but all I could find was The Plot Against America. I didn't realize that Roth was so scarce on the shelves. After your video on Muriel Spark I went looking for some of that but found nothing. There was plenty of Sister Souljah though. I thought she was a rapper.
Great talk. I just listened to "The Plot Against America". I loved it. I'll check out a couple other books of his and avoid the ones I have no interest in. haha I'll probably listen to "American Pastoral" next.
I’ve owned some of his work for a while but just haven’t gotten around to it. Not due to a lack of interest but simply because I’m such a moody reader. And yeah, I too stayed away from the 2 extremes on social media not only because I haven’t read his stuff, but the mix of over-praise and complete cancelling of him as a person is just not my jam. I really appreciate this video and I’m definitely gonna pick up The Plot Against America.
The first book of his I bought (haven’t read) was Goodbye, Columbus. I’ve always been intrigued by that work and Roth himself because I just really enjoy reading about the Jewish experience in that era. Roth, to me seems like a literary force that I would enjoy exploring, even if I didn’t dig all of his work. I’m also oddly a sucker for the sorta dude-bro fiction that came out of the 60s/70s (and almost anytime for that matter).
Loved the video, Adam!
I am with you... For whatever reason I find comfort in stories involving cantankerous, Jewish dudes from the East Coast - I am not exactly sure why. Goodbye Columbus is one of his shortest and also his first novel so a great place to start :) Hope you will give him a go soon!
This video is one of your best.
I have not read Philip Roth because I tend to loathe all modern American classics that aren't Flannery O'Connor. However, I am interested in reading him. I'll shut off my SJW alarm for a bit, but only for you ;)
One of my best?... On dude-bro lit? You making me blush here!
While I wish I could get you down with some good bro-lit, I won't fight you on the perfection that is Flannery O'Connor. Thank you, Matthew.
It’s strange because in Italy there is hardly any criticism towards his works and him as an author. I don’t know why is that 🤷♀️
I picked up Everyman at The Strand a few years ago but haven't picked it up yet. And now I am so curious about American Pastoral. I don't know what is wrong with me that I am more curious to read books people don't like so much? I am indeed thirty on the mark but I will say...I didn't really know who he was. I picked up Everyman because his name sounded familiar but that is all :/ The only excuse I have for things like this is the household I grew up in, lol, my mother did not read things like that. At least not once I came along.
I enjoyed the few titles of Roth's that I did read: When She Was Good, The Human Stain, The Anatomy Lesson. The Dying Animal (my favorite)had a quiet beauty to it that some of his other titles may lack, but even with the faults that people could find with him, he was a great writer that owned a mind willing to explore a variety of subjects, with characters that were often unappealing.
I have a few of his books that I want to read, but to me, he was that good of a storyteller, that I can't read too many books at one time while reading his.
Good video.
Thanks for the comment. Out of the ones you have read, I've only read The Humans Stain (which I enjoyed) -- And yes, I think he is a great storyteller which sounds obvious but something that is often lacking in contemporary fictions.
Thanks for your video on Roth. Of the five of his I’ve read, I’d put American Pastoral first and Exit Ghost a solid but distant second. I haven’t seen any other videos on him but yours and mine this last week. Have you seen any of the film adaptations? I’ve seen none of them, but have been really anxious to see Indignation. Looks like it could actually be an improvement on the novel.
Much thanks, I have not seen any of the adaptations - Indignation sounds promising though I have seen nothing but utter disgust at the American Pastoral adaptation from a couple years ago. I think I will avoid that one.
I've also been avoiding the think pieces for the same reason - both extremes can be so tiresome. I've always meant to get to Philip Roth (American Pastoral is where I've planned to start, so it's nice to know I should keep trying even if I don't like it). I guess for me he's in a category of authors I'm curious about - along with people like Updike and Bellow, and I think I'd throw Murakami and McCarthy in there too - whose work I've been interested in for a long time but whose fans tend to annoy the hell out of me. Sometimes it feels like you can't approach certain authors without getting into this deeply unpleasant world of fanboys (and sometimes girls) who expect you to genuflect to these writers, claiming that NO ONE writes as creatively/brilliantly as they do and if you can't see it you're probably a shallow feminazi blahblahblah. Christ even thinking about some of the interactions I've either had or witnessed with fans of these authors is giving me a rash. But that's really not fair, because none of these authors is his fans. I think I need to find a private headspace where I can read each of them while blocking out the noise
Oh, the fanbase for these 20th Century male titans of literature are batshit crazy. They are the the types who read ONLY these men between the ages of 17 and 24 and after that they either move onto more varied works or they just get married and stop reading. :D I say this as a fan of a lot of these dudes but have learned to make them a part of the literary diet rather than the entirety.
