Title: The concept just didn't work for me
Product review: This book is fairly well written (although not compared to Bellow or Nabakov or Self). However, there is an unforgivable flaw. Who can possibly write a meaningful novel about a lech of a man (a sailor who has had sex with how many prostitiues?) when the man has NEVER contracted an STD? Just blew the credibility of the whole thing for me. If this were more of an attempt at magical realism I guess I could have swallowed it, but this novel really struck me as trying to paint a somewhat realistic portrait...of trying to convince me (of something?). But prostitutes, unprotected sex, and tens of other partners without physical consequences (I suppose there seem to be spiritual consequences)? Sorry, Roth, I just couldn't believe it.
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