GRGR (15): Good & Evil (was Enzian...)

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, Terrance F. Flaherty wrote:
> 
> Haven't read Roth's American Pastoral, but it sounds like it
> might be read along with Don DeLillo's MAO II?  I think
> Rilke might help this discussion. Anyone interested in
> talking about Blicero's reading of Rilke?

 Been a while but I don't remember American Pastoral having anything
comparable to the notion in Mao II that terrorist activity had overtaken
novel-writing as a main ring attention grabber in modern life.
Roth hates this kind of culture critique. Certainly the revolutionary
ideology of the 60s (in A.P.) is an  important proximate cause in
destroying the life of the well-meaning Swede. The book is not the least
bit ideological. The Swede is  a golden child, everything going for him,
until everything starts going against him, most notably loosing his
ability to protect his daughter. The story is personal and very real. I
don't think you can say this about Mao II. Sorry. I'm up to my old tricks
again. I may turn into Johnny one-note.
			
		P.