With that said... I would be curious to see how you get along with Roth!
Thanks for this Adam, I’m over forty but have only read American Pastoral which I found dense but compelling, I think I’d always been intimidated by his reputation as a ‘great American novelist’. I’ve heard about his misogyny but I’d like to decide for myself whether this is apparent in his books or not and this video gave me somewhere to go in reading more of his work. I’ve just finished watching Jason at Old Blue’s Chapter and Verse video on Roth so there are at least two booktubers who appreciate his work and have you seen that it’s likely The Plot against America is going to be turned into a TV series?
I did not hear about TPAA getting an adaption. It certainly is current in its themes. The parallels are so spot-on with Trump that it is hard to believe it was written 14 years ago.
Hope you give Roth another go one day! Thanks for watching, Jo.
I heard about this on NPR and I felt bad that I have never read him.
Funny, I haven't read much of his work but I read OS first because of that Double theme. I think he has a voice so strong that you'd want to read him even if he talked of Godzilla vs Pikatchu, which I don't think he has never written anyway but I can see editors breaking into his apartment at night, on a hint from an anonymous email as long as it has a treasure map attached. I don't know.
Agree... his voice is so clear and welcoming to me even if he is writing about uncomfortable or unlikeable characters. Wether I like or dislike the story he is weaving at any given time, I always find some form of comfort in his voice.
I don’t think I’m interested in his work. This mainly comes from having watched the film of “American Pastoral” and hating it so much I actually walked out of the theater.
If I ever decide to pick him up, I’ll come back to your recommendations. 🙂
It might not be the best idea to judge your reaction to an author based on cinematic adaptations of their work...
Oh no, Juan! The movie was soooo bad. Don't use that as a judgment call. Honestly, I don't think American Pastoral is your bag but I think you could get wrapped up in his more creative works such as The Plot Against America!
mementomori yeah I know I’m Being totally unfair; but if I ever feel like reading him I’ll be sure to remember your suggestions
Greatly enjoy Roth. Great video.
Thank you
I think, despite what you said, there were a lot of novelists of the last half century who riveled his popularity. John Updike, Salman Rushdie, and Kurt Vonnegut come immediately to mind. For me, Roth has had a lot more misses than hits. I think it might have been because much of what I was about the tension revolving around young American Jewish male masculinity that you mention. For a long time, I thought I was missing something deeper and more Freudian at work, but I eventually just reached the conclusion that most of the books were just intellectually shallow and not worth the effort. There are two standouts, though. The opening few pages of "The Human Stain" is some of the most caustic, muscular, and beautiful writing that I think I've ever read. I think it has to be read aloud to be fulled appreciated, though. And second, the entire "Plot Against America": it was going to be the last novel by Roth that I read before finally giving up on him as a writer, and surprised myself by finding it totally compelling. I'll refrain from the Lindbergh/Trump comparisons, but I thought it was a fascinating study in counterfactual history nonetheless.
I can get behind you on the names you stack with Roth but I just don't think Slaughterhouse 5, Midnights Children and Rabbit Run (while all sensations both critically and commercially) never reach the peak cultural phenomenon levels that Portnoy's Complaint did.
With that said, I think today, Updike has sunk even more into irrelevance than Roth, Vonnegut still is hanging in there and it is a bit early to reflect on the impact of Rushdie... Frivolous but fun to muse on these sort of things. Thanks for the comment, John
No, not Midnight's Children, but "Satanic Verses" arguably did. Just ask the Ayatollah.
Great remembrance video! I gave Roth a good try before his second wind, but honestly couldn’t connect with his writing in the way I could with Bellow, Updike, and Mailer. Something more distant and forgettable, but I was of a different generation. He did manage to chronicle a good chunk of American life and history. The raunch factor didn’t work for me except in Sabbath's Theater, which hit like a crane kick to the face!
