NP - Roth's Women

[Paul Mackin]

On Jun 2, 2006, at 4:53 AM, Riot Riot wrote:

>
>  for me, judging an author or a book by what s/he does not write is  
> totally inadequate. how is something like a statement that roth´s  
> women should be more than what they are justified, by the way? i  
> can think of any random requirement i wish my favorite books to  
> have which they don´t. there is always a lack in writing, it´s up  
> to the reader to make it work. however, that can only be done by  
> what´s there. on the other hand, if roth focusses on man, it  
> becomes difficult to say something reliable about his women.
>> Were Roth a lesser writer, it wouldn't matter; his greatness,  
>> however, transforms that lack from a simple failing into a  
>> reverberating anguish." <
> and this viewpoint is ridiculous, i think. i wonder what the reason  
> may be why it matters because roth is great. sometimes it seems  
> when an author has become respected as a great contemporary writer  
> s/he also becomes common good and everybody feels like commenting  
> about what should ne there in the works to really justify the  
> reputation.
> have a nice day.
>
> D.
> -- 


Back in the thirties, Henry Roth (no relation) faced an analogous  
kind of criticism from the Communists. Roth was a party member and  
came under criticism from his  comrades for not extolling proletarian  
values in Call it Sleep.  He was sympathetic and tried to write  
something that would satisfy, but he couldn't do it..

Roth might prefer his relationships with women to be different. But  
they aren't.

As Vonnegut kept saying in Slaughterhouse Five, so it goes.








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