Roth's journey as a writer is an interesting one. In The Great American Novel (** 1/2 out of 5), read in July 2019, he seems to be still searching for his proper subject. Then, in My Life as a Man (*** 1/2 out of 5), read in November 2020, he starts to find it and makes some progress. Finally, in The Professor of Desire (**** out of 5), read in February 2022, he hones his craft and presents a more refined work.
In light of the incredible works that were yet to come, such as the Zuckerman novels, the American trilogy, and the short autumnal works that ended his career, it's easy to overlook these three books. However, there is actually a great deal of value and wonder to be found within them, especially in the latter two. These early works show Roth's growth and development as a writer, and they offer a glimpse into the mind of a literary genius in the making.