I've always found his writing welcoming, someone that really wants to tell you a story which is lacking in so much contemporary fictions. I'll be curious to see he starts fading into obscurity much like Updike. Thanks for watching.
I've only read Portnoy's Complaint and American Pastoral, but I agree that he was a legend of American literature. I think authors of his generation represented themes and ideas that just don't really resonate with readers today. I love reading works by 20th century authors like him though, because they really portray life in a different light. Same could be said of Hemingway, a lot of his works could be considered misogynistic, but his works are still incredibly poignant and fascinating. This video made me want to read The Plot Against America though :D
Glad to hear it... certainly the plight of the '20th century American white male' has fallen out of general interest with many readers but that doesn't mean there is not a load of classics within that time.
Couldn't agree more! I mean, imagine a world without Faulkner or Papa H or Steinbeck :O
I've only read two Roth works, The Plot Against America, which I wasn't thrilled about, and Goodbye, Columbus. But I've been meaning to pick up American Pastoral and Portnoy's Complaint, so maybe it's time.
"Coming" of age. I see what you did there.
I have read about 10 of his novels. My favorites are The Human Stain and The Ghost Writer, the one I think that has aged worst was probably When She Was Good - but I still enjoyed it, even when it got a bit ridiculous. There are no books of his that I have read and hated.
Plot Against America certainly sounds familiar. Evidently, the French are really into Philip Roth, but I've never read a single thing by him.
Very random with the French. You should give him a try!
mementomori I first heard about Roth in a French course. The native French students were praising his works.
well said adam.
Thank you!
Roth, Wolfe and Mailer were the last greats of an older school of writers. With their passing, that type of writing style has certainly moved on. And there really isn't anything "extreme" in stating this. I think literature or the idea of what great literature is has moved on a bit. And not necessarily for the better. Another shift is thematic - what people actually write about and that too has changed. So there is genuinely a passing of a whole age to mourn and not just a few doddery old writers.
Just started my first Roth shortly after his death: The Human Stain. Not loving it but not hating it. It's quite plain so far, but I have a feeling it will grow on me. I think I just want to read Portnoit's Complaint more than anything, but I don't own it yet.
As a person under thirty, who is Roth to me? I guess I've always been aware of his importance. He's my best friend's favourite author or one of them at least. I think of him in the same light as Updike (another author I haven't read) for no particular reason. You mentioned Delillo, but I wouldn't put the two together; again, for no particular reason. Except I would concede that they do kind of look the same.
He was my hero
I'm 20 and have never read Roth before, although I'm picking up Goodbye, Columbus this weekend. I've always thought of him as a giant of twentieth century literature, but I think what you say is true. My generation doesn't really read him as often as contemporaries like Pynchon, Morrison, Didion, or DeLillo. I do think he's survived better than Updike, who's almost completely disappeared among younger people; it seems like there's still a debate about whether Roth's books are misogynistic or merely about misogyny, whereas with Updike, it's a closed case.
Roth also wrote a preponderance of great books, but from what I've read it seems few agree precisely what they are. That might have something to do with it, in the sense that his legacy hasn't really congealed around one undeniably great book.
Well he wrote a fair share of good books but they are buried in a mountain of so-so books... his body of work is large and far from unrefined. But he certainly left behind a nice stack of classics.
Certainly his legacy revolves around Portnoy's Complaint to some degree but it is tough because it is a legacy more built on what a pop-culture phenomenon it was rather that the strength of the actual novel. It is sort of the literary-fiction equivalent of Valley of the Dolls. A book that was so popular but has trouble fitting into the 'canon' because it won't really find a place in academic curriculum where classics are often made.
Hope you enjoy Goodbye, Columbus - A nice, short story to start with.
Not under 30 👵 but to me, Phillip Roth is an author I regret not reading while he was alive! I've been told I'll love him because of my Franzen obsession. I do love me some great (white male) American novels.
Oh yeah, I think he is right up your alley. I suppose he is the equivelant of Mordercai Richler up there in the North. I love my grumpy, white, Jewish, east-coast old men!
Thanks Adam. You really fill a niche on BT that no one else does. I read a bit of Roth in high school (yep, sneaking my mom's books). I wish readers didn't judge authors by the babblesphere -- I try to take all writers for what I can benefit from them, regardless of their immutable traits. After all, it's unquestionable that he wrote The Great American Novel.
Haha. I am still curious to read TGAN and see how it compares to what many would include in the contender list for the actual 'Great American Novel' (American Pastoral)
I was sorry to see him go, although 85 is quite a span. Sometimes I loved his work; sometimes I loathed it; it was always interesting though. I thought American Pastoral was a fine piece of American literature. It had a special resonance for me. And I read Portnoy when it first came out and I was young and thought it one of the funniest things I’d ever seen.
But man, he could be a complete turd.
Damn it, Adam; now I have to read The Plot Against America and Operation Shylock.
Nice video (first time watching) especially since I am interested in Roth. I try to keep an open mind about most things except maybe labels like SJW and negativity. I'm reading "The plot against america" and plan on reading others by Roth. Thanks.
I'm now done with American Pastoral. Roth seems self-indulgent and the endless self-psychoanalysis of the characters is tiring. But of course, I can't really identify with the protagonist, or any of the characters. In this regard, Roth fails to move me. It's unlike any novels I've read. I am very lukewarm about this particular one. Next up: PAA, and the other two installments of his American trilogy.
I have some of his books on my tbr. This might sound blasphemous but I have never considered him one of the greatest. Like you said, he has been mostly ignored by my generation. I had an inclination to pick him up after I watched Indignation. 😅
As one who lived through--and read novels--throughout the 1960s and the rest of the century, I think you seriously mischaracterize Roth's place in American literature. He was never considered the great American novelist of his time. That distinction belonged to Saul Bellow (The Adventures of Augie March, Herzog, Henderson the Rain King, The Dean's December, Mr. Sammler's Plant) and rightfully so. Bellow had a much greater intelligence than Roth, who was essentially a sloppy satirist; Bellow was the most admired prose writer of his time. And Roth knew this very well and resented it.
Certainly his place and perception as 'The Great American Writer' is debatable but Bellow was never the household name and the cultural phenomenon (especially commercially) that Roth was.
I have only read Portnoy's Complaint, which was 10 years ago when I was a young woman backpacking through North-America, so I don't think I ever fell into the 'typical' Roth demographic. But, although it was thematically too self-referential and misogynistic for my tastes, I thought the writing was really clever and witty. And I think it's possible to look critically at these authors whose views on women have not aged well, and still admire their literary style (Marquez and Hemingway being two obvious examples that come to mind), so it definitely won't stop me from reading more ;).
Next generation readers? You mean the “adults” whose attention span is about as long as a Facebook post?
Didn’t you get to Roth for the first time a couple of years ago when we did The Human Stain for Untitled Book Club?
I had previously read Portnoy's Complaint. Oh the memories of the Book Club!
Always. :)
I've read 20 or so of his novels. really liked a few (Portnoy, Human Stain, Sabbath's Theater, and Counterlife), liked most of the rest, and disliked only a few. I agree America Pastoral is pretty blah, but would, in a similar vein to Plot Against America, mention that Our Gang is probably rather poignant, in that it depicts an utterly inept president (Nixon) trying to navigate the duties of the president. It is not a great novel, bit is hilarious.
20! Wow. You must be close to finishing him. His body of work is so big... I will definitely get around to Our Gang. I always tend to enjoy his flat-out comedic novels.
Perhaps I shouldn't like Roth as much as I do as he really doesn't know how to write women, but, nonetheless, I've liked everything I've read (except Portnoy's Complaint--yawn) I particularly like the Human Stain. Right now I'm reading The Humbling, and I'm withholding judgment until I'm done!
I thought his 'modern feminist' female character in The Human Stain was incredibly ill-conceived and bath-shit crazy but at the same time incredible thought provoking! I need to re-read it :D
This was great, and you’ve motivated me to finally try Portnoy’s Complaint. I have a feeling he won’t be for me in the main but I do love reading about masturbation! 🤪
Lol! Portnoy's Complaint has the most iconic masturbation scene of ANY book you will ever read. It is a funny book and worth the read if only to grasp WHY it was such a huge event in pop culture when it was first published.
mementomori “if only to GRASP...” 😜
thought you were going to say "it's commonly called his masterwork" ....but no. it's the masturbation book :///
lol... does it help that is is a masterwork of masturbation?!
mementomori i can live with that title 😂 😊
Grossly overrated